46-3301. Joint committee on Kansas security; membership; appointment; powers and duties; meetings; compensation. (a) There is hereby established a joint committee on Kansas security which shall consist of five members of the house of representatives and five members of the senate. Three of the members who are representatives shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, three members who are senators shall be appointed by the president of the senate, two members who are representatives shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives and two members who are senators shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate. The speaker of the house of representatives shall designate a representative member to be chairperson or vice-chairperson of the committee as provided by this section. The president of the senate shall designate a senator member to be chairperson or vice-chairperson of the joint committee as provided by this section.

(b) The Kansas bureau of investigation shall conduct a criminal history record check and background investigation of all committee staff members of the legislative research department and the office of the revisor of statutes.

(c) A quorum of the joint committee on Kansas security shall be six. All actions of the committee may be taken by a majority of those present when there is a quorum. In odd-numbered years the chairperson of the joint committee shall be the designated member of the house of representatives from the convening of the regular session in that year until the convening of the regular session in the next ensuing year. In even-numbered years the chairperson of the joint committee shall be the designated member of the senate from the convening of the regular session of that year until the convening of the regular session of the next ensuing year. The vice-chairperson shall exercise all of the powers of the chairperson in the absence of the chairperson.

(d) The joint committee on Kansas security may meet at any time and at any place within the state on call of the chairperson. Members of the joint committee shall receive compensation and travel expenses and subsistence expenses or allowances as provided in K.S.A. 75-3212, and amendments thereto, when attending meetings of such committee authorized by the legislative coordinating council.

(e) Amounts paid under authority of this section shall be paid from appropriations for legislative expense and vouchers therefor shall be prepared by the director of legislative administrative services and approved by the chairperson or vice-chairperson of the legislative coordinating council.

(f) The joint committee on Kansas security may introduce such legislation as deemed necessary in performing such committee's functions.

(g) The joint committee on Kansas security shall have the services of the legislative research department, the office of the revisor of statutes and other central legislative staff service agencies.

(h) The joint committee on Kansas security shall study, monitor, review and make recommendations for the following:

(1) Matters relating to the security of state officers or employees;

(2) security of buildings and property under the ownership or control of the state of Kansas;

(3) matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility;

(4) matters relating to the security of the infrastructure of Kansas, including any information system; and

(5) measures for the improvement of security for the state of Kansas.

(i) The joint committee on Kansas security shall review and monitor federal moneys received by the state for the purposes of homeland security and other related security matters.

(j) The joint committee on Kansas security shall report to the legislature on or before December 31 each year any findings and recommendations concerning Kansas security which the joint committee deems appropriate.

History: L. 2004, ch. 134, § 1; July 1.