TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators appear to be embracing a compromise proposal for rewriting the rules for collective bargaining between teachers’ unions and local school boards.
The House and Senate pass separate bills Thursday that have the support of teachers’ unions and school board and administrator associations. They reflect a compromise among the groups in January.
The House voted 109-14 to pass its bill, while the Senate voted 40-0 for its measure.
State law currently compels the two sides to bargain on 31 issues each negotiations cycle.
The House bill would require them to discuss only salary and work hours, but would allow each side to make five other issues mandatory topics.
The Senate bill would allow three mandatory topics in addition to salary and hours.