Kansas Attorney General Opinions

Community colleges are required to use the gen- erally accepted accounting principles embodied in the chart of accounts specifically prescribed for community colleges under authority of K.S.A. 71-211, and may not exercise the authority granted by sub- section (d) of K.S.A. 1980 Supp. 75-1120a (as amended by L. 1981, ch. 327, §1) to obtain a waiver of the use of such principles required by subsec- tion (a) thereof.

The requirements of K.S.A. 1980 Supp. 25-3602 pre- scribing the content of petitions governed by K.S.A. 25-3601 et seq. are mandatory. Thus, a pe- tition is invalid if it does not comply with the requirements of K.S.A. 1980 Supp. 25-3602(c) that the petition contain a verification by the peti- tion's circulator, to the effect that such circu- lator personally witnessed the signing of the pe- tition by each person whose name appears thereon.

A municipality may not invest idle funds in its own" - no-fundwarants. Entitlement (federal revenue sharing) funds appropriated or budgeted by units of local government on or after January 1, 1977, may be used to pay principal and interest on no-fund warrants issued by a municipality. Where a municipality does not intend to issue bonds to finance an improvement, temporary notes may not be ,

The mortgage registration fee is measured by the principal debt or obligation secured by a mortgage of real property. If the principal debt or obligation secured by a mortgage of real property is increased, an additional mortgage registration fee is payable. In such situations, a mortgage registration fee need be paid only upon the amount of the new consideration given the mortgagor by the mortgagee, and upon which no mortgage registration fee has been paid. Cited herein: K.S.A. 1980 Supp. 79-3102. *

A city may use moneys from its industrial fund to pay for improvements to a runway at the municipal airport, where the runway improvement bears a direct relation to the statutory purpose of inducing industries to locate in or near the city.

A hospital district, operating as a body politic and corporate, has the power to request a partition in order to effect the disposition of property authorized under K.S.A. 80-21,100. In order to comply with K.S.A. 80-2195, however, either this property or the proceeds from its sale must be used for "hospital purposes" directly and immediately benefitting the hospital.

In computing the replacement value of a curb or sidewalk for purposes of K.S.A. 1980 Supp. 58-1301 et seq., as amended by L. 1981, ch. 343, a lineal block measurement is to be used.

Vehicles owned by a corporation which provides animal control services to a city may be equipped with a red light and/or siren only if such vehicles are designated as "authorized emergency vehicles" by the secretary of transportation. The power to determine whether a vehicle meets the statutory and regulatory requirements for "authorized emergency vehicle" status rests with the secretary of transportation.

October , 1981 ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION NO. 81-224 The Honorable Gerald Friedeman State Representative, One Hundred-Twelfth District 2603 Forest Great Bend, Kansas 67530 Re: State Departments; Public Officers, Employees -- Municipal Accounting Board -- Obtaining Audit of a Third …

K.S.A. 48-929 creates a duty on the part of Kansas counties and certain Kansas cities to formulate plans and assemble agencies capable of providing disaster relief. The statute does not state that such cities and counties must budget and expend moneys for these plans and agencies; however, if cities and counties ignore their statutory duty, an action for mandamus will lie to compel them to establish and maintain emergency preparedness plans and agencies, even if compliance with the order requires the expenditure of money. Cited herein: K.S.A. 48-929, 60-801.

For criminal conduct which the State has declared to constitute a felony, municipalities may not exercise concurrent jurisdiction by redefining such offense as a misdemeanor in violation of municipal ordinance.

Moneys in the special alcohol programs fund created by K.S.A. 1980 Supp. 79-41a04 may not be expended for capital improvements.

A city may not use moneys from its industrial fund to pay legal fees incurred by a group of citizens in challenging the decision of a school board to close a local school.

Although written requests for notice of government meetings are preferred and the absence of a written request makes prosecution under the Kansas Open Meetings Act nearly impossible, oral requests for notice are to be honored. In addition, meetings for the discussion of personnel matters of non-elected personnel may be held in executive session, but only after the notice requirements and procedures for recessing into closed sessions have been followed.

A city of the second class may not provide for the term of office of any city officer by means of an "employment" contract with such officer, and in light of the provisions of K.S.A. 14-201, a second class city may not provide for a two-year term of office for any of its officers, except pursuant to a charter ordinance.

While K.S.A. 80-112 does not require an election to approve the sale of certain township property by townships located in certain counties, unless the. criteria of that statute are met the sale of township property must be accomplished in accordance with K.S.A. 80-109, which requires that such sale be approved by the township's electors. Cited herein: K.S.A. 25-2502, 80-109, 80-110, 80-112. * Dear Ms. Page:

Absent statutory authority the Kansas State Grain Inspection Department may not charge additional inspection fees to pay for federal supervision fees imposed by 7 U.S.C.A. §79(j)(2). Cited herein: K.S.A. 34-101, 34-103a, 7 U.S.C.A. §79.

