74-4978j. Affiliation of Kansas highway patrol for membership of members of capitol police; payment of obligations; membership; requirements of members and employer. (a) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of K.S.A. 74-4971, and amendments thereto, on or after the effective date of this act, the Kansas highway patrol shall affiliate with the Kansas police and firemen's retirement system established under the provisions of K.S.A. 74-4951 et seq., and amendments thereto, pursuant to the provisions of this act for membership in the system of members of the capitol police who have successfully completed the required course of instruction for law enforcement officers approved by the Kansas law enforcement training center and are certified pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 74-5607a, and amendments thereto. For purposes of such affiliation for membership in the system of members of the capitol police, the Kansas highway patrol shall be considered a new participating employer. The Kansas highway patrol shall make application for affiliation with such system in the manner provided by K.S.A. 74-4954, and amendments thereto, to be effective on July 1 next following application. The Kansas highway patrol shall affiliate for membership in the system of such members of the capitol police for participating service credit.

(2) The Kansas highway patrol shall appropriate and pay a sum sufficient to satisfy any obligations as certified by the board of trustees of the retirement system and the employer contributions of the Kansas highway patrol shall be as provided in subsection (1) of K.S.A. 74-4967, and amendments thereto.

(b) (1) Each such member of the capitol police employed by the Kansas highway patrol on the date of affiliation, may become a member of the Kansas police and firemen's retirement system on the first day of the payroll period of such member, coinciding with or following the entry date of the Kansas highway patrol as provided in this section, only by filing with the board of trustees of the system, on or before the entry date of the Kansas highway patrol as provided in this section, a written election to become a member of the system. Failure to file such written election shall be presumed to be an election not to become a member of the system. Such election, whether to become or not to become a member, shall be irrevocable.

(2) Each such member of the capitol police who is on an authorized leave of absence or is in the military service on the entry date of the Kansas highway patrol as provided in this section may become a member of the Kansas police and firemen's retirement system on the first day of the first payroll period of such member, coinciding with such member's return to active employment and payroll of the Kansas highway patrol, only by filing with the board of trustees of the system within 10 days after such return to active employment a written election to become a member of the system. Failure to file such written election shall be presumed to be an election not to become a member of the system. Such election, whether to become a member or not to become a member, shall be irrevocable.

(c) Every such person who is employed as a member of the capitol police on or after the entry date of the Kansas highway patrol into the Kansas police and firemen's retirement system as provided in this section shall become a member of the Kansas police and firemen's retirement system on the first day of such employment.

(d) If the Kansas highway patrol affiliates as provided in this act and each such member of the capitol police who elects to become a member as provided in this act, the Kansas highway patrol and each such member shall be subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 74-4951 et seq., and amendments thereto, as applicable.

(e) The division of the budget and the governor shall include in the budget and in the budget request for appropriations for personnel services the amount required to satisfy the employer's obligation under this act as certified by the board of trustees of the system, and shall present the same to the legislature for allowance and appropriations.

(f) The determination of retirement, death or disability benefits shall be computed upon the basis of "credited service" as used in K.S.A. 74-4951 et seq., and amendments thereto, but shall include only participating service with the person's participating employer, commencing on and after the effective date of affiliation by the participating employer with the Kansas police and firemen's retirement system.

History: L. 2004, ch. 182, § 10; L. 2006, ch. 107, § 4; July 1.