Tuesday, October 29, 1974
University Daily Kansan
7
Ombudsman bill will be refiled
A proposal that would have established an ambudman for the entire state was recently defeated within the Federal and State Affairs Committee of the Kansas Senate. A committee of the Senate, Arden Breen, R-Lawrence, will resubmitted at the Senate's next session.
Booth, a member of the committee, said
he wasn't discouraged by the decision.
"The committee was very fair with the proposal and gave it a complete hearing," he said. "I do plan to refile the proposal in the next legislative session."
Booth first introduced legislation to provide for an ambulance in 1972 in the Kansas Senate, but the proposal failed to gain much support. In 1973 he sponsored a bill that was approved by committee but it was struck from the Calendar senate.
A major factor blocking the approval of ombudsman legislation might be a lack of public awareness of what an ombudsman does. Booth said.
UNDER THE PROVISIONS of Booth's most recent proposal, the ombushman would handle all complaints related to state agencies. His office would receive and complain, conduct investigations and publicly report his findings if he wished to do so.
"A state ombudsman would help people
who are disconnected with government at all levels." Booth said. "The establishment of an ambulance's office would be a very difficult task, but it has the means that government is approachable."
The ombudsman is a Swedish innovation dating back to 1809. National oombudsmen also exist in other countries, including Australia, Norway, New Zealand and Great Britain.
In this country, the proposal for a national ambudman has been before Congress on several occasions, but no specific action has been taken.
THE OFFICE OF OMBUDSMAN has been established in Hawaii (1967) and Nebraska (1969) by legislative action and by executive action in seven other states. At 347 of local governments, including World War II 50 states have established similar offices.
Booth said his proposal wouldn't limit the powers of the other offices of ombudsman within the state. He said Kansas maintained a strong stance against institutions and colleges and universities.
He also emphasized that his proposal would require that the ambassador should communicate with the host country.
"It would suggest that someone such as an ex-senator or an ex-supreme-court justice be fitted to serve as ombudman," he said. "It would have to be
BOOTH SAID HE THOUGHT his proposal would be successful. Much of the success of the office would directly depend on the ombudsman himself, and his willingness to serve civilians, he said.
someone who was thoroughly familiar with the workings of the various state agencies."
According to Booth's concept of the plan, the cost factor would amount to about 400 a year. This would be inclusive of the omnibalance, a secretary and travel expenditures.
Opponents of the ambudman concept generally contend that the idea would have been more difficult to implement.
interference and decrease efficiency
THOSE IN FAVOR OF the establishment of an ombussad office argue that legislature should from some of their constituent service in order to devise more time to policy making.
Proponents of this concept also contend that court action is often too narrow and that the creation of an omnibus law would offer another avenue of redress for citizens.
James Drury, professor of political science, said there was a definite need for a grievance procedure such as the one provided for in Booth's legislation.
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PANHELLENIC MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM (Sorority Rush) Orientation Meeting
Tuesday, October 29,1974 in the Jayhawk Room of the Union at 7:00 p.m.
Registration will be Thursday, October 31 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Jayhawk Room
For further information contact Panhellenic in the
Dean of Women's office 222 Strong Hall 864.3552
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