Printable Format25-323. Joint committee on vacancy appointments; appointed, when; membership; meetings. (a) Except as otherwise provided, within 10 calendar days of a vacancy occurring in the office of United States senator, the office of state treasurer or the office of the commissioner of insurance, the joint committee on vacancy appointments shall be established by appointment of the members of the joint committee. The joint committee shall consist of 12 members as follows:
(1) The president of the senate, or a member of the senate designated by the president;
(2) one member of the senate appointed by the president;
(3) the speaker of the house of representatives, or a member of the house of representatives designated by the speaker;
(4) one member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker;
(5) two members of the senate appointed by the majority leader of the senate;
(6) two members of the house of representatives appointed by the majority leader of the house of representatives;
(7) one member of the senate appointed by the vice president of the senate;
(8) one member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker pro tem of the house of representatives;
(9) one member of the senate appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and
(10) one member of the house of representatives appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives.
(b) Of the members named or appointed under subsections (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(5) and (a)(7), each of this state's congressional districts shall be represented by at least one such member who shall be a resident thereof. Of the members named or appointed under subsections (a)(3), (a)(4), (a)(6) and (a)(8), each of this state's congressional districts shall be represented by at least one such member who shall be a resident thereof.
(c) The joint committee on vacancy appointments shall not be established when a vacancy occurs less than 90 calendar days prior to December 31 in any year in which a general election for such office is held, unless the person vacating such office was elected to such office at such general election and was an incumbent in such election.
(d) The president of the senate, or the president's designee, shall be the chairperson of the joint committee and the speaker of the house of representatives, or the speaker's designee, shall be the vice chairperson. The vice chairperson shall exercise all the powers of the chairperson in the absence of the chairperson.
(e) The joint committee on vacancy appointments shall 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.
(f) The first meeting of the joint committee shall be held within 30 calendar days of a vacancy occurring in the office of United States senator, the office of state treasurer or the office of the commissioner of insurance.
History: L. 2025, ch. 25, ยง 2; April 10.