Opinion ID: 1454494
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Review of The Residence Committee's Action

Text: K-State argues that the district court improperly substituted its judgment for that of the Residence Committee sitting as an administrative board. K-State asserts that Peck did not establish his intent to make Kansas a permanent home and that the court's analysis erroneously shifted Peck's burden to the Residence Committee to establish nonresidency. Peck contends that he produced uncontroverted evidence on the only two requirements of residency: his physical presence in Kansas and his intent to make Kansas his permanent residence. He asserts that, once his evidence established a prima facie case, the burden then shifted to the Residence Committee to come forward with evidence to refute Peck's evidence. K.S.A. 76-729(a) provides: Persons enrolling at the state educational institutions under the control and supervision of the state board of regents who, if such persons are adults, have not been or, if such persons are minors, whose parents have not been residents of the state of Kansas for at least 12 months prior to enrollment for any term or session in a state educational institution are nonresidents for fee purposes. K.S.A. 76-729(c)(4) defines domiciliary resident as a person who has present and fixed residence in Kansas where the person intends to remain for an indefinite period and to which the person intends to return following absence. K.S.A. 76-730(a) authorizes and requires the Board of Regents to adopt rules and regulations prescribing criteria or guidelines for determination of residence of persons enrolling at the state educational institutions, so long as such criteria or guidelines are not in conflict with the provisions of this act. Pursuant to the K.S.A. 76-730(a) mandate, the Board of Regents adopted K.A.R. 88-3-1 et seq., Guidelines for the Determination of Residency for Fee Purposes. Peck further argues that the Residence Committee inappropriately applied K.A.R. 88-3-2. K.A.R. 88-3-2, which defines residence for fee purposes and provides a framework for determining such residency, states in part: [R]esidence means a person's place of habitation, to which, whenever the person is absent, the person has the intention of returning. A person shall not be considered a resident of Kansas unless that person is in continuous physical residence and intends to make Kansas a permanent home, not only while in attendance at an educational institution, but indefinitely thereafter as well. K.S.A. 76-729(c)(4) and K.A.R. 88-3-2(a) require a physical residence in Kansas coupled with the intent to make Kansas a permanent home following the completion of education. The first element, a physical residence, is easily established by the student and easily determined by the Residence Committee. Establishing and determining the second element of intent is more problematic. K.A.R. 88-3-2(b), (c), and (d) have been designed to aid the student and the committee in establishing and determining the student's intent. K.A.R. 88-3-2(b) lists eight primary factors that, while not conclusive, will be given probative value in support of a claim for resident status. These factors are: (1) continuous presence in Kansas during periods when not enrolled as a student; (2) employment in Kansas; (3) payment of Kansas state income taxes; (4) reliance on Kansas sources for financial support; (5) commitments to an education program which indicates an intent to remain permanently in Kansas; (6) acceptance of an offer of permanent employment in Kansas; (7) admission to a licensed practicing profession in Kansas; or (8) ownership of a home in Kansas. Subsection (b) begins: The factors . . . include, but are not limited to, the following. The student is not precluded from presenting, and the residence committee is not precluded from considering additional probative information. No factor will be considered unless it has existed for at least one year. K.A.R. 88-3-2(b). K.A.R. 88-3-2(c) lists nine secondary factors that, standing alone, ordinarily will not be sufficient evidence to establish Kansas resident status. These secondary factors are: (1) voting or registration for voting in Kansas; (2) employment in any position normally filled by a student; (3) lease of living quarters in Kansas; (4) a statement of intention to acquire residence in Kansas; (5) residence in Kansas of the student's spouse; (6) vehicle registration in Kansas; (7) acquisition of a Kansas driver's license; (8) payment of Kansas personal property taxes; or (9) continuous enrollment in a post secondary educational institution in Kansas. These secondary factors are not probative for an intent determination because many are capable of being fulfilled within a few days of arriving in Kansas. The secondary factors may be characteristic of both bona fide resident and nonresident students. K.A.R. 88-3-2(d) states that ties with another state may be sufficient evidence that residence in the other state has been retained. These ties to the other state include voting, payment of personal property taxes, registering a vehicle, or securing a driver's license. We will consider each of the K.A.R. 88-3-2(b) primary factors and Peck's evidence presented to the Residence Committee.