Kansas House Bill HB2565

Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/27/26
• Refer: 1/27/26

Caption

Requiring that employees of the Kansas state school for the blind and the Kansas state school for the deaf be paid at same rate of compensation that is paid to a teacher employed by USD 233, Olathe, in the current school year.

Summary

HB 2565 would revise Kansas law governing compensation for employees at the Kansas State School for the Blind and the Kansas State School for the Deaf. Under current law, teachers and licensed personnel at those schools must be paid at least the same rate as comparable employees in USD 233, Olathe, based on the prior school year. The bill updates that benchmark so compensation would be tied to the current school year instead, while keeping the same comparison district and the same requirement that pay be no less than Olathe’s rates for similarly situated staff. The bill applies to teachers and other licensed personnel, including positions such as librarians, counselors, and nurses, and it retains the existing structure that compares education and experience levels when determining the minimum pay rate. It also makes conforming amendments to the two statutes covering the blind and deaf schools and repeals the prior versions of those sections.

Impact

HB 2565 would amend K.S.A. 76-11a16 and 76-11a17, changing the pay-reference date from the preceding school year to the current school year for employees of the Kansas state school for the blind and the Kansas state school for the deaf. The practical effect is to require state school compensation to track more closely with current USD 233 salary levels, which could increase state personnel costs if Olathe salaries rise year to year. The bill affects only these two state schools and the teachers and licensed staff employed there.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes, the available context suggests a straightforward, likely supportive measure focused on maintaining competitive pay for staff at the state schools for the blind and deaf. The bill was introduced by the House Committee on K-12 Education Budget, which suggests it was treated as a budget and compensation issue rather than a controversial policy change. No recorded opposition, amendments, or vote history is available in the provided materials.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is fiscal: tying salaries to the current-year Olathe USD 233 schedule could raise state expenditures and reduce budget predictability. Another possible issue is the continued use of USD 233 as the benchmark district, which may be questioned if lawmakers believe another comparator would be more appropriate or if the benchmark should be updated more broadly. No specific objections from legislators, school officials, or employee groups are included in the provided record.