[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6547237,"mediaKeyId","3802129-f80d4cd0592c97ffec4f46919f54d0a9","parentId",3802129,"title","Kansas Department of Labor credits new UI system with faster service, but pandemic fraud losses remain large","audioSeconds",215,"startMs",19013000,"endMs",19228000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3802129-f80d4cd0592c97ffec4f46919f54d0a9&start=19013&end=19228","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3802129-f80d4cd0592c97ffec4f46919f54d0a9/thumbnail_19013000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6547237/Kansas/Kansas-Department-of-Labor-credits-new-UI-system-with-faster-service-but-pandemic-fraud-losses-remain-large","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6547237-2965f9529e69b0adebe4098ea4063999/orig.mp4?Expires=1770429373&Signature=GfififylPEsHWXCcJOQo5NyQz39NG1h2l49N-KxSaxO8iOMGqvsvorsVKflNxvRPs2Y8~X51yPt95gyx17fRIfhxonpFoCFQ9v7OEbLYSIotqUuYso2b2iSlrGoFHTjg3WpBpZOaV3PGOH3Kw3Gh8J5i1FdFE0MTfqdi7xdg05ntNj8vY9urvtwKooCb1oSrvz2vpQWeF-KUCx5fiCsuQIwflm-Uk1WFEtsiN4eoFtYyfIQ3F01mpLp1lTmXMcUC9in~oTgRDDGsWGXYhOX0OnGVZMit2hdX~ZEQFSiTceyF656nQ07w-LJvF3TcZl0ToIMJhaZp~MMI9zJrbFeVkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Committee on Government Efficiency","date","2025-06-11T13:43:00.383Z","article","Amber Schultz, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Labor, told the Committee on Government Efficiency that the agency launched a new Unemployment Insurance Technology Enhancement (UTE) system in November 2024 to replace legacy architecture and improve service, fraud mitigation and employer interactions.

“The solution that we have acquired is very service centric,” Schultz said, adding that the vendor work drew on other states’ implementations and that multifactor identity verification and automated fraud checks are central to the new platform. She said some claimants who cannot verify identity electronically are directed to identity proofing at the U.S. Postal Service.

Operational improvements: the department reported early performance gains in the first quarter after launch: 94% of claimants who file benefits can now complete 100% self‑service, an 80% reduction in claim‑processing time for many routine claims, and a 60% reduction in contact center call volume. Schultz said employer quarterly‑wage reporting compliance increased to 96% and noted the state retained employer account numbers to minimize transition disruptions.

Fraud recovery and limits: Secretary Schultz acknowledged pandemic‑era UI fraud was significant and largely originated with organized international crime rings that exploited legacy systems and federal program gaps. She said Kansas’s investigators and federal partners have recovered roughly 2.4% of fraud‑identified funds — above a national average she cited — and described ongoing referrals to federal and state prosecutors. The department also noted constraints when the statute of limitations for prosecution is five years and some pandemic incidents fall within that window.

Other items: Kansas labor analysts also briefed the committee on Labor Market Information products, reemployment programs (My Reemployment Program referrals after three weeks of benefits) and career tools for students and jobseekers. Schultz said the department is migrating additional IT into the cloud, creating a data warehouse and expanding business analytics to reduce manual reporting burdens.

