There are five statutory plans for public employees: the regular Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) plan for most state, school, and local public employees; the Kansas Police and Fireman’s (KP&F) Retirement System plan, the Retirement System for Judges plan, the special public official deferred compensation plan for certain state employees, and a closed retirement plan for certain session-only legislative employees. In addition, KPERS administers several other public employee benefit plans, including a death and long-term disability plan, an optional term life insurance plan, and a voluntary deferred compensation plan.

With the numerous benefits provided through KPERS, and the complexities and changes in state retirement statutes, regulations, and internal procedures, it is virtually impossible for KPERS staff to keep all members advised of day-to-day developments. In fact, it has not been part of the KPERS plan as designed by the State that we should. Instead, by law, KPERS must coordinate much of its information and many of its transactions through the employers' designated agents (DAs). Through the DAs and KPERS staff working together, public employees in Kansas learn about KPERS benefits.

An overview of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) and the different plans administered, including a brief history of the evolution of state public retirement plans, is presented in this article. Currently, there are five statutory plans for public employees: the regular KPERS plan for most state, school and local public employees; the Kansas Police and Fireman's (KP&F) Retirement System plan, the Retirement System for Judges plan, the special public official deferred compensation plan for certain state employees, and a closed retirement plan for certain session-only legislative employees. In addition, KPERS administers several other public employee benefit plans, including a death and long-term disability plan, an optional term life insurance plan, and a voluntary deferred compensation plan.