KPERS, redistricting, school funding

The Kansas Public Employee Retirement System bill (H Sub. SB 259) that passed the house would extend the sunset for working after retirement for another three years. The sunset allows for additional review. The bill establishes a cash balance option for new employees hired after Jan. 1, 2014 that allows employers to set the exact contribution to be paid to the employee account, somewhat like a defined contribution plan, with a rate of return guaranteed at 5 percent. Some are convinced that the state can guarantee a return but the past few years have demonstrated that there are no guarantees on investments. Before passing the House, the bill was amended to require 75 percent of casino money go toward the unfunded liability of KPERS and an employee option for a defined contribution plan, like a 401 K plan. An amendment was offered to allow new employees the option of not participating in KPERS but it failed on the floor. State employees are required to participate in KPERS. It should be optional, not required. The Senate will either vote to approve the bill as is or appoint a conference committee to work on the bill.

The U.S. Congressional redistricting map brought to the House floor had Wyandotte County in the 1st district. The House rejected this map by voting to advance a different map to final action. The next day on final action, the house voted the amended map down. As a result, the House committee met Monday in an attempt to pass another map.

It is normal procedure that a bill is debated on the House floor and the Committee of the Whole votes "yes" or "no" to advance a bill to final action. If the majority is a "yes" vote, the bill will advance to a final action vote. It is rare that a bill advances to final action and then fails to get the 63 votes required to pass the House. It was good to see the process has some checks and balances. Drafting each map is an interesting process, especially since the 1st district must grow by 58,000 people.

HB 2773 would allow school districts to tap into their unencumbered funds to provide additional funding to the classroom, including teachers' salaries. Education accounts for almost 60 percent of the Kansas budget, making it difficult to increase school funding -- especially with Medicaid, transportation, and other items increasing in cost. Allowing districts to use these funds during 2012 and 2013 should help ease the financial burdens districts are reporting. In past years, payment was delayed to the schools and so some are reluctant to use these funds. The governor is committed to making these payments on time. The bill does not require schools to use the money but makes it available for classroom use.

Editor's Note: Rep. Caryn Tyson, R-Parker, can be reached at (785) 296-6838; (913) 898-2366;email: Caryn.Tyson@house.ks.gov.