12-342.   Same; consolidation study commission,appointment; executivedirector.(a) If a majority of the electors voting at the election voteinfavor of the question submitted pursuant to K.S.A. 12-341,or if there is no presidential preferenceprimary held in 1996,the governor shallappoint a five-member consolidation studycommission. Such appointments shall be made by May 15, 1996.No morethan three members of the commission shall be from the same political party.Members of thecommission shall include, but not be limited to, persons with experience inaccounting, business management, municipal finance, law, education, politicalscience or public administration. No elected official of the cities of Bonner Springs,Edwardsville, Lake Quivira or Kansas City or Wyandotte county, nor any personappointed to fill a vacancy in an elected office of such cities or county,shall serve on the commission. No full-time paid employee of the cities ofBonner Springs, Edwardsville, Lake Quivira or Kansas City or Wyandotte countyshall serve on the commission. Members of the commission shall be residents of Wyandotte county.

      (b)   Members of the commission shall be paid compensation, subsistenceallowances, mileage and other expenses as provided by K.S.A. 75-3223, andamendments thereto.

      (c)   The governor shall appoint an executive director of the commission.The executive director shall receive compensation established by the governor,within the limits of appropriations for thatpurpose. The executive director shall employ other staff and may contract withconsultants, as the executive director deems necessary to carry out thefunctions of the commission. Staff employed by the executive director shallreceive compensation established by the executive director and approved by thegovernor, within the limits of appropriations for that purpose.

      (d)   Within 30 days following the appointment of all members of thecommission, the commission shall meet and organize by the election of achairperson and vice-chairperson andother officers deemed necessary. The commission may adopt rules governing theconduct of its meetings.

      History:   L. 1996, ch. 11, § 3; Feb. 29.