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University Daily Kansan, February 10, 1983
Lawmakers support nuclear control bills
By DIANE LUBER Staff Reporter
TOPEKA - Two local state legislators supported bills on nuclear waste storage and a nuclear freeze that were introduced in the Kansas Legislature yesterday.
State Rep. Betty Jo Charlton, D-Dawrence, sponsored a bill with 19 other House members that would prohibit the storage of high-level nuclear material in bedded sealed formations in Kansas, such as the formations in Lvons.
Although federal law would supersede this bill, Charlton said, her intent was to "let the federal government hear from the state on this issue."
STATE REP. Jessie Branson, D-Lawrence, said that through some mix-up she had not been included as a co-sponsor of a bill that would place the issue of a nuclear freeze on the ballot at the next general election.
"I'm really disappointed," she said.
"I'm really disappointed," she said. Two hundred bills were introduced in the Legislature yesterday, which was the last day for individual legislators to introduce bills for consideration during this session.
The House convened at 11 a.m. for its daily session, during which 77 bills were introduced. An additional 57 bills were introduced in a special session that met at 5 p.m.
Senate members introduced 66 bills.
House and Senate committees will be able to introduce legislation until Feb. 23, according to the joint rules agreed upon by the House and Senate. After
that date, only the Ways and Means committees and the Federal and State Affairs committees will be able to introduce bills.
CHARLTON AND Branson also co-sponsored yesterday a bill that would place Kansas Public Service Co., the natural gas utility serving Lawrence, under Kansas Corporation Commission regulation.
KPS is now regulated by the Lawrence City Commission because state law requires that a utility serving only one city be regulated by that city.
Charlton said that she would only seek action on the bill if the city commission requested it. She wanted to make action possible this session, she said, because the KPS franchise contract with the city runs out in May 1984.
Another bill Charlton sponsored would set clearer guidelines for the use of cellphones.
The law now requires that a city must pass an ordinance or hold a referendum on an ordinance if 20 percent to 40 percent of the population petition requesting it, she said. But the law exempts administrative matters from initiative and referendum.
"CITIZENS' ATTEMPTS" to pass ordinances in the past have often been foiled by courts that relied on outdated court rules, but that an issue administrative, she said.
"My bill tries to define administrative matters to help the court," she said.
Charlton said she introduced the same bill last session. The House Local Government Committee passed it, she
Branson sponsored three other bills introduced yesterday, she said.
said, but it was never brought to a vote on the house floor.
one pill will allow counties to increase property taxes by one-half to provide funds to assist persons who are physically handicapped, she
A mill is $1 in taxation for each $1,000
of assessed property valuation.
COUNTIES ARE already allowed by law to raise property taxes for assistance for the aging and mentally retarded, she said.
Another bill she sponsored provides for a public counsel, who would work out of the governor's office, to assist with legal problems related to quitilities, she said.
"The person would work as an advocate for the elderly with the Legislature and the Corporation Commission," she said.
Branson sponsored a bill that would provide funds for the administration of the firefighters' relief fund.
The state mandated the fund and its benefit program, but had not allowed for funds for its administration, she said.
"It is taking city-staff time," Branson said. "I know it costs the city."
Other bills introduced include:
• A bill co-sponsored by Senate President Roy Dosey, R-Concordia,
and State Dan, San Thiessen, R-Independence, that would reimpose the statewide intangibles tax, which had been repealed last year and made a local option.
bond options.
An intangibles tax is a property tax levied against all income-generating bank accounts, stocks, notes and bonds.
Thiessen said Doyen and he had decided to introduce the bill in response to some lawmakers' attempts to reimpose property taxes on farm land.
- A bill that would require the Kansas Corporation Commission to establish maximum prices that utilities can charge elderly and low-income
*A bill that would require people who operate establishments that have coin-operated electronic games to obtain a $500 license from the state. The license revenues would be split between the state and local governments.
*Two bills that would prevent students at Board of Regents schools from receiving a tuition grant or a state loan* *Faults on any guaranteed student loan.*
- A bill that directs the Regents to implement a student employment and training program in which students would be awarded jobs in their area of interest. Employer institutions and agencies, depending upon their relationship to the board, would be partially or completely reimbursed by the board.
- A bill that would increase the maximum speed limit in the state to 65 mph if the U.S. Congress voted to increase the limit to 65 mph or higher.
- A bill that would make the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., a legal public holiday in Kansas.
- A bill creating a citizen utility board, which would represent the interest of residential utility customers in utility cases before the Kansas Congress and the Legislature. The board would be supported by donations and loans.
She said she hoped groups such as the Sierra Club could influence legislation regarding wildlife habitats that were being destroyed.
This medical center, however, is not for people, but for animals.
Many people may not realize that the University has a medical center not only in Kansas City, but also in Mallett Hall.
KU animal care unit helps injured wild animals recover
HAUSER SAID that she and Mulder had donated most of the money for the program, but that they were receiving more donations. Recently an endowment fund had been set up for donations and grants.
By JENNIFER FINE
Staff Reporter
Hauner said tours of the animal care unit could be given. She also gives presentations about her rehab center, which sometimes accompanies by the animals themselves.
Permits from the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Kansas Fish and Game Commission allow the unit to be in charge of medical care and shelter for them.
At the animal care unit in Maloft, the Rolling Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation program nurses back to health animals for survival in their natural habitat.
Animals such as baby bobcats, barned owls and bald eagles are treated for problems ranging from dehydration and shock to broken limbs and wings.
Hauser said people sometimes brought in animals injured by natural
At a Sierra Club meeting at the Kansas Union last night, Jeanie Hauser, a veterinary technician at the hospital, informed the rehabilitation program's goals.
The animals are kept in areas simulating their natural habitats and are given a proper diet and, if needed, medicine. When they are healthy again, animals may be moved to a large pen for exercise before they are taken to a carefully chosen release site, Hauser said.
HAUSER SAID she and John Mulder, veterinarian and director of the unit, started the rehabilitation program because of public demand for a place to take injured animals. About eight people now work with the program.
causes, but too often the animals were victims of steel-jaw traps and gunshot wounds.
After the animals are released, they are checked to make sure they do not harm the animals.
The Sierra Club is a local chapter of the national organization, whose purpose is to help preserve wildlife and natural habitats.
YOUNG ANIMALS that are not injured, but are orphaned and unable to care for themselves, are also raised at the unit until they are self-sufficient.
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