Frustrated Kansas legislators eager to junk software system for handling amendments, bills

TOPEKA — Leadership of the Kansas Legislature unsuccessfully pleaded with Propylon to create a software system allowing lawmakers to efficiently handle hundreds of bills each session and deliver transparency to taxpayers monitoring political work at the Capitol.

Now, after years of cajoling, they’ve set the stage for a software rebellion. There’s consensus on the Legislative Coordinating Council, comprised of the seven top legislative leaders, to seek alternatives to Propylon. Perhaps one of the company’s competitors can bring an end to House and Senate members sitting idle for hours waiting for bill amendments to be processed.

Rep. Blaine Finch, an Ottawa Republican, was unanimously joined Wednesday by Democrats and Republicans on the LCC to extend for six months a $90,000 maintenance contract with Propylon, which has an office in Lawrence. LCC members acted before expiration of a contract Thursday, but rejected a proposal to earmark $200,000 for new Propylon software upgrades through July 1.

The vote reflected widespread frustration with Propylon’s record of performance. It also highlighted alarm with an estimate from Alan Weis, the Legislature’s chief information technology officer, that it would take nearly 5 1/2 years to replace software used to conduct legislative business in Kansas.

Read more: https://kansasreflector.com/2020/12/31/frustrated-kansas-legislators-eager-to-junk-software-system-for-handling-amendments-bills/