TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A longtime legislative liaison and manager for the Kansas commission that regulates utilities will oversee payroll, parking, secretarial and other services for state lawmakers, starting next month.

The Kansas Legislature’s top leaders Tuesday hired Tom Day as director of legislative administrative services.

The 61-year-old Day is from Lawrence and is acting executive director of the Kansas Corporation Commission. He has been its legislative liaison and a public service executive since 1999.

Day expects to start his new, $85,000-a-year job Jan. 7, five days before legislators open their annual 90-day session. He’ll replace Jeff Russell, who retired in September after nearly 17 years.

Day’s appointment had bipartisan support. Top lawmakers pointed to his experience both as a liaison and in handling personnel and building management issues with the KCC.