Topeka ? Kansas legislators head into the final 40 scheduled days of the 2004 session with most of the work on major fiscal and social issues still ahead of them.

Committees in both chambers are still working on components of a $10.2 billion state budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Debates are still pending, meanwhile, on such hot social issues such as expanded gambling, abortion, same-sex marriage and allowing Kansans to carry concealed weapons.

And looming over state government is a Shawnee County judge’s preliminary order which found the state’s school finance system unconstitutional.

Friday was the session’s so-called “turnaround” day, by which most bills must clear their originating chamber if they are to be considered in the other chamber. The Legislature took Monday off, as it typically does on the Monday following “turnaround” day.

Here is the status of major initiatives as of Monday, the 50th calendar day of the legislative session out of 90 scheduled.

Schools

The Senate last week rejected Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ proposal to raise state taxes on sales, property and personal income to provide an additional $304 million to school districts over three years. Sebelius and the Legislature’s Republican leaders are negotiating an alternative plan.

Some districts with declining enrollments are looking to save money by consolidating with neighboring districts. Two bills that remove legal obstacles to voluntary consolidations have won Senate approval and await House action.

Liquor Laws

A bill making the state’s Liquor Control Act uniform — so that local governments could not exempt themselves from some of its provisions — remains on the Senate’s debate calendar, more than two weeks after members removed provisions allowing Sunday liquor sales and increasing taxes on alcohol.

Gambling Expansion

A Senate committee has not yet acted on Sebelius’ proposal for state ownership of up to large five casinos. The bill would also allow video lottery terminals similar to slot machines at the state’s five pari-mutuel tracks, and allow up to five such terminals in each of roughly 240 fraternal clubs in the state.

Economic Development

The House has passed a bill to create a new Kansas Bioscience Authority to nurture and promote research, with the goal of making bioscience a major industry.

The Senate has approved a bill to create a Center for Entrepreneurship to help small businesses.

Both proposals are part of GOP leaders’ economic development initiative.

State Budget

Legislative leaders are aiming to have each chamber’s budget committee endorse a 2005 spending plan during the week of March 15, with debate in both the House and Senate the following week.

Concealed Weapons

A House committee has endorsed a bill requiring the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to issue permits to carry concealed weapons to qualified Kansans. However, the House has yet to debate the measure.

Immigrants

A bill passed by the House last year to permit illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses remains before a Senate committee.

Senators approved another House-passed bill to cut the cost of attending college for illegal immigrants or their children, but House Speaker Doug Mays referred the bill back to committee in his chamber rather than seeking negotiations on a final version.

Abortion Clinics

A House committee has endorsed a bill requiring the state Department of Health and Environment to set minimum health and safety standards for the state’s seven abortion clinics. It awaits debate in the House.

Capital Crimes

Legislation creating a sentence of life in prison without parole as an alternative to the death penalty has won Senate approval.

A Senate committee also has endorsed a measure that would clarify the state’s ban on executing mentally retarded defendants, but the entire chamber has not debated it.

Enhanced 911 Service

The House has passed a bill to fund improvements in county 911 systems with a new, 50-cent monthly fee on wireless phones.

Senators approved a version last year, and a joint conference committee has been appointed to draft a final version.

Same-sex Marriages

A proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution banning same-sex marriage has cleared a House committee and awaits debate by the full chamber.

Transportation

Sebelius’ plan to issue $465 million in bonds to avert cancellation of highway projects that were promised in past years is before a House committee, as is a rival proposal relying on sales tax revenues. The Democratic governor and Republican legislators are trying to work out a compromise.