74-49,301. Kansas public employees retirement act of 2015; application of act to members, employers and non-vested employees; administration by KPERS board; application of provisions of 74-4901 et seq. (a) The provisions of K.S.A. 74-49,301 through 74-49,318, and amendments thereto, shall be known and may be cited as the Kansas public employees retirement system act of 2015.

(b) Any employee who is first employed by a participating employer on or after January 1, 2015, shall be a member of the system under the provisions of this act on the first day of employment of such employee with such participating employer.

(c) (1) Any non-vested employee other than an elected official of a participating employer who has been employed in a covered position as defined in K.S.A. 74-49,202, and amendments thereto, other than with a school employer, shall remain a member of the Kansas public employees retirement system as provided pursuant to K.S.A. 74-4901 et seq., and amendments thereto, on and after July 1, 2009, if the member: (A) Does not leave covered employment with a participating employer for a period of time exceeding 30 consecutive days; (B) does not withdraw such member's annuity savings account as defined by K.S.A. 74-49,302, and amendments thereto, forfeiting such member's membership in the interim; and (C) returns to covered employment with a participating employer in a covered position within such 30-day time period.

(2) Any non-vested employee other than an elected official of a participating employer who has been employed in a covered position with a participating school employer, shall remain a member of the Kansas public employees retirement system as provided pursuant to K.S.A. 74-4901 et seq., and amendments thereto, if the member: (A) Was employed in a covered position with a participating school employer for the duration of the school year and immediately returns to covered employment with another participating school employer at the beginning of the following school year; and (B) does not withdraw such member's annuity savings account as defined by K.S.A. 74-49,302, and amendments thereto, forfeiting such member's membership in the interim.

(d) This act does not apply to members of the Kansas police and firemen's retirement system, K.S.A. 74-4951 et seq., and amendments thereto, the retirement system for judges, K.S.A. 20-2601 et seq., and amendments thereto, and security officers as provided in K.S.A. 74-4914a, and amendments thereto.

(e) A system member may not simultaneously be a member of the pre-2015 plan and the plan established pursuant to this act. A period of service may not be credited in more than one retirement plan within the system.

(f) The board of trustees of the Kansas public employees retirement system shall administer the provisions of this act in the same manner as the board administers the provisions of K.S.A. 74-4901 et seq., and amendments thereto, except as specifically provided in this act.

(g) Unless specifically provided in this act, the provisions of K.S.A. 74-4901 et seq., and amendments thereto, shall be applicable to this act. In an event that a conflict exists between the provisions of this act and the provisions of K.S.A. 74-4901 et seq., and amendments thereto, the provisions of this act shall control, and to that end, no legal or contractual rights shall inure to the benefit of members or participating employers under this act with regard to the provisions of K.S.A. 74-4901 et seq., and amendments thereto, when the provisions of this act control.

(h) Each participating employer as provided in this act and each employee as defined by this act shall be subject to the provisions of this act as specified in this act and subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 74-4901 et seq., and amendments thereto, as appropriate as to terms, conditions and requirements not specifically covered in this act. The provisions of this act shall not apply to members of the Kansas public employees retirement system as provided in K.S.A. 74-4901 et seq., and 74-49,201 et seq., and amendments thereto, first employed by a participating employer prior to January 1, 2015, unless otherwise provided in this act.

(i) The provisions of this act shall be part of and supplemental to the provisions of K.S.A. 74-4901 et seq., and amendments thereto, subject to the limitations contained in this act.

History: L. 2012, ch. 171, § 1; L. 2013, ch. 132, § 8; June 13.