Kansas Society of Association Executives

4301 SW Huntoon, Suite 9

Topeka, Kansas 66604

785-272-0083

Chip Wheelen, President

Corey D. Peterson, President-Elect

Melissa Hungerford, Secretary-Treasurer

Legislative Testimony

Presented by

KANSAS SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES

Before the

House Elections and Governmental Organization Committee

Representative Mike Burgess, Chairman

In Support Of House Bill No. 2051

MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE ELECTIONS

AND GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE:

I am Tom Whitaker, executive director of the Kansas Motor Carriers Association and the immediate past president of the Kansas Society of Association Executives. I currently serve as voluntary chairman of the KSAE Governmental Relations Committee. I appear here this afternoon representing KSAE’s 181 professional members, 92 associate members and 52 legislative agent members in support of House Bill No. 2051.

The bill allows those whom serve in the executive branch of government to accept meals provided to a person when the person’s presence at the event or meeting at which the meal is provided serves a legitimate state purpose or interest, and the agency of which such person is an officer or employee authorizes such person’s attendance at such event or meeting.

Current law prohibits a state employee from accepting a meal at an association event unless the state employee is speaking at the event or pays for the meal that is associated with such event. This is extremely awkward, particularly when the cost of the meal is difficult to ascertain.

Your favorable consideration of HB 2051 will relieve the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission from being the food monitor for the state and encourage state employees to participate in events that will improve communications between state government, and the trades and industries governed by the state.

I thank you for the opportunity to appear before you this afternoon, and would be pleased to respond to any questions you may have.