The Kansas Practicing Perfusionist Society is an IRS 501(c)6 professional organization.
The idea of credentialing in Kansas was first raised in 1989 due to the bill moving through the California legislature that ultimately led to the Titling Act for California perfusionists. Various meetings in Kansas City, Topeka, and Wichita were scheduled. Although the intentions of the then essentially self-appointed state liaison were honorable and genuine, the "forge ahead" attitude ruffled the feathers of most Kansas perfusionists who believed the best approach regarding any form of regulation was to "proceed with caution". Concern for the watershed events in California, and the local situation served as the catalyst for setting up an official statewide perfusion organization. By 1991, the name Kansas Practicing Perfusionist Society (KPPS) was in place, and a roster of all practicing Kansas perfusionists that included names, addresses, and phone numbers was available. A working copy of "KPPS Policies and Bylaws" took shape in late 1991, and was officially adopted in January of 1992. To further formalize KPPS, a Development Assistance Grant from AmSECT was applied for and received. These monies, along with membership dues, allowed KPPS to become incorporated as a not-for-profit 501(c)6 professional association in 1995. For several years, KPPS focused heavily on continuing education. Perfusion-related topics of the day were discussed at meetings, and guest speakers were invited. Then, in 2002, the focus shifted more towards state recognition. In November 2002, a “notice of intent” to seek credentialing was filed with the secretary of KDHE. The secretary responded in March 2003 that he “had determined that perfusionists are health care personnel as defined in KSA 65-5001.” Per the KDHE, a “notice of intent” must be re-filed due to the time lapse since the 2003 determination. Additional monies were then sought from AmSECT in the form of a Legislative Action Assistance Grant, and the idea of perfusionists in Kansas being recognized by the state legislature has been at the forefront of discussions at meetings for the past several years.
KPPS has been active to one degree or another for nearly two decades. State credentialing has always been of primary interest - the society was formed specifically to engage in legislative matters. The “proceed with caution” posture was adopted early on by the society for many practical reasons including the fact that state credentialing was a controversial and divisive subject; no one knew the “how, when, why or where” of state recognition; none of us had any experience with legislative matters; most of us were rather paranoid by the California events; Kansas is a small state with relatively few perfusionists; we felt that we could always rely on our surgeons to intervene on our behalf; and frankly, given the divisiveness of the subject the society struggled as to how to achieve any sense of consensus outside of our individual localities. The current Board of Directors of KPPS wished to establish that consensus, provide a forum for spirited discussion, then with the agreement of the majority of Kansas perfusionists engage in the legislative process for credentialing through the KDHE and the Kansas legislature. The Credentialing process was undertaken with earnest in February 2007 with the submission of our "Initial Notice of Intent to File".
501(c)(6) Organizations
Organizations exempt under this category include: business leagues, chambers of commerce, real estate boards, and boards of trade.
The IRS regulations state that a business league is an association of persons having some common business interest, the purpose of which is to promote such common interests. Its activities should be directed to the improvement of business conditions in one or more lines of business.
Permitted Activities: Promotion of professional activities includes certification of individual credentials, assisting professionals to earn higher salaries.
Trade association activities include advertising products (“Got milk?”), helping businesses earn more profit.
A 501(c)(6) may engage in unlimited lobbying.
A 501(c)(6) may engage in political activity, but must pay a 35% excise tax on the total amount of its direct political expenditures.
A 501(c)(6) may engage in the same types of charitable, educational, and literary activities permitted for a 501(c)(3).
The idea of credentialing in Kansas was first raised in 1989 due to the bill moving through the California legislature that ultimately led to the Titling Act for California perfusionists. Various meetings in Kansas City, Topeka, and Wichita were scheduled. Although the intentions of the then essentially self-appointed state liaison were honorable and genuine, the "forge ahead" attitude ruffled the feathers of most Kansas perfusionists who believed the best approach regarding any form of regulation was to "proceed with caution". Concern for the watershed events in California, and the local situation served as the catalyst for setting up an official statewide perfusion organization. By 1991, the name Kansas Practicing Perfusionist Society (KPPS) was in place, and a roster of all practicing Kansas perfusionists that included names, addresses, and phone numbers was available. A working copy of "KPPS Policies and Bylaws" took shape in late 1991, and was officially adopted in January of 1992. To further formalize KPPS, a Development Assistance Grant from AmSECT was applied for and received. These monies, along with membership dues, allowed KPPS to become incorporated as a not-for-profit 501(c)6 professional association in 1995. For several years, KPPS focused heavily on continuing education. Perfusion-related topics of the day were discussed at meetings, and guest speakers were invited. Then, in 2002, the focus shifted more towards state recognition. In November 2002, a “notice of intent” to seek credentialing was filed with the secretary of KDHE. The secretary responded in March 2003 that he “had determined that perfusionists are health care personnel as defined in KSA 65-5001.” Per the KDHE, a “notice of intent” must be re-filed due to the time lapse since the 2003 determination. Additional monies were then sought from AmSECT in the form of a Legislative Action Assistance Grant, and the idea of perfusionists in Kansas being recognized by the state legislature has been at the forefront of discussions at meetings for the past several years.
KPPS has been active to one degree or another for nearly two decades. State credentialing has always been of primary interest - the society was formed specifically to engage in legislative matters. The “proceed with caution” posture was adopted early on by the society for many practical reasons including the fact that state credentialing was a controversial and divisive subject; no one knew the “how, when, why or where” of state recognition; none of us had any experience with legislative matters; most of us were rather paranoid by the California events; Kansas is a small state with relatively few perfusionists; we felt that we could always rely on our surgeons to intervene on our behalf; and frankly, given the divisiveness of the subject the society struggled as to how to achieve any sense of consensus outside of our individual localities. The current Board of Directors of KPPS wished to establish that consensus, provide a forum for spirited discussion, then with the agreement of the majority of Kansas perfusionists engage in the legislative process for credentialing through the KDHE and the Kansas legislature. The Credentialing process was undertaken with earnest in February 2007 with the submission of our "Initial Notice of Intent to File".
501(c)(6) Organizations
Organizations exempt under this category include: business leagues, chambers of commerce, real estate boards, and boards of trade.
The IRS regulations state that a business league is an association of persons having some common business interest, the purpose of which is to promote such common interests. Its activities should be directed to the improvement of business conditions in one or more lines of business.
Permitted Activities: Promotion of professional activities includes certification of individual credentials, assisting professionals to earn higher salaries.
Trade association activities include advertising products (“Got milk?”), helping businesses earn more profit.
A 501(c)(6) may engage in unlimited lobbying.
A 501(c)(6) may engage in political activity, but must pay a 35% excise tax on the total amount of its direct political expenditures.
A 501(c)(6) may engage in the same types of charitable, educational, and literary activities permitted for a 501(c)(3).