The 2009 Legislative Session, which ran January 12th through adjournment on May 9th, was dominated by an effort to deal with the national recession-caused budget shortfalls and the tough decisions necessary to achieve a balanced budget, as is required by the Kansas Constitution.

An important, and time-consuming issue related to the proposed coal-fired plants in Holcomb, KS, which ultimately was approved after a compromise was reached by the plant owner, Sunflower, and the newly appointed Governor Mark Parkinson.  This occurred after two years of stalemate between the legislature and Governor Sebelius over the plant.  The Legislature passed legislation to allow the plant 3 times during the past two years, and the Governor vetoed the bill on all three occasions. 

Members of the KHS were not seriously threatened by legislation this year at the State Capitol.  Hein Law Firm monitored 12 bills of interest to KHS.  Bills being monitored ranged from legislation impacting the licensing board for the hearing instruments dispensers, to the delay in the reduction of the franchise and the estate tax, both of which would impact the businesses of the hearing professionals. Legislation monitored by the lobbying group included the appropriations bill for the hearing instruments dispensers licensing board (the Legislature "swept" $885.00 out of the Board of Examiners of Hearing Instrument Inspectors fee fund to assist the state general fund budget shortage; however, they did NOT touch any funds of KDHE for audiologists).   Although legislation requiring health insurance companies to reimburse the costs of hearing aids was not proposed this year as it was last year, the issue still remains and some legislators will continue to seek its passage in future years. 

This year, there were no efforts at modifications to licensure requirements for either hearing instrument dispensers, or audiologists.