University Daily Kansan, March 2, 1983
Page 7
Employees want TIAA plan KU group favors pension bill
By DIANE LUBER Staff Reporter
TOPEKA — Classified employees at the University of Kansas could choose between their current retirement plan and a plan that covers faculty and unclassified employees, under a bill that a House committee is studying.
KU Classified Senate President Suzanne Cupp said yesterday that classified employees at KU, Kansas State University favor passage of the bill.
The House Pensions, Investments and Benefits Committee heard testimony yesterday on the bill, which would allow current classified employees of Regents schools to participate in a retirement program offered by the Centers Insurance and Annuities Association known as KAIP. Instead of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System, known as KPERS, if the bill passes, all classified employees hired after July 1 would participate in the TIAA plan.
TIAA IS A private corporation that offers retirement programs to employees at more than 3,000 colleges and universities across the country. Under the TIAA plan, the employee contributes 5 percent of his salary, and the state contributes 5.6 percent of the salary.
KPERS is a state pension program, which is administered by a seven-member board appointed by the governor. Under the KPERS plan, the government contributes 4.8 percent of his salary, and the employer contributes 4.8 percent of the salary.
State Rep. James Lowther, R-Emporia, who introduced the bill, told the committee that the TIAA plan had only advantages over the KPERS plan.
If an employee participating in TIAA quits his job, he would receive both the employer and employee contributions and the interest earned. Lowher said. But, an employee participating in TIAA might only his contribution and the interest.
A KPERS member cannot retire with full benefits until age 60, he said, and even then he must have contributed to the plan for at least 10 years. Employees participating in the TIAA plan can retire at any age, he said.
ALSO, EMPLOYEES DO not have to pay income taxes on their contributions to TIAA, he said, but they do on KPERS
And TIIA is now paying 12.5 percent interest on each member's account while KPERS pays only 6 percent interest, he said.
But Marshall Crowther, executive secretary of KPERS, said the difference in interest payments did not result in a difference in benefits.
The benefits from the KPERS plan are figured as a percentage of the employee's final salary, he said, and do not depend on the employer or employment interest paid. The percentage is based on the employee's years of service.
But the amount of interest earned is important to the TIAA plan, because it determines total benefits along with the income received by the employee and the state, he said.
Lowther said the state would have to
raise an additional $718,851 if all classified employees decided to switch to the TIAA plan.
BUT CUPP SAID the increase in cost to the state would probably be less than that, because employees who have been participating in the KPERS plan for a long time would probably choose to stay in that plan.
Committee member Jessie Branson, D-Lawrence, said, "Of course, I'll support the bill. But the bottom line will apply. The bill will well appropriate the funds needed."
Jo Ann Klesah, a spokesman for the Kansas Association of Public Employees, said the organization was opposed to the bill because it would single out a special group of classified employees for a different retirement program.
Klesath said she was also concerned about the effect that the withdrawal of Regents classified employees' concerns in order to keep those employees remaining in KPERS.
The big difference between the two retirement programs is mobility, he said.
"Our interest has always been to improve the KPERS system," she said.
BUT CROWTHER SAID a with-drawal by Regent employees who KEPRs
Legislative Roundup
If someone is planning a career in higher education that might take him to a job at a college or university outside where he said, TIAA would be the best plan.
Gambling bill discussed
But if a person is planning a career as a state employee, either in an educational institution or in government, he said, he should participate in KPERS.
A Kansas Senate committee yesterday heard testimony on a bill that would allow Kansas residents to vote in the state to legalize gambling at horse races.
State Sen. Jack Steineger, D-Kansas City, testified that parimutuel betting at the tracks could easily raise more than $25 million for the state.
The Rev. Richard Taylor, of Kansan for Life at its Best', told the committee that parimutuel gambling bring organized crime to the state.
The Legislature cannot legalize parmutuel betting because it would require a constitutional amendment. It will vote on constitutional amendments.
The House gave tentative approval yesterday to a bill that would establish new rules for adult foster homes.
