SESSION OF 2023
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT BRIEF
HOUSE BILL NO. 2060
As Agreed to April 6, 2023
Brief*
HB 2060 would make various technical changes to statutes, including changes to law
relating to the Drivers’ Training School License Act. The bill would also amend law relating to the
State Medical Student Loan Program and the Medical Residency Bridging Program (loan
programs), and would establish an obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) medical loan
repayment program. Additionally, the bill would authorize several items that qualified students
must be provided reasonable access to under the AO-K to Work Program. Similarly, the bill
would amend law to include individuals who receive a high school equivalency (HSE) credential,
or who are pursuing an HSE credential, in the calculation of and subsequent distribution of
performance-based payments for community colleges and technical colleges.
Drivers’ Training School License Act
The bill would make technical changes to the Drivers’ Training School License Act to
ensure that community colleges, rather than students enrolled in community colleges, receive
payments from the State Safety Fund for the number of students who have completed a driver
training course during the past school year.
Medical Loan Programs
Under continuing law, the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) administers the
two loan programs to incentivize the practice of medicine in certain areas of the state and in
certain facilities of the state. The Kansas Medical Student Loan program provides tuition and a
stipend to undergraduate students enrolled in or admitted to the University of Kansas School of
Medicine (KU School of Medicine) who have entered into agreements to practice primary care
medicine or psychiatry in areas of need in the state.
University of Kansas School of Medicine Residencies
The bill would increase the number of medical student loan agreements available under
the loan programs at the KU School of Medicine from 6 to up to 12. The bill would also add a
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*Conference committee report briefs are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express
legislative intent. No summary is prepared when the report is an agreement to disagree. Conference committee
report briefs may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.kslegislature.org/klrd
1 - 2060 provision specifying that the KU School of Medicine could not prohibit nor create substantial
impediment to students in the programs from switching between approved postgraduate
residency training programs.
Medical Residency Training Programs in Obstetrics and Gynecology
The bill would include medical residency training programs in OBGYN as part of the
postgraduate medical residency programs that a person could enter into in order to qualify for
state medical student and medical residency loan assistance.
Exemptions
The bill would exempt a person, or a person’s spouse, who is unable to satisfy their
obligations due to active military service from paying the 15 percent annual interest rate on any
moneys received under such loan programs. Similarly, the bill would allow a person participating
in a health-related fellowship to postpone the obligation to engage in the practice of medicine
and surgery for not more than one year.
[Note: Under current law, any person who fails to complete an approved residency training
program or fails to satisfy the obligation to engage in the full-time practice of medicine and
surgery within a service commitment area for the required period of time must repay all money
received from the loan programs, plus accumulated interest at an annual rate of 15 percent.]
Restrictions on Practice During Service Requirement
The bill would prohibit a person who completed an approved OBGYN residency training
program from performing or inducing, or attempting to perform or induce, an abortion or work for
or create a clinic that performs or induces abortions during the time such person is satisfying the
service requirement under the loan programs. A person who fails to satisfy the service
requirement due to the performance or inducement, or attempt at such, of an abortion would be
required to repay all money received pursuant to the loan, plus accumulated interest at an
annual rate of 15 percent.
[Note: A person who performs or induces, or attempts to perform or induce, an abortion in
the case of a medical emergency or in the case of a pregnancy resulting from rape or incest
would not be deemed to have failed to complete the service requirement.]
Funds and Scholarships
The bill would also establish the OBGYN Medical Loan Repayment Fund and the OBGYN
Medical Residency Bridging Fund to be used for OBGYN residency training programs.
The bill would authorize the Kansas Board of Regents to award osteopathic medical
service scholarships to Kansas residents who are undergraduate students enrolled in or
admitted to pre-accredited schools of osteopathic medicine.
2 - 2060 AO-K to Work Program
Under current law, the Kansas Board of Regents awards an HSE credential to qualified
students who, among other factors, successfully complete an approved AO-K career pathway
and receive the industry-recognized credential appropriate to the completed pathway. Students
are to be provided reasonable access to all available student resources of the adult education
program, the participating technical or community college, and the appropriate community
partners.
The bill would add several items to the available student resources that qualified students
must be provided reasonable access to, including books, tools, and personal materials required
to participate in an AO-K career pathway program and industry examinations.
The bill would also provide for financial assistance for books, tools, personal materials, and
industry examinations. The financial assistance provided would be the aggregate amount of the
cost of books, tools, personal materials, and industry examinations for the AO-K career pathway
program in which the student is enrolled and receiving assistance, minus the aggregate amount
of all other aid awarded to the student. The financial assistance would be subject to
appropriations, and the amount of financial assistance provided for each student could not
exceed $500.
High School Equivalency Credential
Under current law, the Kansas Board of Regents distributes incentive payments to each
community college and technical college for individuals who have received a General
Educational Development (GED) credential or who are pursuing a GED while enrolled in an
eligible career technical education program.
The bill would require the Kansas Board of Regents to distribute incentive payments to
community colleges and technical colleges for individuals who have received a GED or HSE
credential or who are pursuing a GED or a HSE credential while enrolled in an eligible career
technical education program.
[Note: According to the Kansas Board of Regents, a GED credential is issued after the
successful completion of the GED examination, a four-subject high school equivalency test. A
HSE credential is issued after successful completion of the Kansas Pathway to Career High
School Equivalency program, which allows a student who is at least 21 years old to work toward
their high school completion as well as obtain a college certificate or credential.]
Conference Committee Action
The Conference Committee agreed to the provisions of Senate Sub. for HB 2060, as
recommended by the Senate Committee on Education. The Conference Committee further
agreed to add the contents of HB 2260, as amended by the Senate Committee on Public Health
and Welfare.
