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 C. Proffitt, Director Laura Kelly, Governor Division of the Budget March 3, 2025 The Honorable Beverly Gossage, Chairperson Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare 300 SW 10th Avenue, Room 142-S Topeka, Kansas 66612 Dear Senator Gossage: SUBJECT: Fiscal Note for SB 276 by Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs In accordance with KSA 75-3715a, the following fiscal note concerning SB 276 is respectfully submitted to your committee. SB 276 would require the State Fire Marshal to complete annual training in three areas: person-centered care through LeadingAge Kansas, Alzheimer’s response training through the Alzheimer’s Association, and intellectual and developmental disabilities training through InterHab. The bill would also remove the State Fire Marshal from direct involvement in the adult care home licensure process. Instead, the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) could subcontract with the Fire Marshal’s office to conduct life safety code surveys in adult care homes. These surveys would follow state and federal requirements, with findings submitted to KDADS for review. The final determinations about deficiencies, citations, and enforcement actions would be made by KDADS, not the State Fire Marshal. According to KDADS, enactment of SB 276 would increase expenditures by a total of $1.3 million, including $265,220 from the State General Fund for FY 2026. The agency estimates that expenditures would increase by 2.5 percent each following year. The expenditures would continue beyond FY 2027. KDADS estimates that it would need a minimum of 12.00 positions to establish a Life Safety Code and Emergency Preparedness Division at KDADS to inspect facilities licensed under KSA 39-923b and KSA 39-2002. The Division would ensure compliance of both state and federal standards as well the standards KDADS would need to adopt by reference to carry out these duties, such as National Fire Protection Associations minimum standard of practice for healthcare settings. The Honorable Beverly Gossage, Chairperson Page 2—SB 276 The Office of the State Fire Marshal indicates that enactment of SB 276 would increase fee fund expenditures by $75,000 beginning in FY 2025. The Office would be facing substantial operational challenges due to the mandatory training requirements for staff. With 75 employees required to attend three training courses, the Office would anticipate a loss of 175 workdays, assuming all courses could be completed in a single workday. This would require travel to a central location, incurring significant expenses such as mileage, lodging, and per diem, which the Office estimates would cost a minimum of $40,000. Additionally, the agency’s prevention team, consisting of 34 employees (primarily inspectors), would lose 90 workdays, which would necessitate approximately 720 hours of overtime to complete inspections, at a cost of around $33,840. When factoring in these various costs, the financial and operational effect of this training requirement would exceed $75,000, significantly straining resources and requiring adjustments to meet inspection demands. This estimate does not include the offset to costs if there would be a fee for attending training. Any fiscal effect associated with SB 276 is not reflected in The FY 2026 Governor’s Budget Report. Sincerely, Adam C. Proffitt Director of the Budget cc: Leigh Keck, Department for Aging & Disability Services Jamie Rodvelt, Office of the State Fire Marshal