Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has signed an omnibus budget bill that was approved with bipartisan support. The bill signed on Monday will increase funding for higher education, expand mental health resources for students, and it provides a pay raise for state workers.
The governor said the budget is fiscally responsible and will improve the state’s workforce, improve roads and expand high-speed internet.
The bill increases pay rates for state employees who are earning below the market rate for similar jobs in the private sector. The bill also includes the Build Kansas Matching Grant Fund which will provide state matching dollars to communities for projects approved under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation. This will allow for improvements to water systems, transportation, energy, cybersecurity and high-speed internet.
The bill includes $13.5 million for the Mental Health Intervention Pilot to expand access to behavioral health services for students. This brings funding to a total of $46 million for this program, allowing it to reach 5,000 students and nearly 70 school districts each year.
The budget will also promote STEM workforce training opportunities, expanding training for students in technologies, science, engineering, math, science and technical trades.
The governor line-item vetoed several items from the budget, including a provision that put some restrictions and excluded some providers of mental health treatment from the Mental Health Intervention Team program. She said if the state truly wants to address the youth mental health crisis and support young people, it needs to make sure they access to every resource available.
