Kansas House Bill HB2659

Kansas 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/1/24
• Refer: 2/1/24
• Failed: 4/30/24

Caption

Transferring teachers from the KPERS 3 cash balance plan to the KPERS 2 plan and defining teachers for purposes of KPERS.

Impact

The implications of HB2659 are far-reaching. It not only unifies the retirement system for newly hired teachers but also ensures that all accrued contributions and service credits from the previous system are honored under the new framework. This transition is crucial to maintaining the integrity of retirement benefits that teachers are entitled to, and it seeks to minimize disruptions caused by shifting between different retirement plans. By aligning teachers under a single act, the bill aims to simplify the retirement landscape for educational professionals in Kansas.

Summary

House Bill 2659 addresses the teacher membership classification within the Kansas public employees retirement system ('KPERS'). It establishes that, starting July 1, 2024, any teachers newly employed by participating employers will automatically be classified under the provisions of the KPERS 2009 act. This change is significant as it aims to create more consistent retirement benefits for teachers entering the workforce after the specified date. Existing teacher members enrolled in the KPERS 2015 act will have their membership transferred to the KPERS 2009 act as of January 1, 2025, ensuring that all teachers moving forward are governed by the same set of rules and benefits.

Contention

Notably, the bill may stir debate as it discontinues the provisions previously available under the KPERS 2015 act for teachers moving to the 2009 act. While proponents argue that this consolidation will create a more standardized and equitable retirement process for educators, some stakeholders may express concerns regarding potential loss of personalized benefits that were offered in the 2015 act. This bill could be seen as a move to streamline the retirement process, but it will require careful consideration of how such changes could affect different cohorts of teachers, especially those nearing retirement.