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Session of 2026
HOUSE BILL No. 2708
By Representative Roeser
2-4
AN ACT concerning state boards, commissions and authorities;
establishing within the legislative branch the office of the executive
director for Kansas advisory commissions and the advisory commission
on Asian American and Pacific Islander affairs; transferring the
Hispanic and Latino American affairs commission and the advisory
commission on African-American affairs to the legislative branch;
requiring the executive director to serve each advisory commission;
requiring legislative leadership and the governor to appoint members to
each advisory commission; amending K.S.A. 74-6501, 74-6502, 74-
6503, 74-9901, 74-9902 and 74-9903 and repealing the existing
sections; also repealing K.S.A. 74-6507, 74-6508, 74-6509, 74-9904
and 74-9906.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
New Section 1. (a) There is hereby established within the legislative
branch of state government the office of the executive director for Kansas
advisory commissions. The executive director shall be a full-time
employee in the unclassified service under the Kansas civil service act to
be appointed by the legislative coordinating council and shall receive
compensation as determined by the legislative coordinating council. The
executive director shall serve as the administrative officer for:
(1) The Hispanic and Latino American affairs commission established
pursuant to K.S.A. 74-6501, and amendments thereto;
(2) the advisory commission on African-American affairs established
pursuant to K.S.A. 74-9901, and amendments thereto; and
(3) the advisory commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander
affairs established pursuant to section 2, and amendments thereto.
(b) The executive director shall serve each such commission by
gathering information, disseminating findings of fact and other
information, forwarding proposals and evaluations to the legislature and
various state agencies, carrying out public education programs, conducting
hearings and conferences and performing other duties necessary for the
proper operation of each commission.
(c) In addition to the executive director, each commission shall be
supported by one unpaid commission director and a shared paid
administrative staff, who both shall work with and at the direction of the
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executive director. Each such commission director shall be appointed by
the legislative coordinating council.
New Sec. 2. (a) There is hereby established the advisory commission
on Asian American and Pacific Islander affairs, referred to in this section
as the commission. The commission shall report directly and be advisory
to the legislature and engage with legislators to draft legislation, as needed,
prior to each regular session.
(b) The commission shall consist of seven members appointed as
follows:
(1) One member appointed by the president of the senate;
(2) one member appointed by the majority leader of the senate;
(3) one member appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
(4) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives;
(5) one member appointed by the majority leader of the house of
representatives;
(6) one member appointed by the minority leader of the house of
representatives; and
(7) one member appointed by the governor.
(c) (1) Not more than four members shall be members of the same
political party.
(2) Subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 75-4315c, and amendments
thereto, each congressional district in the state of Kansas shall be
represented on the commission by at least one member who is a resident of
the district at the time of appointment, and the remainder shall represent
the state at large.
(3) Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term.
(4) Members shall serve three-year terms and until successors are
appointed and qualified.
(5) Each initial member of the commission shall be appointed by the
respective appointing authority on or before October 15, 2026.
(d) (1) The commission shall organize annually by the election of a
chairperson from the commission's membership.
(2) The commission shall meet at least four times a year. The
chairperson may call additional meetings.
(3) A majority of members shall constitute a quorum.
(4) Members attending meetings shall be paid amounts provided in
K.S.A. 75-3223(e), and amendments thereto.
(e) The commission shall be served by the executive director of
Kansas advisory commissions, a commission director and administrative
staff pursuant to the provisions of section 1, and amendments thereto.
(f) The commission shall have the following functions, powers and
duties:
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(1) Gather and disseminate information and conduct hearings,
conferences and special studies on problems and programs concerning
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders;
(2) coordinate, assist and cooperate with the efforts of state
departments and agencies to serve the needs of Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders, especially in the areas of culture, education,
employment, health, housing, welfare and recreation;
(3) develop, coordinate and assist other public and private
associations and organizations with understanding the problems of Asian
Americans and Pacific Islanders;
(4) develop, coordinate and assist other public and private
associations and organizations to provide services to Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders;
(5) propose new programs concerning Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders;
(6) evaluate existing programs and proposed legislation concerning
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders;
(7) stimulate public awareness of the concerns and problems of Asian
Americans and Pacific Islanders by conducting a program of public
education;
(8) conduct training programs for community leadership and service
project staff;
(9) accept contributions to assist in the implementation and
administration of this section and seek and enlist the cooperation of
private, charitable, religious, labor, civic and benevolent organizations for
such purposes;
(10) solicit, receive and expend federal funds to assist in the
implementation and administration of this section and enter into contracts
and agreements with any federal agency for such purposes; and
(11) establish advisory committees on special subjects.
Sec. 3. K.S.A. 74-6501 is hereby amended to read as follows: 74-
6501. There is hereby created the Hispanic and Latino American affairs
commission hereinafter , referred to in this article as the "commission."
