Why It Matters: The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission will soon be experiencing changes following the Governor’s signature on House Bill 2530, which impacts the appointment process for Commissioners. These changes come after the original language of HB 2530 was overhauled during Kansas’ veto session and replaced with the commission appointment language that was discussed earlier in the session under a different bill number, which failed to move.
Highlights:
- House Bill 2530, which will alter the appointment process for Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commissioners, was recently signed by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly.
- The bill, as originally written, concerned vehicle insurance but the original language was struck during the veto session and replaced with language similar to what was originally introduced in Senate Bill 347 (SB 347) which failed earlier in the session after missing a key legislative deadline.
- With the approval of HB 2530, there will be several changes to the appointment process for Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commissioners.
As previously reported by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) during Kansas’ veto session, a Conference Committee took HB 2530, a bill that originally delt with vehicle insurance, completely removed the language of that bill, and inserted language similar to the language introduced in SB 347, which failed to meet its deadline earlier in the session. While the changes now approved via HB 2530 will take effect, this version does not include language that would abolish the current Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission as was called for in SB 347 (and unlike some of the dramatic overhauls we saw attempted in several other states this session).
Since HB 2530 was approved by the Governor, there will be several changes made to the appointment process for Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commissioners. Before HB 2530, the seven commissioners were all selected by the Governor, and did not require any legislative approval. The new appointment process will see four commissioners selected by the Governor, one selected by the President of the Senate, one selected by the Speaker of the House, and one selected by the Attorney General. HB 2530 also changes how the Chair of the Commission is selected. Previously, the Governor selected the Chair. Now, the Chair will be elected by the other members of the Commission and will serve a term that will not exceed two years.
While the appointment process is now much different, it is reflective of how the process is handled in some other states. To be appointed, the new Commissioners must be individuals who participate in our outdoor traditions, as demonstrated by their possession of a qualifying hunting or fishing license. It is also important to note that HB 2530 was not a push from anti-hunters to get seats on the Commission. In fact, some of the most important language in the bill requires Commissioners to uphold Section 21 of the Kansas State Constitution, which ensures the right to hunt, fish, and trap wildlife, highlighting the role that such amendments can play on safeguarding our outdoor traditions.