Ending: legislators thanked the department for the new system and asked for continued follow‑up on fraud controls and employer adjudication processes; several members noted improved constituent experiences since the rollout but asked the department to follow up on a few employer adjudication complaints.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee on Government Efficiency 06/10/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Department of Labor officials said the new Unemployment Insurance Technology Enhancement (UTE) launched November 2024 has increased self‑service, shortened processing times and reduced call volume; the department also described ongoing investigations into pandemic-era UI fraud and noted federal limitations on recovery and prosecution timelines.","taxTitle","Committee on Government Efficiency , Standing, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Kansas","taxId",77835,"location","Kansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6547242,"DFC tells committee of cross‑agency partnerships; large child‑welfare IT upgrade imminent",1621,16295000,17916000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3802129-f80d4cd0592c97ffec4f46919f54d0a9&start=16295&end=17916","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3802129-f80d4cd0592c97ffec4f46919f54d0a9/thumbnail_16295000.jpg","/articles/6547242/Kansas/DFC-tells-committee-of-crossagency-partnerships-large-childwelfare-IT-upgrade-imminent","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6547242-56218508dfc73f556e0958ecdc1f605e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770429373&Signature=GpI9KPGKEk6p5YQyRFgDza3MaZCkYtJGvI5Qkf~6wpjooauGm21D2Ev6XMXIQBds8y2n4st7k5UFgPaCYGZy3v4LH5dTm9kOfbm7vjNb9hnxP6pH1pBMBGghNvqNBJnPB-CxXWlPVpzfCjAkOTtkDTGwjKl~iYbP0BtO79urBPMArZvs9FyLJDqoFgBRNKnX6-NHr8JURvOzdx6wObBhg73U-IuO7NcD8UoW2pv91c4yPZVoVwgYliRHOS-9NYCtlUzu22y48Vbd~dEK1GkFLMJXiBW8na8NDijGjBtBrp~ZKRpPqpRHkOh~3IUY5KYAKnLO2smTD7sesJYI966FGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Secretary Howard of the Kansas Department for Children and Families told the Committee on Government Efficiency that the department has expanded local partnerships and is preparing to modernize child‑welfare information technology through a Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS) procurement backed by legislative and gubernatorial support.

Howard summarized DCF’s four primary service areas — economic and employment supports (TANF, SNAP and child care), child welfare (prevention to foster care and adoption), child support services and rehabilitation/vocational services for people with disabilities — and said DCF is working with multiple state and local partners to streamline service delivery and prevent gaps in care.

Examples of collaboration: Howard described Together Kansas outreach events that bring state and local resources to communities; co‑located eligibility workers and human‑service consultants in Wichita and other regions; a shared caseload model called “1 Kansas,” which she said reduced eligibility determinations to under ten days; and a longstanding multidisciplinary Exploited and Missing Children Unit in Sedgwick County where DCF, Wichita police and the Sedgwick County Sheriff share staffing and funding.

Child‑welfare modernization: Howard said DCF operates several legacy systems in child welfare and is ready to begin vendor selection for a CCWIS replacement. The new system — she said — will consolidate case records, reduce redundant data entry, provide federal reporting compliance and allow controlled access for partner agencies and private case managers. Howard noted the contract award process requires federal review and that the project is already through planning and procurement steps.

Other operational items: Howard said legislation passed in the most recent session requires DCF investigators to make contact within 24 hours of a law‑enforcement report; she said that change means investigators will work seven days a week beginning July 1 (per the law). She also discussed Sunbucks, a federal summer‑meals program DCF administers, and said better data matching with Medicaid would allow more families to be auto‑enrolled.

Local concerns flagged: a committee member raised the Goodland office closing; Howard said staff would provide exact usage numbers and that services are being delivered in community partner locations such as the library. Howard pledged ongoing monitoring of partner‑site access and continued outreach in rural communities.

Ending: Howard asked for continued attention to legacy systems and data‑sharing barriers, and praised interagency cooperation with the Office of the State Treasurer, KDHE, KDADS and local law enforcement on child‑welfare and adult‑protective matters.","Secretary Howard described Department for Children and Families collaborations with local partners, school districts, law enforcement and the treasurer’s office, and outlined plans to replace multiple child‑welfare systems with a federal CCWIS‑compatible system to reduce duplicated data entry and improve case management.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6547247,"KBI highlights JFIT fentanyl task force, blue‑alert capture and new 287(g) authority",408,7094000,7502000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3802129-f80d4cd0592c97ffec4f46919f54d0a9&start=7094&end=7502","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3802129-f80d4cd0592c97ffec4f46919f54d0a9/thumbnail_7094000.jpg","/articles/6547247/Kansas/KBI-highlights-JFIT-fentanyl-task-force-bluealert-capture-and-new-287g-authority","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6547247-3acea082c77ce876e2f372c41265c176/orig.mp4?Expires=1770429373&Signature=RVox~EVULaeuto7TEAs1ObS-HPLX34UAj0jc~950fpIlacW3dGv6UGvmIROZjcvLJbTYdhcSj3ye3scSURR9SAtpwP3en7ZnpbYzLEDcMKcTraJt59hAm9NN5m4zvJVnZTHDZvVehsZt6uilQ~N5ckakyJMYSoVhYvfFitJ2RoLcCGm2oW0LC1U9uum4yyaHTV4WRXbGSM7o~llD3OC6TLaC2gDd401UXXvN3j4ELYKf35h4nKRz2tuOXqKxPfjMvTHEnsDyH7NQw2Hjsnrd~nS~KnBllC6p1PRtKwdOhOhpfspR~NopoG7OVWf7P-5dwU3yG5mg0XtENihhVFVADg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kansas Bureau of Investigation told the Committee on Government Efficiency that the agency has reorganized its enforcement partnerships in recent years, building a state‑led fentanyl task force and multidisciplinary units for child victims while expanding information‑sharing with the Highway Patrol.

