February 13, 2013

Hon. Representative Paul Davis

Room 359-West, Kansas Statehouse

300 S.W. 10^th Avenue

Topeka, Kansas  66612

Re:  House Bill 2023

Dear Representative Davis:

The City of Lawrence is opposed to legislation which undermines the Home Rule authority of cities to conduct employee relations at the local level.

The City of Lawrence does not come under the provisions of the Kansas Public Employee-Employer Relations law.  However, by local resolution pursuant to the City’s Home Rule authority, the City’s administration has for a number of years successfully held discussions with employee groups representing our police officers and our firefighters/paramedics.  Those discussions have resulted in mutually agreed upon memoranda of understanding on issues related to wages, fringe benefits, and working conditions.  We oppose any legislation that interferes with or changes our ability to hold discussions with our employee groups, or which hampers the groups’ abilities to function as they currently do.  Moreover, the automatic paycheck deduction for dues has not shown to be overly burdensome on the City of Lawrence.  Legislation preventing the City from collecting voluntary paycheck deductions for membership dues is unnecessary.

If you have any questions regarding the City’s position on this topic, please feel free to contact City Manager David Corliss at 785-832-3400.      

Sincerely,

Robert J. Schumm

Mayor

c:       City Commission

          David L. Corliss, City Manager