Printable Format75-4315d. Nongubernatorial appointments subject to confirmation by senate; procedure; information required to be submitted; background investigation. (a) As used in this section:
(1) "Office" means any state office or board, commission, council, committee, authority or other governmental body the members of which are required by law to be appointed by an appointing authority, and which appointment is subject to confirmation by the senate as provided in K.S.A. 75-4315b, and amendments thereto.
(2) "Appointing authority" means a person, other than the governor, who is required by law to make an appointment to an office.
(3) "Chairperson" means the chairperson of the confirmation oversight committee.
(4) "Committee" means the confirmation oversight committee established by K.S.A. 46-2601, and amendments thereto.
(5) "Director" means the director of the Kansas legislative research department or the director's designee.
(b) No person may be appointed to an office unless such person has completed and submitted a nomination form as required by the rules of the committee. No person may be appointed to an office unless such person has filed a statement of substantial interest as required by K.S.A. 46-247, and amendments thereto. A copy of the nomination form and the statement of substantial interest shall be kept on file in the office of the director and shall be subject to disclosure under the Kansas open records act.
(c) No person may be appointed to an office unless such person has consented to a background investigation conducted by the Kansas bureau of investigation. No person may be appointed to an office unless such person is current in the payment of taxes and consents to the release of a tax certification by the Kansas department of revenue which states whether such person is, or is not, current in the payment of taxes.
(d) Any appointing authority who desires to appoint a person to an office shall forward to the chairperson a completed copy of the nomination form, the statement of substantial interest, the consent to the release of the tax certification and a written request that a background investigation be conducted on the person nominated for appointment to an office. Upon receipt of such information, the chairperson shall forward such information and a written direction to the director to request the Kansas bureau of investigation to conduct a background investigation of such nominee in accordance with K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 22-4714, and amendments thereto, and to request the Kansas department of revenue to release the tax certification for such person.
(e) Any information received by the director pursuant to this section from the Kansas department of revenue or the Kansas bureau of investigation shall be kept on file in the office of the director or in a secure location under the control of the director within the Kansas legislative research department. After receipt of information, the director shall notify the appointing authority who nominated the person for appointment to an office and the nominee that the information is available for review in the office of the director. Upon the written request of such appointing authority or the nominee, the director shall allow such appointing authority and the nominee to review the information. Such information shall not be removed from the office of the director and shall not be duplicated or copied in any manner. If the appointing authority chooses to proceed with the nomination of the person for appointment to an office, the director shall notify the chairperson and the vice chairperson of the committee that such information is available for review by either legislator, or both, upon the written request of either legislator, or both.
(f) Any information received by the director pursuant to this section which relates to a person whose nomination for appointment to an office is confirmed by the senate as provided by K.S.A. 75-4315b, and amendments thereto, may be disposed of in the manner provided by K.S.A. 75-3501 et seq., and amendments thereto. Any information received by the director pursuant to this section which relates to a person whose nomination is withdrawn or whose appointment is not confirmed by the senate as provided by K.S.A. 75-4315b, and amendments thereto, shall be destroyed by the director. The destruction of such records shall occur no sooner than one year, and no later than two years, following the withdrawal of the nomination of the appointment or the failure of the senate to confirm the appointment of such person.
History: L. 2008, ch. 121, § 1; L. 2009, ch. 126, § 3; L. 2024, ch. 15, § 95; July 1.