Topeka ? State senators today sent Gov. Kathleen Sebelius legislation that would allow Kansas University classified staff to leave the state’s civil service system.

The measure was approved 39-0. It was sought by leaders of KU’s 1,400 classified workers who say they could receive better pay raises from the KU administration than the current system of receiving raises from the Legislature.

Opponents of the bill in the House said they feared that employees would lose basic protections that they currently have under the civil service system.

For more on this story, pick up a copy of Saturday’s Journal-World.