A conference committee resumed talks today (TUE) over a bill aimed at fixing a deficit in the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System, or KPERS. Most of the discussion centers on proposed changes to KPERS that would make it a 401(k)-style system for new employees. House negotiators want to commit to a switch in 2014. Senate leaders don’t like that deadline and want a commission to examine the pros and cons of switching from the current pension plan. John Grange, an El Dorado Republican, is one of the House negotiators. He believes a deadline would help the study commission.
Both plans would have workers and employers paying more into KPERS. The goal is to fix a nearly 8 billion dollar projected deficit in the system. Meetings will likely continue later this week.