Director Mativi (as introduced at the hearing) described JFIT, the joint fentanyl impact team established after 2022 at the attorney general’s direction. He said the bureau rejected a traditional federal task‑force model that often led to state agents being absorbed into federal caseloads; instead, KBI made a state‑first collaboration model that invited federal partners to contribute resources. “We broke the mold. We're doing it differently,” he said. The director credited the approach for better local outcomes and said DEA, HSI, FBI, ATF and other federal agencies now participate.

On alert systems and an operational example, KBI’s Megan McGinnis led the bureau’s alert program and helped coordinate a cross‑state Blue Alert after a police officer was shot in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Director Mativi said the Blue Alert — coordinated with Missouri authorities — contributed to locating the suspect at a Days Inn in Ellis, Kansas; local agencies and KBI’s High‑Risk Warrant Team (HRWT) apprehended the suspect without further injury.

Child‑victim and forensic capacity: Mativi said the bureau expanded child‑victim units (CVUs) to all three investigative regions after federal and local support; those CVUs are multidisciplinary and work with child advocacy centers, DCF, and sexual‑assault nurse examiners. He also highlighted the KBI forensic laboratory on the Washburn University campus, which handled 55,000 evidence items in 2024, produced 26,000 reports and supported 500 agencies with no test fee to submitting agencies.

287(g) authority and priorities: Mativi explained that the bureau formally executed a 287(g) agreement under federal immigration law to give KBI agents an additional tool to investigate the bureau’s top priorities — crimes of violence, public corruption and organized criminal activity (notably drug trafficking and fentanyl). He said the bureau is not shifting to immigration enforcement as its primary mission but will use 287(g) selectively to hold dangerous, non‑citizen offenders if ICE is unable to respond quickly.

Ending: the director emphasized collaboration with the Highway Patrol (for aviation and communications support) and other partners. He asked the Legislature to note that cooperative, state‑first models can preserve local control while leveraging federal resources.","KBI director described a state‑led fentanyl task force that he says reversed a federal-centric model, credited a cross‑state Blue Alert with locating a KC‑area suspect in Ellis, Kansas, and explained the bureau has obtained 287(g) authority to investigate certain federal immigration matters in support of its violent‑crime priorities.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6547252,"Kansas Highway Patrol outlines statewide capabilities, flags radio encryption and interoperability costs",936,5214000,6150000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3802129-f80d4cd0592c97ffec4f46919f54d0a9&start=5214&end=6150","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3802129-f80d4cd0592c97ffec4f46919f54d0a9/thumbnail_5214000.jpg","/articles/6547252/Kansas/Kansas-Highway-Patrol-outlines-statewide-capabilities-flags-radio-encryption-and-interoperability-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6547252-499170ee79ce66e31cbb6c8c5095b7b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770429373&Signature=VM2hUGtpoRGfsl4RebZmSOSZw0JCVi349IwYqyp8IOZ5WjPABu-cg6SkBCcu9yANSHqWXego7q2RHpo9YW~U~euGh0yBUIMiq-N-IBmd5DTI7LzAp36~CqEMLk1KD-Dqb4sXpUHR2Ct0HbkpSfMqEsdpSmzvIAKYipSn8TfvjfajYvi3Nmce9NoIIYiRZq46MPYmNv1eNugzbKUCvGsj1yxlIb0r7nn52Vpy~16rmxvgUyqQi8bcFU0f4ueRtqB7HIbp9eSouf17gHDUWZqcNJKh7hIELrjiqK5UkyG3XmkkgZoikPtuzVj-CDs8tjCAa-SDSoaxPGoDO8LSzdBgfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Colonel Eric Smith, superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol, told the Committee on Government Efficiency that six of the Patrol’s seven bureaus are outward-facing and designed to support other law enforcement agencies and public safety missions across Kansas.

