Lawrence legislators heard from several local agencies Thursday about what they hope the lawmakers’ priorities will be as the 2014 session begins in Topeka next week. Popular topics of discussion at the meeting at the Lawrence school district office included pensions, Medicaid and education funding.

Douglas County retired school personnel advocated for the preservation of a defined benefit pension plan rather than going to a 401K-style package, which some in the Legislature want. State Rep. Paul Davis, D-Lawrence, called eliminating defined benefits would be the “wrong direction for us to go.” “The Legislature is going to have to hear that loud and clear,” he said.

The group noted that retired school personnel in Douglas County bring about $4 million a month to the local economy through their pensions. State Rep. Tom Sloan said that the organization’s statewide coalition should be sure to spread their message in other, less-receptive parts of the state.

“We’re very much concerned about general education support,” said Bob Hohn of the Kansas University Endacott Society for school retirees, referring to state cuts to public education in recent years. “This cannot happen. We hope you’ll fight this every chance you get.”

Rick Doll, superintendent of the Lawrence school district, said the governor’s proposal to fund all-day kindergarten would free the district to spend on other needs, such as programming for at-risk youth.

Susan Tate, executive director of the Lawrence Arts Center, noted that “arts and culture are a big part of what makes people want to linger in a place — investing, shopping, buying a home, starting a business.”

“Our state has taken a hit in reputation the past few years,” she said, referring to the elimination — and subsequent restoration — of state funding for the arts.

Paul Bahnmaier from the Lecompton Historical Society said he wanted the name of the town included in state Historical Society memorabilia featuring destinations in Lecompton.

Mitzi McFatrich, executive director of Kansas Advocates for Better Care, advocated for the passing of a house bill that would increase the hours of care people in nursing homes are required to receive. She also supported improving access to dental and mental health care services for elderly Kansans.

Shelly Wakeman, executive director for Health Care Access, said the clinic for the uninsured continues to see a great need even with the Affordable Care Act, as the state of Kansas didn’t participate in the law’s Medicaid expansion. She also noted that the clinic provides a year of primary care to each of its patients for a cost of $300.

“We are incredibly cost effective in taking care people without medical resources,” she said.