Kansas Statutes § 75-4382 Hiring considerations of state employers; determination of baseline requirements; when a postsecondary degree may be required; job posting requirements; consideration of direct experience in lieu of a postsecondary degree; exemption of political appointees from requirements of section.

75-4382. Hiring considerations of state employers; determination of baseline requirements; when a postsecondary degree may be required; job posting requirements; consideration of direct experience in lieu of a postsecondary degree; exemption of political appointees from requirements of section. (a) For all hiring considerations, a state employer shall not make any decision based solely on an applicant's lack of a postsecondary degree. (b) State employers shall determine the baseline requirements for applicants for each job posting. Baseline requirements may include prior direct experience, specific certifications or specific courses of instruction, but shall not include a postsecondary degree requirement except as provided in subsection (c). In all hiring considerations, no state employer shall impose any additional requirements on applicants for a job posting that exceed the baseline requirements. (c) State employers may require a postsecondary degree for a position if the state employer demonstrates that such degree is necessary for the position based on specific skills required for the position that can only be obtained through the attainment of a degree. For any job posting that requires a postsecondary degree, a state employer shall include information in such job posting substantiating the necessity of the specific postsecondary degree required. Such information shall demonstrate that the postsecondary degree is the only possible measure to determine if an applicant possesses the specific skills required for the position or that the position requires accreditation or licensure that is only available to holders of specific postsecondary degrees. (d) Each job posting shall include any tests, training, apprenticeships or other forms of assessment that may validate the competencies of a candidate for such position. (e) For any position in which direct experience may be considered in lieu of a postsecondary degree, the state employer shall not require more years of direct experience than: (1) Two years for an associate's degree; (2) four years for a bachelor's degree; (3) six years for a master's degree; (4) seven years for a professional degree; or (5) nine years for a doctoral degree. (f) Nothing in this section shall apply to any position that is filled by political appointment. History: L. 2025, ch. 12, § 3; July 1.