Late Friday night after 6 hours of budget debate the Kansas House finally adjourned and Rep. Anthony Brown, Chair of the House Commerce Committee, decided to hold a meeting where the Committee then took action on several anti-worker bills that change Unemployment and workers compensation benefits. Resorting to procedural moves and a 'gut and go' to deny the public the opportunity to comment on the bills, the committee passed out Senate Bills 413 and 416, and now both are headed to the full House next week.
The bill numbers keep changing, but the goals for the Brownback Administration remain the same: attack working Kansans and make life easier for employers.
Senate Bill 413, after a 'gut & go', is now another version of Brownback Secretary of Labor Karin Brownlee’s court-packing scheme (Hb 2531). It gives employers 5 members of the 7 member nominating committee for work comp and UI judges. How is that fair? What kind of judges do you think will be chosen by that committee?
Senate Bill 416 is now a combination of several anti-worker attacks. It allows the Department of Labor to leave workers high and dry if their employer challenges unpaid wage claims in court. Under current law, the Department of Labor is there to defend unpaid wage claims under $10,000 (SB 355). But in keeping with the Department’s new direction under Brownback appointee Karin Brownlee, the Department of Labor is now focused on defending employers and so for these unpaid wage claims, you would be out on your own to find an attorney to handle your case for you.
Senate Bill 416 also now contains a big change to unemployment benefits. It changes UI law to treat earned wages (such as vacation time) as justification for delaying unemployment benefits (Hb 2638). If you get a lump sum payout when you are laid off – regardless if that payout is for wages already earned – your unemployment benefits would be held back. The bill also lowers employer contributions to the UI Trust Fund at a time when the State is borrowing money (and paying interest on it) to pay benefits!