KS
Kansas House Bill HB2640

Kansas 2023-2024 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2640

Introduced
1/31/24  
Refer
1/31/24  

Caption

Concerning research at Kansas public postsecondary educational institutions, creating the Kansas strategic research act, establishing the Kansas strategic research fund, making transfers to such fund, prescribing guidelines for expenditure of moneys credited thereto and the powers, duties, and functions of the state board of regents, requiring annual reports to certain committees of the legislature.

Impact

Beginning on July 1, 2024, the bill mandates the transfer of $10 million annually from the state general fund to the Kansas strategic research fund for a period extending to 2033. The funds will be allocated as per the guidelines set out in the legislation, which emphasizes the necessity for institutions to develop and submit comprehensive plans detailing how their funding will support research and benefit the state's economy. This initiative is expected to bolster research efforts significantly within Kansas, potentially leading to economic advancements and higher educational standards in the region.

Summary

House Bill 2640, also known as the Kansas Strategic Research Act, is designed to enhance the research capabilities of public postsecondary educational institutions in Kansas. The primary objective of the bill is to create the Kansas Strategic Research Fund, which will provide financial support through grants to eligible institutions, facilitating the recruitment and retention of research faculty that align with the state's economic development strategies. The bill stipulates that these institutions must match grant funds from non-state sources on a dollar-for-dollar basis, ensuring significant investment in local educational resources.

Contention

One notable point of contention surrounding HB2640 is the requirement for institutions to provide matching funds, which may pose challenges for some educational entities, particularly those with limited financial resources. Critics argue that while the intent to enhance research capacity is commendable, the financial burden of matching contributions could disproportionately affect smaller institutions. Moreover, there is concern regarding the oversight and discretion given to the Board of Regents in awarding grants, which some fear may lead to inequitable distributions based on biased decision-making.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2647

Concerning rural communities in Kansas, creating the Kansas rural downtown revitalization act, establishing the rural downtown revitalization fund, making transfers to such fund, prescribing guidelines for the expenditure of moneys credited thereto and the duties of the department of commerce and requiring annual reports to certain committees of the legislature.

KS SB18

Enacting the Kansas campus restoration act to address deferred maintenance and demolition of facilities at postsecondary educational institutions, establishing the Kansas campus restoration fund in the state treasury and authorizing certain transfers from the state general fund to such fund.

KS SB552

Enacting the Kansas campus restoration act to address deferred maintenance and demolition of facilities at postsecondary educational institutions, establishing the Kansas campus restoration fund in the state treasury and authorizing certain transfers from the state general fund to such fund.

KS HB2541

Establishing the state conservation fund, the working lands conservation fund, the wildlife conservation fund and the Kansas outdoors fund, providing for the use of moneys from such funds, requiring certain reports to the governor and the legislature and authorizing certain transfers to and from such funds.

KS SB203

Enacting the Kansas campus restoration act to address deferred maintenance at state educational institutions, establishing the Kansas campus restoration fund in the state treasury and authorizing certain transfers from the state general fund to such fund.

KS AB700

Public records: exceptions to disclosure: public postsecondary educational institutions: researchers.

KS HB2063

Establishing various conservation funds, allocating state moneys for conservation, requiring reports to the governor and legislature, and authorizing fund transfers and providing for the use of such funds by the Kansas department of agriculture and the Kansas department of wildlife and parks.

KS SB382

Making and concerning appropriations for fiscal years 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028 for state agencies, increasing expenditure limitations, authorizing certain transfers, funding of the fiscal year 2024 salary increase for certain state employees, transferring funds from the legislature employment security fund of the legislative coordinating council to the university of Kansas and Wichita state university health collaboration fund of the university of Kansas, to the Wichita state university and university of Kansas health collaboration fund of Wichita state university and to the state general fund and authorizing certain expenditures from the build Kansas matching grant fund.

KS SB667

Relating to a study on the feasibility of requiring certain researchers to make research papers available to the public.

KS SB1188

Relating to a study on the feasibility of requiring certain researchers to make research papers available to the public.

Similar Bills

CA SB829

California Institute for Scientific Research: CalRx Initiative: vaccines.

CA SB934

California Childhood Cancer Research Fund Act.

CA AB1411

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TX HB1000

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NJ S3191

Permits certain transportation research contracts to be awarded to private research institutions of higher education and other entities.

CA SB453

California State University Agricultural Research Institute grant program: Agricultural Biosecurity Fund.

TX HB51

Relating to measures to enhance and maintain the quality of state universities, including funding and incentives to support emerging public research universities, to the abolition of the higher education fund, to the institutional groupings under the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's accountability system, to the independent status of Lamar Institute of Technology, to research conducted by public universities and other state entities, and to the authorization of revenue bonds for certain institutions of higher education.

TX HB1302

Relating to the creation of the Texas Mental Health Research Institute; authorizing the issuance of bonds.