3 - 2060 Background
The bill, as agreed to by the Conference Committee, contains the provisions of Senate
Sub. for HB 2060 (as recommended by Senate Committee) and HB 2260 (as amended by
Senate Committee).
Senate Sub. for HB 2060 (Drivers’ Training School License Act; AO-K to Work Program;
HSE Credentials)
The Senate Committee on Education recommended a substitute bill that included
provisions originally contained in SB 84.
[Note: HB 2060, as passed by the House of Representatives, would have established the
Special Education and Related Services Funding Task Force. The Conference Committee
inserted into House Sub. for SB 83 and House Sub. for SB 113 language similar to HB 2060, as
passed by the House, that would provide for a Special Education and Related Services Funding
Task Force.
SB 84 (High School Equivalency Credentials)
The bill was introduced by the Senate Committee on Education at the request of a
representative of the Kansas Board of Regents.
Senate Committee on Education
In the Senate Committee hearing, a representative of the Kansas Board of Regents
testified as a proponent of the bill, stating that although the 2019 Legislature amended state
law to recognize the HSE credential option in addition to the GED option, the legislation did not
include the performance-based incentives. According to the proponent, the bill to amend the
statute would maintain consistency and would allow the Kansas Board of Regents to include the
HSE credential when calculating institutions’ performance-based incentive payments. No other
testimony was provided.
The Senate Committee on Education removed the contents of HB 2060 and inserted the
provisions of SB 84. The Senate Committee further amended the bill by inserting provisions
regarding the AO-K to Work Program and the Drivers’ Training School License Act. The Senate
Committee then recommended a substitute bill. [Note: The Conference Committee retained the
amendments.]
HB 2260 (Medical Loan Programs)
The bill was introduced in the House Committee on Health and Human Services at the
request of Representative Clifford on behalf of the Association of Community Mental Health
Centers (CMHCs) of Kansas.
4 - 2060 House Committee on Health and Human Services
In the House Committee hearing on February 6, 2023, proponent testimony was provided
by representatives of the Association of CMHCs of Kansas, Kansas Mental Health Coalition,
and The Guidance Center. The proponents stated the Kansas Medical Student Loan program is
one means of addressing workforce shortages, particularly in mental health care, and attracting
primary care and psychiatric physicians to underserved areas. Written-only proponent testimony
was provided by a representative of the Kansas Medical Society. No other testimony was
provided.
Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare
In the Senate Committee hearing on March 23, 2023, proponent testimony was provided
by a representative of the Association of CMHCs of Kansas, Inc., who provided substantially
similar testimony as in the House Committee hearing. Written-only proponent testimony was
provided by representatives of the Association of CMHCs of Kansas, Inc. and Kansas Medical
Society. No other testimony was provided.
The Senate Committee amended the bill by adding the contents of SB 98, as amended by
the Senate Committee on Education. [Note: The Conference Committee retained the
amendment.]
SB 98 (OBGYN Residency Loans and Osteopathic Medicine Scholarships)
Senate Committee on Education
In the Senate Committee hearing on February 20, 2023, proponent testimony was
provided by representatives of the Kansas Health Science Center - Kansas College of
Osteopathic Medicine and the Kansas Section of the American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists, and a private citizen. Written-only proponent testimony was provided by the
Executive Director of the Kansas Medical Society and two representatives of the Kansas
College of Osteopathic Medicine. The proponents stated generally that the bill would help to
ensure that Kansans who live in rural areas of the state have access to quality OBGYN
services.
Neutral testimony was provided by a representative of KUMC, who provided general
information on the Medical Student Loan Program and the Medical Residency Bridging
Program. No other testimony was provided.
The Senate Committee amended the bill to:
●Remove the 15 percent annual interest rate penalty during the time period a person is
unable to satisfy their obligations under the programs due to active military service
[Note: The Conference Committee retained the amendment.];
●Extend scholarship eligibility to Kansas students who attend pre-accredited schools of
osteopathic medicine [Note: The Conference Committee retained the amendment.];
and
5 - 2060 ●Postpone the obligation to engage in the practice of medicine and surgery for not
more than one year during which a person participates in a health-related fellowship
program. [Note: The Conference Committee retained the amendment.]
Fiscal Information
SB 84 (High School Equivalency Credentials)
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of the Budget on SB 84, as
introduced, the Kansas Board of Regents indicates that enactment of the bill would have a
negligible fiscal effect for incentive payments made to community colleges and technical
colleges.
An updated fiscal note on Senate Sub. for HB 2060 was not immediately available.
HB 2260 (Medical Loan Programs)
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of the Budget on the bill, as
introduced, the KUMC indicates enactment would have no fiscal effect on state revenues or
expenditures.
SB 98 (OBGYN Residency Loans and Osteopathic Medicine Scholarships)
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of the Budget on the bill, as
introduced, KUMC indicates the bill would require an additional $57,327 per OBGYN medical
student loan agreement and $10,000 per OBGYN medical residency bridging loan agreement
annually; however, payments would be subject to appropriations. KUMC indicates that without
additional state appropriation, the expansion could reduce available awards that would have
otherwise gone to students enrolled in primary care programs. KUMC estimates the bill would
increase annual expenditures by $27,000, for an additional 0.4 FTE position to administer the
program.
Any fiscal effect associated with the bill is not reflected in The FY 2024 Governor’s Budget
Report.
Medical Student Loan Program; mental health; OBGYN medical loan repayment fund; osteopathic medical service scholarship;
residency training program; service commitment area; University of Kansas School of Medicine; postsecondary educational
institutions; high school equivalency credentials; general educational development; AO-K; driver training
ccrb_hb2060_01_0000
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