Topeka ? The Kansas House has approved a bill ending the Kansas Bioscience Authority’s role in issuing state bonds to help finance a new national biodefense lab in Manhattan.

Wednesday’s 123-0 vote sends the measure to the Senate.

The bill comes amid criticism of the Bioscience Authority’s operations and an investigation by the Johnson County prosecutor. Authority officials say the criticism is unwarranted.

The state plans to issue $105 million in bonds to finance utility and street improvements for the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility site.

Kansas law gives the Bioscience Authority control of the bond proceeds. The legislation would put the proceeds under the Department of Administration instead.

Backers say they don’t want questions about the Bioscience Authority to jeopardize federal funding for the $651 million biodefense lab project.