Topeka ? Gov. Sam Brownback on Monday appointed five businessmen to serve on a commission that could have a big impact on the lives of thousands of Kansans.

In naming his appointees to the 13-member Kansas Public Employees Retirement System Study Commission, Brownback also reiterated his desire to move toward a 401(k)-style plan for all new state employees and added that he will make that a top priority of his administration when the Legislature meets next year.

The commission will consider alternative public employee retirement plans, including 401(k)-style plans, or hybrid plans that could include the current defined benefits system.

“Independent analysts have found the structure of KPERS remains unsustainable,” Brownback said. “The commission needs to protect existing beneficiaries and move toward a defined contribution system for all new state employees in order to restore balance and security to KPERS. Adoption of such recommendations will be a top priority for the next legislative session.”

KPERS, which provides pensions for teachers and public employees, projects a $7.7 billion long-term shortfall between revenues and promised benefits. More than 130,000 teachers and government workers currently are paying into the system.

A new measure signed into law by Brownback requires the state to increase its contribution to the system and most public employees to choose between paying more toward their pensions or receiving less in benefits. The changes won’t take effect until the Legislature acts on recommendations from the study commission in 2012.

Those picked by Brownback to the commission are:

• Edward Condon of Leawood, chief operating officer of Sterneck Capital Management LLC.

• Christopher Long of Mission Hills, president and founder of Palmer Square Capital Management LLC.

• Paul Seyferth of Fairview, a founding member of the law firm of Seyferth Blumenthal and Harris LLC.

• Richard W. Stumpf of Wichita, of Financial Benefits Inc., where he is a certified financial planner and a certified Employee Benefits Specialist.

• Brian Winter of Dodge City, a rancher and owner of Winter Livestock Inc.

Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley of Topeka has appointed to the commission state Sen. Laura Kelly, D-Topeka, and Rebecca Proctor, a Shawnee attorney who has represented unions.

Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, House Speaker Mike O’Neal, R-Hutchinson, and House Democratic Leader Paul Davis of Lawrence have yet to announce their appointments.