“There's only 1 bureau within the Highway Patrol that is responsible for, the Highway Patrol only, and that's the Business Operations Bureau,” Smith said, describing the Patrol’s structure and its role as a statewide resource. He listed the Patrol’s Critical Highway Accident Reconstruction Team (CHRT), hazardous-device unit, patrol-service-dog team, Special Response Team (SRT), air support, mobile field force and a VIN‑inspection delegation program among services provided to local agencies.

Smith gave usage examples and 2024 statistics: CHRT assisted 18 outside agencies on serious‑injury or fatal‑crash reconstructions; the hazardous‑device unit performed 893 preventative sweeps across 68 venues last year; SRT deployed 66 times in 2024; and air support produced roughly 660 callouts supporting search, rescue, manhunts and emergency medical deliveries, he said.

Why it matters: Smith emphasized that Patrol investments and statewide teams are intended for mutual aid and to fill capability gaps in jurisdictions with small local forces. “Nearly 60% of law enforcement agencies in the state of Kansas have 10 sworn officers or less,” he told the committee, stressing that many smaller agencies cannot fund advanced training or equipment on their own.

Barriers and policy issues: Smith said a recent federal mandate to encrypt certain radio traffic — intended to protect criminal-history and personally identifiable information — creates interoperability problems. “When we change a radio system, when we add encryption keys to our radio system, that leaves somebody else behind,” he said, noting purchase and key‑management costs for partner agencies. Smith urged maintaining funding pathways so smaller agencies can upgrade to remain interoperable.

Equipment and modernization: Smith highlighted recent capital investments and efficiencies: two patrol helicopters approved by the Legislature (now delivered), statewide deployment of body‑worn cameras funded by DOJ grants, new license‑plate‑reader rollouts, and trial of a grappler device intended to stop vehicles safely in pursuits. He also noted facility partnerships in Salina and Wichita for hangars and the training academy and said the Patrol shifted many positions to civilian leadership in business roles to improve efficiency.

Ending: Committee members asked about heavier-truck weight proposals; Smith cautioned that heavier trucks increase stopping energy and roadway wear. He closed by thanking the committee and encouraging continued legislative support for communications and aviation funding.","Colonel Eric Smith told the Committee on Government Efficiency that KHP’s specialized teams, aviation assets, hazardous-device sweeps and license‑plate readers have expanded statewide support to local law enforcement, but federal radio encryption mandates and equipment costs create interoperability barriers.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6547257,"Kansas Judicial Branch says statewide case-management rollout improved access, added online portals",1605,77000,1682000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3802129-f80d4cd0592c97ffec4f46919f54d0a9&start=77&end=1682","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3802129-f80d4cd0592c97ffec4f46919f54d0a9/thumbnail_77000.jpg","/articles/6547257/Kansas/Kansas-Judicial-Branch-says-statewide-case-management-rollout-improved-access-added-online-portals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6547257-f4893f36306b071af1855da55487d9d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770429373&Signature=MprfBB1BODBYep0OTQKVPNA0G7D1-5KQvy7t2MJ5BoPzVekM4oPEZ4Mumk~qeVr5HJ-jARKw2GfW-1eNA1ysSpWcxBlBPfPRRgBjZuPwXZwfBh2fwm2NeKEN29Fw~ySg8LoG1g-~z0vtE5kwg5bUNsNex67NlACB6xpjdnZzl5Fq8uyUHkHYKrBsZIcI60JLm0~d766VE1gUt7ogMbJT2RedsmDDGrK4kQVvgUKf8714kNRb5GcFvNq54xTgimkX4NetyhdBl0CpX41sHXp21SWErw-1JGF9ts~kk6TaNcswxfDNWllVSqkdBXAVJCFbDfyGUBGSxCTAQsmS9ZEjgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marissa Bayless, special counsel to Chief Justice Marla Lugert, told the House Committee on Government Efficiency that the judicial branch has finished bringing every county court onto a centralized case management system (CCMS) and that the change has delivered new public-facing services and operational controls.

