Topeka ? Negotiations between teachers and school boards may be drastically narrowed as the Kansas Legislature looks for greater efficiency.

The House Education Committee approved a bill Tuesday that would require the two parties to only negotiate salaries and work hours in yearly talks. Both sides would have to agree beforehand to discuss any other subject, such as sick leave, insurance or safety.

Associations of teachers, administrators and school boards have criticized the bill, preferring instead a compromise they reached last month. Under that agreement, each side could propose five subjects in talks in addition to wages.

A Senate panel conducted a hearing Tuesday on a bill representing the compromise. Cheryl Semmel of United School Administrators of Kansas said she is hopeful the compromise will have a better chance in the Senate.