Topeka ? A proposed “Lew Perkins Provision” aimed at guaranteeing full disclosure of public employees’ compensation should face no opposition when a House committee considers the measure, the panel’s chairman said Wednesday.

The Governmental Organization and Elections Committee could vote on the bill Thursday, said Chairman Jene Vickrey, R-Louisburg. The measure amends the Kansas Open Records Act and is named after the University of Kansas athletic director.

The World Company, which publishes the Lawrence Journal-World and operates cable television station 6News, filed a lawsuit last year to force disclosure of Perkins’ compensation package. The Associated Press and the Kansas Press Association later joined the litigation.

A Douglas County district judge ruled in the media organizations’ favor, and the university released the records. The bill would put the judge’s decision into the law.

The measure’s supporters argue the public has a right to know full details of a public employee’s compensation. The Senate approved the bill unanimously last month, and when Vickrey’s committee had a brief hearing, no one opposed the measure.

“It’s a common-sense bill,” Vickrey said.

The records law declares that, generally, government records are open to the public, but it allows agencies to block access to some documents.

It requires disclosure of records of the names, positions, salaries and lengths of service of public employees. However, one provision of the law allows agencies to refuse to release personnel records, performance ratings or other “individually identifiable records” about employees.

The University of Kansas and its Athletic Corporation argued the provision covered Perkins’ records. Judge Jack Murphy disagreed, saying all compensation records for public employees are open, even documents detailing compensation from private sources.

The bill says employment contracts or agreements also must be disclosed.

“It’s open government,” said Rep. Tom Sawyer, D-Wichita. “It makes sense.”

Legislators considered a similar change last year, but some did not want to revise the records act while the lawsuit over Perkins’ records was pending. Also, some state university officials expressed concerns about employees’ privacy.

“I don’t know why people were so concerned last year,” said Doug Anstaett, the press association’s executive director. “We were hearing all kinds of horror stories about what might happen.”