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HB 2237

Medical marijuana; requiring employees of licensed medical marijuana dispensaries to apply for and receive medical marijuana credentials from the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority; codification; effective date.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Cyndi Munson

The bill expands and speeds rewards for state employees by allowing hiring/retention bonuses, raising the annual cap, requiring governor approval for large awards, and increasing o

Second Reading referred to Rules
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Bill Summary · HB 2237

Summary — HB 2237 (Kansas, 2025)

Status: Introduced January 29, 2025; referred to Committee on Ways and Means. (Presented to the House Committee on Appropriations Feb 27, 2025.)

Purpose

To broaden and standardize the state Employee Award and Recognition Program (KSA 75-37,105) by:
- Authorizing hiring, recruitment, and retention bonuses;
- Increasing the per-employee annual cap on awards; and
- Strengthening administrative oversight and mandatory reporting of awards and bonuses.

Key provisions

  • Expanded award types: Explicitly allows hiring, recruitment, and retention bonuses in addition to existing awards for distinguished accomplishment, service, innovation, volunteerism and length of service.
  • Increased monetary cap: Raises the maximum total gross value of awards an individual employee may receive in a single fiscal year from $3,500 to $10,000.
  • Governor approval threshold: Any monetary award (or series of awards) above $3,500 proposed for certain Executive Branch employees must be approved by the Governor. (Supplemental materials specify exceptions for employees of elected officials, the State Board of Regents, and Kansas Public Employee Retirement System employees.)
  • Administrative oversight and rulemaking: The bill removes the Secretary of Administration’s authority to adopt program rules and regulations and instead requires the Secretary to provide oversight and administrative review of award programs for Executive Branch agencies and appointed state councils/commissions, with safeguards to reduce abuse and promote consistency.
  • Annual reporting requirements:
    • Each agency that provided monetary awards must report annually to the Secretary of Administration by August 1, listing the number of awards by category and total dollar amounts for the prior fiscal year.
    • The Secretary must compile agency reports and submit a consolidated report to the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Ways and Means at the start of each regular legislative session.
  • Retains the state employee suggestion program (innovation awards): Monetary innovation awards remain nondiscretionary at 10% of documented first-year savings (up to $5,000 per employee), with agency retention of 10% of the documented savings.

Who is affected

  • State employees (classified and unclassified) — potential for larger and new types of monetary awards.
  • Executive branch agencies and appointed councils/commissions — must manage awards, submit annual reports, and operate under Secretary oversight.
  • Governor’s office — responsible for approving awards above $3,500 for specified employees.
  • Legislative budget/appropriations committees — will receive compiled award data annually.

Fiscal impact

The Division of the Budget and Department of Administration indicate the bill would likely increase bonus payments and related expenditures, but a precise fiscal estimate cannot be made. Agencies must manage awards within existing appropriation limits; some may request additional funding in future budgets.

Procedural / background notes

  • Introduced at the request of the Department of Administration (Rep. Francis).
  • Proponents (e.g., Secretaries of Corrections and Administration, KDADS representatives) testified the changes would improve recruitment and retention.
  • Fiscal note dated Feb 24, 2025: additional expenditures possible but indeterminate and not included in the FY 2026 Governor’s Budget Report.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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