About Our Office

The Kansas Legislative Research Department (KLRD) is one of four nonpartisan agencies that provide support services for the Kansas Legislature. The Department has provided nonpartisan, objective research and fiscal analysis for the Kansas Legislature since 1934.

Organization

The Legislative Coordinating Council appoints a Director of KLRD, who oversees a staff of about 40 employees, including research and fiscal analysts, IT and administrative services support, and legislative fellows and interns. Analysts specialize in subject areas such as agricultural and natural resources, criminal justice, energy and utilities, education, ethics and elections, federal and state affairs, health and human services, military and veterans, redistricting, taxation, and transportation.

Responsibilities

Common duties of analysts include, but are not limited to:

• Staffing standing and interim legislative committees (more information can be found on the Committees page);
• Gathering and presenting information to legislative committees and individual legislators;
• Writing supplemental notes, subcommittee reports, and conference committee report briefs;
• Analyzing state agency budgets, agency budget requests, and the Governor's budget recommendations, and
• Assisting with the writing of appropriations bills.

Analysts also contribute to several larger KLRD publications that aid in the understanding of the legislative process and activities of each legislative session. These publications include both fiscal and policy related documents written for a variety of audiences. More details regarding the types of publications, as well as copies of KLRD publications, can be found on the Publications page.

KLRD staff frequently assist constituents with questions regarding the current or historical legislation and the legislative process. For more information on the general services the Department is able to provide to the public, please visit the About Us page.