Unlike Kansas cities and counties which exercise constitutional or statutory "home rule" powers, school districts are creatures of statute and, as such, enjoy only those powers expressly confer- red, by law, together with those implied powers which are necessary for the effective exercise and discharge of the powers and duties expressly conferred. No statutory authority exists, either expressly conferred or necessarily implied, author- izing the expenditure of school districts funds to contribute to a lobbying effort on a proposed state-wide severance tax.

K.S.A. 59-1701, as amended by Section 1 of Chapter 226 of the 1981 Session Laws of Kansas, does not authorize a bank or other corporation, organized under the laws of, and having a principal place of business in, another state, to act as a trustee in the state of Kansas with respect to the issuance of industrial revenue bonds by a Kansas municipality.

September 14, 1981 ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION NO. 81-214 Mr. C. E. Russell Wellington City Attorney City Hall 202 North Washington Wellington, Kansas 67152 Re: Cities and Municipalities -- Port Authorities -- City Councilman as Port Authority Board Member Synopsis: Because of the d…

September 11, 1981 ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION NO. 81- 213 John Dekker Director of Law City of Wichita City Hall, 13th Floor Wichita, Kansas 67202 Re: Cities and Municipalities -- Additions -- Effect of Annexation Upon Territory of Fire District Synopsis: K.S.A. 12-503a provides alt…

Three townships may enter into an interlocal agree- ment for the creation of a recreation district. Upon approval of the voters of each township, each township may levy a tax for recreation purposes not to exceed 2 mills and produce revenues of not to exceed $1,000 per township. Each township may expend such revenues so collected for the opera- tion of a joint recreation district.

September 10, 1981 ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION NO. 81-211 Roy P. Britton Banking Commissioner Banking Department Suite 600, 818 Kansas Ave. Topeka, Kansas 66612 Re: Banks and Banking -- Deposit of Public Moneys -- Bank's Eligibility as Depository Cities and Municipalities -- School …

September 10, 1981 ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION NO. 81-210 Marvin S. Steinert, Commissioner Savings and Loan Department 503 Kansas Avenue, Room 220 Topeka, Kansas 66603 Re: Contracts and Promises -- Interest and Charges -- Extension of Most Favored Lender Doctrine to State Savings an…

There are no statutory obstacles to a member of the board of education of a unified school district simultaneously holding either of the offices of county attorney or municipal judge of a city of the second class. Moreover, the common law doctrine of incompatibility of offices does not preclude either of such simultaneous incumbencies.

September10,1981 ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION NO. 81- Robert L. Elliott Consumer Credit Commissioner Suite 1114, 535 Kansas Ave. Topeka, Kansas 66603 Re: Consumer Credit Code -- Finance Charges -- Addi- tional Charges Not Included Therein Synopsis: A lender who enters into a consumer…

September 1, 1981 ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION NO. 81-208 The Honorable Gerald L. Karr State Senator, Seventeenth District R.R. 2, P. 0. Box 101 Emporia, Kansas 66801 Re: Counties and County Officers -- County Commis- sioners -- Expending Public Funds for Lobbying; Public Purpose Syn…

An individual who is employed to act solely as "tour guide" for a developer, and whose functions and duties do not involve assisting or directing in the procuring of prospective buyers or customers or otherwise contravene the provisions of K.S.A. 1980 Supp. 58-3035(c)(8), is not required to be licensed as a real estate broker or salesperson.

August 31, 1981 ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION NO. 81-206 Mrs. Beth Fenske Route 2 Mayetta, Kansas 66509 Re: Schools--Boards of Education; Organization, Powers, Finances--Special Meetings Synopsis: Under K.S.A. 72-8205 (as amended by L.1981, ch. 293, §1), a school board member may waiv…

A county may not require a sheriff to enforce city ordinances pursuant to an Interlocal agreement. Attorney General Opinion No. 78-50 is withdrawn.

The ownership by a township of a residence which is provided to the road supervisor is a public purpose, insofar as the supervisor also oversees the equipment, materials and supplies of the town- ship that are kept on the premises, as well as maintaining the township hall. Accordingly, in the event that such residence is damaged or de- stroyed by fire, the township may issue general obligation bonds following an election approving same, with the proceeds used for repair or recon- struction.

August 25, 1981 ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION NO. 81-203 Patrick J. Hurley Secretary of Administration State Capitol, Room 263-E Topeka, Kansas 66612 Re: State Departments -- Department of Administration -- State Capital Improvement Projects Not Subject to Municipal Building Codes Syn…

August 25, 1981 ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION No. 81-202 David W. Kester Kansas State Department of Education 120 East Tenth Street Topeka, Kansas 66612 Re: Schools -- State Music Festivals -- Duplication of Copyrighted Works Synopsis: Duplication of copyrighted musical scores for the…

Moneys deposited in the state treasury and credited to the "forestry, fish and game commission fee fund" are not custodial moneys within the meaning of the State Moneys Law, K.S.A. 75-4201 et seq. Interest earned on such moneys must be credited to the state general fund, pursuant to the pro- visions of K.S.A. 75-4210a.

