Division of the Budget
Landon State Office Building Phone: (785) 296-2436
900 SW Jackson Street, Room 504 adam.c.proffitt@ks.gov
Topeka, KS 66612 http://budget.kansas.gov
Adam Proffitt, Director Laura Kelly, Governor
Division of the Budget
March 15, 2023
The Honorable Robert Olson, Chairperson
Senate Committee on Utilities
300 SW 10th Avenue, Room 548-S
Topeka, Kansas 66612
Dear Senator Olson:
SUBJECT: Fiscal Note for SB 284 by Senate Committee on Ways and Means
In accordance with KSA 75-3715a, the following fiscal note concerning SB 284 is
respectfully submitted to your committee.
SB 284 would enact the Blind Information Access Act. The bill would require the State
Librarian to contract with an organization to deliver on-demand information access services to
persons who are blind, visually impaired, deafblind, print disabled or who have another disability.
These services would include access to digital content through audio, electronic text and braille
reading technologies and other related services, including Kansas specific publications, national
publications, international publications, breaking news sources and localized emergency weather
alerts. The bill would clarify that on-demand information access services would be provided using
telecommunication services or internet services. The State Librarian would be required to submit,
on or before January 8, 2024, a report to the Legislature that specifies an estimate of the cost to
enter into a contract to provide on-demand information access services.
On March 15, 2024, and on March 15 each year thereafter, the State Librarian would be
required to certify the cost to enter into or renew a contract to the Director of Accounts and Reports
and the administrator of the Kansas Universal Service Fund (KUSF). The amount certified would
be transferred by the KUSF administrator to the State Treasurer and credited to the Blind
Information Access Fund that would be created by the bill. Expenditures from the Blind
Information Access Fund would be made to implement the provisions of this bill in accordance
with appropriation acts. The State Librarian would be required to promote information access
services to eligible individuals. The bill would take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.
The Honorable Robert Olson, Chairperson
Page 2—SB 284
The State Library indicates the enactment of SB 284 would increase its annual expenditures
by $99,000 beginning in FY 2024. The agency’s estimate includes $30,000 to contract with an
organization to deliver on-demand information access services; $54,000 in salaries and wages for
1.00 FTE position to promote information access services to eligible individuals; and $15,000 for
expenses associated with outreach, periodical subscriptions, and administrative costs. To fund
these costs, the agency would require additional State General Fund appropriations of $69,000,
with an additional $30,000 from the newly created Blind Information Access Fund through an
annual transfer from the Kansas Universal Service Fund (KUSF) upon certification by the Director
of Accounts and Reports and the KUSF administrator. The Kansas Corporation Commission
indicates any fiscal effect on its operations resulting from the enactment of SB 284 would be
negligible. Any fiscal effect associated with SB 284 is not reflected in The FY 2024 Governor’s
Budget Report.
Sincerely,
Adam Proffitt
Director of the Budget
cc: Jennifer Ragsdale, State Library