The commission shall be advisory to the governor and shall be legislature
within and a part of the office of the governor and a part thereof
legislative branch of the state and engage with legislators to draft
legislation, as needed, prior to each regular session.
Sec. 4. K.S.A. 74-6502 is hereby amended to read as follows: 74-
6502. (a) (1) The commission shall consist of seven members. No Not
more than four members shall be members of the same political party.
Subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 75-4315c, and amendments thereto,
each congressional district in the state of Kansas shall be represented on
the commission by at least one member who is a resident of the district at
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the time of appointment , and the remainder shall represent the state at
large.
(2) Commission members shall be appointed by the governor as
follows:
(A) One member appointed by the president of the senate;
(B) one member appointed by the majority leader of the senate;
(C) one member appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
(D) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives;
(E) one member appointed by the majority leader of the house of
representatives;
(F) one member appointed by the minority leader of the house of
representatives; and
(G) one member appointed by the governor.
(3) A person appointed to fill a vacancy which that occurs prior to the
expiration of a term shall be appointed for the unexpired term. Except as
provided by subsection (b), each member of the commission shall be
appointed for a three-year term.
(b) (1) Members shall be appointed for terms of three years and until
successors are appointed and qualified.
(2) Members of the commission serving on the effective date of this
act shall continue to serve until successors are appointed pursuant to this
section.
(3) New appointments shall be made by each appointing authority on
or before October 15, 2026.
(c) Nothing in this subsection section shall be construed as
prohibiting the reappointment of members who had been appointed prior
to the effective date of this act.
Sec. 5. K.S.A. 74-6503 is hereby amended to read as follows: 74-
6503. (a) The commission shall elect one of its members as chairperson
and one as secretary to serve a one-year term.
(b) The commission shall be served by the executive director of
Kansas advisory commissions, a commission director and administrative
staff pursuant to the provisions of section 1, and amendments thereto.
Sec. 6. K.S.A. 74-9901 is hereby amended to read as follows: 74-
9901. There is hereby established the advisory commission on African-
American affairs hereinafter , referred to in this section as the advisory
commission. The advisory commission shall be advisory to the governor
and shall be legislature within and a part of the office of the governor and
a part thereof legislative branch of the state and engage with legislators to
draft legislation, as needed, prior to each regular session.
Sec. 7. K.S.A. 74-9902 is hereby amended to read as follows: 74-
9902. (a) The advisory commission shall consist of seven members. The
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membership of the advisory commission shall include:
(1) One member appointed by the president of the senate;
(2) one member appointed by the majority leader of the senate;
(3) one member appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
(3) (4) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives;
(4) (5) one member appointed by the majority leader of the house of
representatives;
(6) one member appointed by the minority leader of the house of
representatives; and
(5) three members (7) one member appointed by the governor. The
terms of members appointed prior to July 1, 2000, shall expire June 30,
2000.
(b) (1) At the expiration of terms in the year 2000: (1) Members
appointed by the president of the senate and the minority leader of the
senate shall be appointed for terms of three years; (2) members appointed
by the speaker of the house of representatives and the minority leader of
the house of representatives shall be appointed for terms of two years; and
(3) members appointed by the governor shall be appointed for terms of one
year. Thereafter, Members shall be appointed for terms of three years and
until a successor is appointed and qualified.
(2) Members of the commission serving on the effective date of this
act shall continue to serve until successors are appointed pursuant to this
section.
(3) New appointments shall be made by each appointing authority on
or before October 15, 2026.
(c) NoNot more than four members shall be members of the same
political party. Each congressional district in the state of Kansas shall be
represented on the advisory commission by at least one member who is a
resident of the district at the time of appointment. Appointing authorities
shall consult each other to assure effectuation of the foregoing
requirement. A person appointed to fill a vacancy which that occurs prior
to the expiration of a term shall be appointed for the unexpired term.
Except as provided by this section, each member of the commission shall
be appointed for a three-year term and until a successor is appointed and
qualified.
Sec. 8. K.S.A. 74-9903 is hereby amended to read as follows: 74-
9903. (a) The advisory commission shall organize annually by the election
from its membership of a chairperson and a secretary. The advisory
commission may adopt such rules of procedure as the commission deems
necessary for the conduct of business.
(b) The commission shall be served by the executive director of
Kansas advisory commissions, a commission director and administrative
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staff pursuant to the provisions of section 1, and amendments thereto.
(c) The advisory commission shall meet at least four times a year.
The chairperson may call additional meetings. A majority of members
shall constitute a quorum.
(c)(d) Members of the advisory commission attending meetings of
such commission shall be paid amounts provided in subsection (e) of
K.S.A. 75-3223(e), and amendments thereto.
Sec. 9. K.S.A. 74-6501, 74-6502, 74-6503, 74-6507, 74-6508, 74-
6509, 74-9901, 74-9902, 74-9903, 74-9904 and 74-9906 are hereby
repealed.
Sec. 10. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.
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