The conclusion reached in Attorney General Opinion No. 81-158, that a state's interest rate limita- tions on business and agricultural loans of $1,000 or more have been preempted by federal legisla- tion, is affirmed. However, because such preemp- tion is operative only if the federally-prescribed interest rate limitation exceeds a state's limita- tion, such preemptive interest rate is not appli- cable in Kansas, since Kansas statutes no longer .impose any interest rate limitations on business and agricultural loans.

A watershed district organized pursuant to K.S.A. 24-1201 et seq. is a body corporate and politic, and has among its enumerated powers the ability to sell land and execute the necessary contracts therefor. Insofar as a sale of land on contract advances the purposes of the district and is otherwise properly made, such a sale is binding on the successors to the present board and does not violate either the Cash Basis Law (K.S.A. 10-1101 et seq.) or any other Kansas statutes. Cited herein: K.S.A. 10-1101, 24-1201, K.S.A. 1980 Supp. 19-211, 24-1209. *

January 6, 1981 ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION NO. 81- 2 The Honorable Jack Steineger State Senator, Sixth District State Capitol Topeka, Kansas 66612 Re: - Elections--Official Ballots--Simultaneous Candidacies Synopsis: The legislature has provided for two official ballots for the ele…

August 21, 1981 ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION NO. 81-199 Honorable Ruth Luzzati Representative, Eighty-Fourth District Sedgwick County 5203 Plaza Lane Wichita, Kansas 67208 Re: Schools--Special Education--Decisions of the State Board 'Synopsis: If a local board of education refuses to…

Where a judicial district has adopted district court rules pursuant to K.S.A. 1980 Supp. 22-2912 to administer a diversionary program, the court may adopt any rules necessary to regulate the program insofar as such are in accordance with applicable statutes and rules of the Supreme Court. There are no statutory provisions which state expressly that there must be a diversion program in every county.

In order to prevent damage to roads under their jurisdiction, local-authorities may, pursuant to K.S.A. 8-1912(c), impose limits as to the weight or size of vehicles which may be operated thereon. Such limits become effective through the posting of signs [K.S.A. 8-1912(b)], and if violated, can result in a civil action to recover damages. While a non-urban township board is given the general charge and supervision over roads within the town- ship, it is not a "local authority" so as to impose such limits on vehicular use of township roads.

A county attorney has a duty to collect delinquent county hospital accounts and, therefore, may not receive additional compensation for such actions. Suits filed to collect delinquent county hospital accounts must be filed in the name of the board of county commissioners.

Funds generated in the operation of college and university dormitories for which revenue bonds remain outstanding are to be placed in custodial accounts and invested by the pooled money invest- ment board as "surplus reserves," unless otherwise required by bond agreements. Income in the form of interest on such accounts is to be credited to the custodial account generating such income and is not to be placed in the state general fund, unless otherwise required by bond agreements.

August 21, 1981 ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION NO. 81- 194 Dale W. Bell City Attorney 519 Commercial P. 0. Box 921 Emporia, Kansas 66801 Re: Insurance -- Fireman's Relief Fund -- Distribution of Moneys; Vested Pension Rights Synopsis: K.S.A. 1980 Supp. 40-1707 provides for the payment …

August 18, 1981 ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION NO. 81-193 Mr. Phillip M. Fromme Coffey County Attorney County Courthouse Burlington, Kansas 66839 Re: Militia, Defense and Public Safety -- Emergency Preparedness for Disasters -- Forced Evacuations State Departments; Public Officers, Emp…

August 14, 1981 ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION NO. 81-192 The Honorable Jack H. Brier Secretary of State 2nd Floor - Capitol BUILDING MAIL Re: Elections -- Voting Machines and Electronic or Electromechanical Voting Systems -- Acquisition by Counties Synopsis: The provisions of K.S.A. 1…

A municipal ordinance which increases rates for electricity furnished by a municipal utility may not be applied retroactively, since such action violates federal and state constitutional prohi- bitions against laws impairing the obligation of contract.

There is no legal basis for a county sheriff to receive any remuneration in connection with providing meals for county prisoners over and above the actual and reasonable expenditures made by the sheriff in providing such meals.

January 20, 1981 ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION NO. 81 - 19 Douglas A. Price Humboldt City Attorney 701 Bridge Street Humboldt, Kansas 66748 Re: Intoxicating Liquors and Beverages--Cereal Malt Beverages--Fees for Retailers' Licenses Synopsis: Pursuant to its constitutional home rule po…

Those provisions of K.S.A. 17-2015 which require the state banking board's approval of a trust company's change in location are applicable to a trust company wherein moneys are currently on de- posit. Accordingly, since Colonial Trust Company in Abilene, Kansas has current savings and time deposits, that company's proposed move to Great Bend, Kansas is subject to approval by the state banking board.

A board of education may appoint a deputy clerk to record the minutes of school board meetings. Once the minutes have been prepared, they should be reviewed for accuracy by the board of education. After the minutes have been reviewed and approved by the board, the clerk is required to maintain and preserve those minutes as a journal of the pro- ceedings of the board of education.