Kelly signs bill to construct Kansas Gold Star family memorial
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today signed Senate Bill 330 authorizing the construction of a permanent memorial honoring Kansas Gold Star families on Statehouse Grounds.
This legislation comes after Governor Kelly directed LTG Perry Wiggins, Executive Director of the Governor’s Military Council, to explore the process to install a permanent monument and to spearhead the formation of the Gold Star Memorial Fundraising Committee.
Hershel “Woody” Williams, a retired Marine Corps warrant officer and the only living Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, personally challenged her to add a Gold Star Families Monument on Statehouse grounds.
The two met at the dedication of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument at Olathe Veteran’s Memorial Park in September 2020.
A Gold Star Family is the immediate family of a fallen service member who died while serving in a time of conflict. The monument will be on the Veterans’ Walk at the Kansas Statehouse.
Governor Kelly also signed the following bipartisan bills into law:
Senate Bill 141
Enacts the Kansas uniform directed trust act.
Substitute for Senate Bill 300
Substitute for SB 300 by Committee on Judiciary: Amends the Kansas racketeer influenced and corrupt organization act to add a person who has engaged in identity theft or identity fraud to the definition of “covered person” and add identity theft and identity fraud to the definition of “racketeering activity.”
Senate Bill 336
Updates certain investment limitation requirements to provide increased options for Kansas domiciled life insurance companies investing in equity interests and preferred stock.
Senate Bill 367
Requires officers to file copies of receipts with the court when property is seized under a search warrant and providing requirements and procedures for destruction or disposition of dangerous drugs and return or disposition of weapons.
Senate Bill 417
Establishes minimum and maximum permit renewal fees for certain solid waste disposal areas and processing facilities.
Senate Bill 419
Allows certain employees from the department of corrections to attend the Kansas law enforcement training center and including special agents of the department of corrections in the definition of law enforcement officer under the Kansas law enforcement training act.
Senate Bill 440
Establishes when an occupational therapist may treat a patient without referral from a physician and requiring occupational therapists to maintain professional liability insurance.
Senate Bill 448
Adopts the national association of insurance commissioner’s amendments to the unfair trade practices act excluding commercial property and casualty insurance producers, brokers and insurers from prohibitions on giving rebates as an inducement to sales.
SUB Senate Bill 450
Sub for SB 450 by Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance: Eliminates the crediting to the Kansas public employees retirement fund of 80% of the proceeds from the sale of surplus real estate, authorizes state educational institutions to sell and convey real property given to such state educational institutions as an endowment, bequest or gift and authorizes the state board of regents to adopt policies relating to such sale and conveyance.
Senate Bill 483
Increases criminal penalties for theft and criminal damage to property involving remote service units such as automated cash dispensing machines and automated teller machines.
Senate Bill 506
Provides for the north central Kansas down syndrome society distinctive license plate.