IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
January 14, 2008


For More Information, Contact:
Rep. Pat George, 785/296-7646
Rep. Tom Hawk, 785/296-7665
Sen. Vicki Schmidt, 785/296-7374
Rep. Lee Tafanelli, 785/296-7639

KANSAS LAWMAKERS ENDORSE NEW PAY PLAN

FOR STATE EMPLOYEES

Topeka – Kansas Lawmakers will consider a plan to restructure how the state pays and rewards its employees this session. 

The Legislative Special Committee on State Employee Pay voted unanimously last week to recommend the new pay plan for classified employees to the 2008 Legislative Session. 

Rep. Pat George (R-Dodge City), Chairman of the Committee, said the state’s current pay system has been in place since the 1960s and is not in tune with today’s job market or the needs of state employees.

“Our current pay matrix is completely out of balance,” said Rep. George.  “We have a large number of state employees who are paid below market rate while others are above market.  The plan offers a market driven pay system that demands accountability while recognizing individual contributions.”

Rep. George also pointed out the plan, put together by the State Employee Compensation Oversight Commission, was the result of a truly bi-partisan, multi-government branch commission.

“The commission consisted of not only legislators from both parties and both chambers, but also appointments by the Governor, the Chief Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court and the Kansas Board of Regents,” said Rep. George, who served as Vice-Chairman of the Commission.  “We spent the summer and fall holding hearings and studying the issue very carefully.”

The Oversight Commission recommendations include:

• A move to market drive pay plan for classified employees. 
• Salaries will be set based on periodic review of compensation based on similar positions of other public and private sector employers.
• Development of performance management system to evaluate employees based on performance.
• Creation of five classified pay plans – three of which are for pay raises based on performance.
• Management Pay Plan (performance)
• Professional Individual Contributor Pay Plan (performance)
• Protective Services Pay Plan (corrections, troopers, juvenile corrections, etc – pay steps)
• Basic Vocational Pay Plan (pay steps)
• General Classified pay Plan (part pay steps, then performance)
• Implementation over a five-year period. 

Rep. Tom Hawk (D-Manhattan), a member of both the Select Committee and the Oversight Commission, said he was pleased with how their work addressed many key issues and deficiencies with the state’s current pay plan.

“In particular, the new plan is bound by a common philosophy, but allows for flexibility through multiple pay plans with a process to bring our state work force up to market levels,” said Rep. Hawk.  “The Special Committee’s endorsement to provide a five year plan of funding sends a clear message to our valuable state employees that their work is appreciated and will be rewarded under this new plan.”

Sen. Vicki Schmidt (R-Topeka), another member of both the Special Committee and the Oversight Commission, said they listened carefully to concerns expressed by state employees about restructuring the current pay system.

“Change can be difficult and we understand why some might be nervous about switching to a new state pay system,” said Sen. Schmidt.  “But this pay plan will be carefully implemented over a five year period.  It provides extensive training for supervisors and managers who will do the performance reviews and will offer opportunities that the old system didn’t.  We will be able to reward employees who work hard and go above and beyond agency expectations.”

Work on restructuring the state’s current matrix pay system began last session when House Speaker Melvin Neufeld (R-Ingalls) created the House Select Committee on the State Employee Pay Plan.

“We found then the current system was completely out of alignment with the contemporary needs of our state agencies and the more than 41,000 state employees,” said Rep. Lee Tafanelli (R-Ozawkie), who also served on the Select Committee and Oversight Commission.  “The new market driven pay plan takes into account individual performance and makes the state more competitive in bringing in quality employees and retaining them.”

Speaker Neufeld thanked the Legislative Select Committee for their hard work – especially those who also served on the House Select Committee.

“I am very pleased with the bi-partisan effort by our House members and want to thank them for their hard work,” said Speaker Neufeld.  “Last session it became apparent to me the state’s pay system was broken.  I felt that if the House didn’t step forward to find a solution, it wouldn’t get done.”

The Legislative Select Committee will introduce its endorsement resolution in both the House and Senate during the first week of the session.

Also on the Legislative Select Committee:  Senators Roger Reitz (R-Manhattan), Pat Apple (R-Louisburg), and Laura Kelly (D-Topeka) and Representatives Sharon Schwartz (R-Washington) and Ann Mah (D-Topeka).

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