Kansas Secretary of State

FAQ - PUBLICATIONS

Kansas Administrative Regulations

Q.What are K.A.R.s?
A. Regulations are enacted by an agency to implement or interpret legislation. Statutory requirements for filing administrative regulations are found in the rules and regulations filing act, K.S.A. 77-415 et seq. All Kansas Administrative Regulations (K.A.R.s) are filed in the Secretary of State's office. We publish the regulations in the Kansas Register, the state's official newspaper, and in the volumes or supplement to the Kansas Administrative Regulations.

Q. How are K.A.R.s filed?
A. A state agency must take a number of steps in order to file regulations. Each agency is given authority via statute to enact rules and regulations. The agency writes the regulations, which are reviewed by the Department of Administration for grammar, spelling and organization. After the Department of Administration approves the regulations, the agency submits the regulations to the Attorney General's office for approval as to legality. The Secretary of State's office files and publishes the final rules and regulations.

Our office first files proposed rules and regulations. An agency sends us:
  • two copies of the notice of hearing on the proposed regulations,

  • two copies of the proposed regulations--stamped by the Department of Administration and the Attorney General's office,

  • two copies of the economic impact statement, and

  • the notice of hearing in Microsoft Word format to Barb.Dominguez@sos.ks.gov and Nancy.Reddy@sos.ks.gov.
    • The notice must be published in the Kansas Register at least 60 days prior to the date of the hearing. The agency may receive comments during this notice period and may make revisions to the regulations as a result of those comments.

    When the agency is satisfied that the regulations are in the proper final form, it adopts and files the regulations. The agency sends us:

  • the original certificate of adoption,

  • the original and one copy of the approved and adopted regulations,

  • the original economic impact statement, and

  • the regulations in Microsoft Word format to Barb.Dominguez@sos.ks.gov.

    • If all requirements are met, the regulations are published in the Kansas Register and become effective 15 days after publication--unless a later date is specified in the body of the regulation.

    For more detailed information regarding the filing of administrative regulations, please see the Department of Administration's Policy and Procedure Manual for the filing of Kansas Administrative Regulations.

    Q. How do I find the current version of a published K.A.R.?
    A. The Secretary of State's office publishes adopted regulations in the K.A.R. volumes and supplement. The K.A.R. volumes contain the most recent version of all regulations filed in the Secretary of State's office by December 31 of a particular year. For example, the 2009 volumes contain the most recent version of all regulations filed by December 31, 2008. The 2012 Supplement to the Kansas Administrative Regulations contains the most current version of regulations filed in 2009, 2010, and 2011, and supplements the 2009 KAR Volumes.

    All new, amended or revoked regulations filed in the Secretary of State's office are published in the Kansas Register before being incorporated into the K.A.R. volumes/supplement. A cumulative list of regulations adopted and published in the Register can be found at the back of each issue of the Register. The index is updated weekly and refers the reader to the volume, issue and page number of the Register in which the regulation can be found.

    To find the latest version of a regulation, a person should first check the table of contents in the most current Kansas Register, then the Index to Regulations in the most current Kansas Register, then the Kansas Administrative Regulations. If the regulation is found at any of these sequential steps, stop and consider that version the most recent.

    Q. How do I purchase the K.A.R. books?
    A. Call the Secretary of State's office at (785) 296-4557 or obtain an order form online. You may mail the form with payment to the Secretary of State's office. Fax orders are accepted if Visa, Discover, or MasterCard information is provided

    Q. Can I access the K.A.R.s on the Web?
    A. The Kansas Administrative Regulations can be accessed online through the Secretary of State's Web site. We have created a separate PDF for each agency using the PDF of the 2009 K.A.R. Volumes. You may choose to view the PDF listings of the 2009 K.A.R. Volumes in order by Agency number or the 2009 K.A.R. Volumes in order by Agency name. The 2012 Supplement to the Kansas Administrative Regulations contains the most current version of regulations filed in 2009, 2010, and 2011, and supplements the 2009 KAR Volumes. Regulations filed after those published in the books can be found in the Kansas Register. Be sure to check the current Kansas Register index for regulations filed after publication of the volume or supplement.