“The implementation of our centralized case management system or what we kind of call CCMS, which has transformed our operations, from the appellate level down,” Bayless said. She told the committee the rollout began in 2014, accelerated in 2019, and the last district court (Johnson County) went live in November 2024.

Bayless said the CCMS standardized business processes across 105 counties, reduced local variance in recordkeeping, and allowed the branch to build an integrated set of public portals. The branch now operates a Kansas District Court Public Access Portal, a central payment center, EFlex for attorney e-filing, a marriage-license portal, and the Kansas Protection Order Portal (KS POP), she said. “We were very proud to be one of the, first initial states to develop something like this,” Bayless said of the protection-order portal.

Why it matters: the branch told the committee the statewide system improves compliance with statutory and rule-based requirements, gives judges and court administrators a single place to see cases and records, and expands remote access so the public, attorneys and private companies can locate records online. Bayless said the judicial branch now can code new statutory duties – she cited Senate Bill 204 as an example that the CCMS enforces automatically – instead of relying on individual counties to change local systems.

Key details: Bayless said the judicial branch represents roughly 1% of the state budget and that about 90% of its spending is for salaries; the branch employs more than 2,000 people statewide and maintains courthouses in every county. She reported a FY2024 caseload with roughly 03/4000 cases filed (transcript figure as presented) and said traffic matters remain the largest volume category (about 138,000 cases in FY24). On protection orders, she provided concrete portal usage statistics: 15,200 protection order filings in FY24, 8,700 (about 57%) filed via the online portal, and 2,300 petitions seeking protection for children; 41 submissions occurred outside business hours.

Operational impacts and limitations: Bayless described efficiencies such as “work share,” a practice that lets clerks in lower-volume counties process filings for higher-volume courts during backlogs; she said work share was critical after the branch’s October 2023 cybersecurity incident forced courts temporarily to accept paper filings. She also acknowledged user frustration during rollouts and said the branch maintains an e-court committee, biweekly clerk chats and continued post-rollout support to address problems.

Digital access and limits: Bayless explained that public access is governed by statute and Supreme Court Rule 22; some case types and documents remain confidential even when a case exists in the portal. She said appellate records, digital evidence and digital-evidence pilots are underway and that upgrades to the public portal’s search and usability are planned.

What’s next: the branch is exploring improved e-filing for self-represented litigants, jury-management and digital-evidence platforms, speech-to-text pilots to supplement court reporters, and an opt-in hearing-reminder text service. Bayless also flagged continued cybersecurity needs; the branch moved many services to the CCMS after a 2023 attack and has since hardened security measures.

Ending: committee members asked follow-up questions about funding shifts away from fines and fees to the State General Fund and about cross-jurisdictional issues for probation supervision. Bayless said most case fines and docket fees now go to the general fund but that some specific fees (for instance, attorney registration) remain in-house.","Judicial Branch officials told the Legislature’s Committee on Government Efficiency that a centralized case-management system and a set of public portals have standardized court processes across Kansas, expanded online services for protection orders and marriage licenses, and helped the branch recover from a 2023 cybersecurity attack.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Kansas Department of Labor credits new UI system with faster service, but pandemic fraud losses remain large

DFC tells committee of cross‑agency partnerships; large child‑welfare IT upgrade imminent

KBI highlights JFIT fentanyl task force, blue‑alert capture and new 287(g) authority

Kansas Highway Patrol outlines statewide capabilities, flags radio encryption and interoperability costs

Kansas Judicial Branch says statewide case-management rollout improved access, added online portals