Volume 40 - Issue 17 - April 29, 2021

State of Kansas

Department of Administration

Notice of Hearing on Proposed Administrative Regulations

A public hearing will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 15, 2021, to consider the adoption of proposed changes to existing rules and regulations of the Division of Accounts and Reports, Department of Administration, on a permanent basis. These are Kansas Administrative Regulations 1-18-1a and 1-18-2. Due to continuing concerns regarding COVID-19, the public hearing will be held virtually, instead of in-person. Those that wish to address Accounts and Reports regarding the proposed changes can register via Zoom at https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsdGhrD0jHTl1O6KYxWt8D9WjTSAQzS4 or by contacting Tamara Emery via email at tamara.d.emery@ks.gov or by calling 785-296-2707.

This 60-day notice of the public hearing shall constitute a public comment period for the purpose of receiving written public comments on the proposed rules and regulations. All interested parties may submit written comments prior to the hearing to the Office of Accounts and Reports, Attn: Tamara Emery, 700 SW Harrison, Suite 300, Topeka, KS 66603, or by email to tamara.d.emery@ks.gov. All interested parties will be given a reasonable opportunity to present their views orally regarding the adoption of the proposed changes during the public hearing. In order to provide all parties an opportunity to present their views, it may be necessary to request that each participant limit any oral presentation to five minutes.

Any individual with a disability may request an accommodation to participate in the public hearing and may request the proposed regulations and economic impact statement in an accessible format. Requests for accommodation to participate in the hearing should be made at least five working days in advance of the hearing by contacting Tamara Emery at 785-296-2707 or TTY 1-800-766-3777.

K.A.R. 1-18-1a currently prescribes the standards and requirements for reimbursement of expenses incurred when an employee of the state of Kansas uses a privately-owned conveyance on official business. The amendment to this regulation which is proposed on a permanent basis, seeks to update the language contained in the regulation, including previous publishing errors and grammatical issues. While employees and officials are expected to exercise care in incurring expenses and the State of Kansas supports the position of least costly, the amendment of K.A.R. 1-18-1a allows all relevant factors such as the urgency of the travel, nature of travel, type of vehicle required for the number of passengers, tool or equipment load, employee time and effort, proximity to rental or state vehicles as relevant variables that are to be considered, in addition to cost. Further, language is introduced which gives the agency designee authority to approve K.A.R. 1-18-1a travel reimbursement provisions when deemed appropriate and in the best interest of the State.

K.A.R. 1-18-2 addresses the applicability of K.A.R. 1-18-1, however that regulation was revoked in 1979 and the statute referenced, K.S.A. 1973 Supp. 75-4606, was repealed in 1988. The Secretary of Administration proposes to revoke K.A.R. 1-18-2.

Copies of the proposed regulations and the Economic Impact Statements for the proposed regulations can be viewed at https://publicsquare.ks.gov/calendars/agency/2021/07/15/administration/public-hearing.

Summaries of the proposed regulations and their economic impact follows: (Note: Statements indicating that a regulation is “not anticipated to have any economic impact” are intended to indicate that no economic impact on the Accounts and Reports–Department of Administration, other state agencies, state employees, or the general public has been identified.)

K.A.R. 1-18-1a. Mileage rates. This regulation addresses the standards and requirements for reimbursement of expenses incurred when an employee of the state of Kansas uses a privately-owned conveyance. Substantive changes are proposed to this regulation to update the wording to current standardized language, grammar usage, while also providing agency heads discretion to determine whether to reimburse at the mileage rate as published by the Division of Accounts and Reports or the lower cost of another mode of transportation.

K.A.R. 1-18-2. Applicability. This regulation is proposed to be revoked as the regulation references the provisions of K.A.R. 1-18-1 which was revoked on May 1, 1979 and statute K.S.A. 1973 Supp. 75-4606 which was repealed in 1988. Revocation to this K.A.R. will have no economic impact.

DeAngela Burns-Wallace
Secretary

Doc. No. 049086