Under the new rules, foster homes would be required to register with the Kansas Social and Rehabilitation Services annually and would be
Foster home bill approved
subject to unannounced inspections by the department
Adult foster homes are for the elderly who cannot live alone but can manage their own affairs.
Panel passes water bill
On Monday, a House committee recommended that the House pass a bill that would almost double the cost of funding from federal reservoirs in Kansas.
The bill would affect Lawrence residents, who now are paying 6.6 cents for 1,000 gallons of water from Clinton Reservoir. The proposed bill would set the rate at 11.58 cents for each 1,000 gallons of water.
Nursing home bill studied
The House Public Health and Welfare Committee yesterday heard testimony on a bill that would require nursing home aides to have 40 hours of training before they could directly care for patients.
Now, aides must be certified no later than six months after they begin working at a nursing home. The aides must have 90 hours of training to be
certified, but can care for patients immediately
Senate approves nurse bill
Final action will be taken on the bill tomorrow.
The bill would set guidelines governing the practices of advanced registered nurse practitioners.
a nursing bill aimed at setting a turf fight between Kansas physicians and nurses was given first-round approval by the Senate yesterday.
The Kansas Medical Society supported the bill while the Kansas State Nursing Association opposed it.
Senate approves SRS bill
The Senate gave preliminary approval to a bill that would allow the secretary of the state Social and Rehabilitation Services Department to set up eligibility requirements for the state general assistance program
The bill would allow SRS Secretary Robert Harder to trim almost 5,000 people from the general assistance program if the Legislature did not appropriate enough money to cover the department next year.
Troop withdrawal may signal truce
By United Press International
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A large column of Soviet and Afghan government troops has pulled back from the strategic Panshir Valley, prompting speculation Kabul has negotiated its first truce with rebels, Western diplomats said yesterday.
The diplomas said they were surprised by the return to Kabul five days ago of a convoy from the valley; some of the fiercest fighting in the war.
They speculated that the Soviet-backed government of President Babrak Karmal had negotiated a truce with rebel commander Masood Hassan Shah, leader of guerrillas in the valley
northeast of Kabul. Rebels have turned back at least five offensives by Soviet forces, and the city is under siege.
Western diplomats said Babrak's younger brother, Mahmud Baryalai, in Politburo member, and another official visited the valley recently for some kind of negotiation. It appeared talks had been held for a temporary truce; the diplomats said.
RALLY, RALLY, RALLY! with the BSU and BIC Voice your opinions on any issues concerning students at K.U.
March 4th,12 noon Meet outside the Kansas Union.
Be there! Show you care! Funded by the Student Activity Fee
SUB SHOPPE
The Grinder Man
NOWDELIVERS!
PREPARE FOR MOODY'S BEST TAN CONTEST AFTER SPRING BREAKS!! CASH PRIZES FOR BEST TAN!!!
18 Delicious Subs to choose from!
$5.00 min.order
27th & Iowa
Lawrence Area Delivery
No coupon or discounts on delivery
4 p.m. to close 7 days a week 842-2480
MOODY'S
LADIES
NIGHT
$3.00
ALL YOU CAN DRINK
PREPARE FOR MOODY'S
BEST TAN CONTEST
PHARMACY
25th & Iowa, Lawrence
842-6325
Pharmacists: Farrell Mitchel
Hours:
Mon.-Set. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sun. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Prices effective thru Sunday, March 6
EAGLE
Gibson's Pharmacy offers you... DISCOUNT PRESCRIPTIONS & PATIENT PROFILES & FREE MEDICAL EXPENSE RECORDS
. . compiled by the latest in computer equipment .. ideal for personal use or tax records. we accept student health insurance claims we fill welfare prescriptions
Barnes-Hind Wetting Solution for Hard Contact Lenses
2 oz.
$2.87 regular price
$2.35 with coupon
expires 3/6 limit one item per coupon
Sea Breeze Antiseptic for the skin
16 oz.
$4.19 regular price
$3.33 with coupon
expires 3/6' limit one item per coupon
Offer Not Valid without coupon limit one item per coupon