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The Kansas Pro-Entrepreneurship & AI Workforce Act (KS-AI-Workforce)

Kansas state companion to AI Workforce. Builds on K.S.A. Ch. 17 (business entities), K.S.A. Ch. 79 Art. 32 tax credits, Kansas Department of Commerce, and the Kansas Promoting Employment Across Kansas (PEAK) framework.

THE KANSAS PRO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP & AI WORKFORCE ACT (KS-AI-WORKFORCE)

Vehicle: State passage. Kansas Legislature, regular session. Primary referral to House / Senate Commerce / Tax.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “Kansas Pro-Entrepreneurship & AI Workforce Act (KS-AI-Workforce).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that K.S.A. Ch. 17 governs Kansas business entities; that K.S.A. Ch. 79 Art. 32 provides income-tax credits; that the Kansas Department of Commerce operates under K.S.A. Ch. 74 Art. 50; that the Promoting Employment Across Kansas program (PEAK) operates under K.S.A. Sec. 74-50,210 et seq.; and that Kansas operates an Economic Innovation Act framework. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH KANSAS LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Qualified KS AI Workforce Training” means training toward a KSRMC or Federal FRAC in AI fields.
  2. (b) “Kansas Innovation Sandbox” means a regulatory sandbox under Title III.
  3. (c) “Qualified small business” has the meaning given in K.S.A. Ch. 17.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Kansas Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • K.S.A. Ch. 17 (business entities).
  • K.S.A. Ch. 79 Art. 32 (income tax).
  • K.S.A. Ch. 74 Art. 50 (Department of Commerce).
  • K.S.A. Sec. 74-50,210 et seq. (PEAK).

TITLE II — KANSAS AI WORKFORCE TRAINING CREDIT

Sec. 201. Income-Tax Credit

  1. (a) A new credit is added to K.S.A. Ch. 79 Art. 32 for qualified AI workforce training expenditures.
  2. (b) Coordinated with federal IRC Sec. 45BB; aggregate cap.
  3. (c) Credit equals 30% of eligible expenditures capped at $3,000 per employee / $150,000 per employer annually.
  4. (d) Kansas Department of Revenue administers.

Sec. 202. Coordination with Department of Commerce

  1. (a) The Department of Commerce shall publish a list of qualifying KSRMC and Federal FRAC pathways.

TITLE III — KANSAS INNOVATION SANDBOX

Sec. 301. Establishment of the Kansas Innovation Sandbox

  1. (a) A Kansas Innovation Sandbox is established within the Department of Commerce, covering occupational-licensure activities under K.S.A. Ch. 74 and financial-product innovation under K.S.A. Ch. 9.
  2. (b) Twenty-four-month terms; renewable.

Sec. 302. Scope

  1. (a) Covers state-licensed activities in occupational-licensure boards under K.S.A. Ch. 74 and financial activities under K.S.A. Ch. 9 and Ch. 16a, to the extent not preempted.

TITLE IV — SMALL-BUSINESS FORMATION

Sec. 401. Expedited Formation Pathway

  1. (a) The Secretary of State shall implement an expedited formation pathway for K.S.A. Ch. 17 entities within 24 hours.

Sec. 402. Single-Portal Licensing

  1. (a) The KansasBusinessCenter.gov portal shall operate a single-portal licensing system for state-level occupational licenses under K.S.A. Ch. 74.

TITLE V — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 501. Severability

If any provision is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the remainder.

Sec. 502. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect July 1 of the year following enactment, except that Sec. 201 shall apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1 of the year following enactment.

Canonical federal version: AI Workforce. Other Kansas bills: KS-ACSA, KS-MEWRA, KS-GT&P.