BJCF Bill Clears Another Hurdle

Senate Bill 357 cleared another hurdle last week when the House Local Government Committee voted unanimously to pass it on to the full House for consideration. The bill authorizes the transfer of the former Beloit Juvenile Correctional Facility property to the City of Beloit.

The bill has been placed on "General Orders" on the House Calendar. On Monday, February 15th it was listed on page 10. This morning (February 16) the bill is listed on page 8.

Legislators have been moving the bill through the process quickly so the property can be removed from the states inventory as soon as possible and remove their liability for the utilities and maintenance of the facilities.

Local leaders are standing ready to receive the property. They include the City of Beloit, Mitchell County, USD 273, Mitchell County Partnership for Children, the Early Learning Center and NCK Technical College and possibly others.

Once the House of Representatives approve the bill the Kansas Department of Administration and the Attorney General's office will be involved in handling the final transaction with the City of Beloit.

The House of Representatives meet at 11 A.M. each week day. You can listen in on their debate of bills online at kslegislature.org.

Hearing Set for HB 2450

The Local Government Committee of the Kansas House of Representative will hear testimony on HB 2450 on February 9th. Members of the Beloit Juvenile Correctional Facility Task Force will return to Topeka on the 9th to testify in support of the bill that authorizes the state to transfer the property of the former correctional facility back to the City of Beloit.
HB 2450 was introduced by Representative Clay Aurand. A similar bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Janis Lee. SB 357 was passed on "favorably" by the Senate Ways and Means Committee this past Tuesday. It will be considered by the full Senate within the next few days.
In the meantime members of the local BJCF Task Force are working on details in preparation to receive the property from the state and to put it to use in the best interest of the community.