Constitution of Kansas — Article 7

Publisher edition notice: The publisher's complete PDF carries a 2026 copyright and identifies its constitution text as updated in 2022. Its separately published Schedule and Resolutions are also included. Later amendments beyond that compilation have not been independently verified.

Article 7

PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS AND WELFARE

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Article 7: Public Institutions and Welfare 49 Article 7: Public Institutions and Welfare § 1. Benevolent institutions. Institutions for the benefit of mentally or physically incapacitated or handicapped persons, and such other benevolent institutions as the public good may require, shall be fostered and supported by the state, subject to such regulations as may be prescribed by law. § 2. Eliminated by revision. § 3. Eliminated by revision. § 4. Aged and infirm persons; financial aid; state participation. The respective counties of the state shall provide, as may be prescribed by law, for those inhabitants who, by reason of age, infirmity or other misfortune, may have claims upon the aid of society. The state may participate financially in such aid and supervise and control the administration thereof. § 5. Unemployment compensation; old-age benefits; taxation. The state may provide by law for unemployment compensation and contributory old-age benefits and may tax employers and employees therefor; and the restric- tions and limitations of section 24 of article 2, and section 1 of article 11 of the con- stitution shall not be construed to limit the authority conferred by this amendment. No direct ad valorem tax shall be laid on real or personal property for such purposes. § 6. Tax levy for certain institutions. The legislature may levy a permanent tax for the creation of a building fund for insti- tutions caring for those who are mentally ill, retarded, visually handicapped, with a handicapping hearing loss, tubercular or for children who are dependent, neglected or delinquent and in need of residential institutional care or treatment and for in- stitutions primarily designed to provide vocational rehabilitation for handicapped persons, and the legislature shall apportion among and appropriate the same to the several institutions, which levy, apportionment and appropriation shall contin- ue until changed by statute. Nothing herein contained shall prevent such further appropriation by the legislature as may be deemed necessary from time to time

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50 Constitution of the State of Kansas for the needs of said charitable and benevolent institutions. Nothing in this amend- ment shall repeal any statute of this state enacted prior to this amendment, and any levy, apportionment or appropriation made under authority of this section before its amendment, and any statute making the same, shall remain in full force and effect until amended or repealed by the legislature.

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