    Q. Who do I contact for additional information?
    A. If you have additional questions, contact Barb Dominguez at (785) 296-2114, or via e-mail at Barb.Dominguez@sos.ks.gov.

    Kansas Statutes Annotated

    Q. What are Kansas Statutes Annotated (K.S.A.)?
    A. The Kansas Statutes are laws passed by the Legislature.

    Q. How do I obtain K.S.A.s?
    A. Statutes are published by the Kansas Revisor of Statutes, but distributed by our office. To place an order for K.S.A.s, contact our Elections Division at (785) 296-4557 or go to the order form online.

    Q. Can I access statutes on the Web?
    A. The Kansas Statutes are available on the Kansas Legislature Web site.

    Kansas Register

    Q. What is the Kansas Register?
    A. The Kansas Register is the official state newspaper of Kansas. This weekly journal contains everything from new state laws being enacted to various public notices. Other items available in the Kansas Register include:

  • Notices of hearings on proposed administrative regulations of state agencies

  • Full text of newly adopted administrative regulations

  • Meeting schedule of legislative interim committees

  • Legislative bills and resolutions introduced

  • Monthly list of forfeited corporations

  • Summaries of Attorney General's opinions

  • Notices of municipal bond sales/redemptions

  • Invitations for bids/requests for proposals

  • Notices to bidders for state purchases

  • Requests for architectural and engineering services

  • Governmental Ethics Commission advisory opinions

  • Governor’s Executive Orders and Executive Directives

  • Many other legal and public notices/announcements

    • Q. When is the Kansas Register published?
    A. The Kansas Register is published every Thursday, 52 weeks a year.

    Q. How can I subscribe to the Kansas Register?
    A. You can order a hard copy subscription to the Kansas Register by calling Nancy Reddy at (785) 296-3489 or downloading the order form. A one-year subscription is $80 (Kansas residents must include applicable state and local sales tax). Checks should be made payable to the Kansas Register. Visa, MasterCard and Discover also are accepted. Payment is due in advance. A free sample is available upon request.

    Q. Can I access the Kansas Register on the Web?
    A. Current and past issues of the Kansas Register are available online (PDF format) from the Secretary of State's Web site.

    Q. How do I submit items for the Kansas Register?
    A.

  • Items should be e-mailed as an attachment in Microsoft Word to kansasregister@sos.ks.gov. Please include a billing address, contact person, phone number and desired publication date in the e-mail message, or attach a Kansas Register submission form (download submission form in PDF format using Adobe Acrobat Reader).

  • Submissions for the Kansas Register are due one week prior to desired publication date (subject to change around holidays).

    • Q. What does it cost to publish an item in the Kansas Register?
    A. The price for publishing in the Kansas Register is $7 per column inch or portion thereof. You will be billed after publication. Affidavits of publication are available upon request. If you have questions concerning price, call Nancy Reddy at (785) 296-3489.

    Q. Who do I contact for additional questions?
    A. If you have additional questions, contact Nancy Reddy at (785) 296-3489 or via e- mail at kansasregister@sos.ks.gov.

    Session Laws

    Q. What are Kansas Session Laws?
    A. Enacted bills are published in the Session Laws of Kansas. Generally, the new laws become effective July 1 of each year.

    Q. How do I obtain the Session Laws?
    A. To place an order for Session Laws, contact our Elections Division at (785) 296-4557 or go to the order form online.

    Q. Can I access Session Laws on the Web?

    A. Session Laws can be accessed on the Secretary of State’s Web site at the Session Laws main page. Archived Session Laws can be found on the Kansas Legislature Web site.

    Q. Who do I contact for additional information?
    A. If you have additional questions, contact Barb Dominguez at (785) 296-2114, or via e-mail at Barb.Dominguez@sos.ks.gov.