TOPEKA ? Kansas is likely to reduce the number of state workers in its civil service system after Republican Gov. Sam Brownback signed legislation allowing his administration to do it.

Brownback signed the measure Thursday, and the new law will take effect July 1. It embodies a proposal from the Department of Administration.

Newly hired state workers won’t be covered by the civil service system and current employees will be allowed to voluntarily move into non-civil service jobs. More than 30 agencies will be allowed to convert vacant positions to non-civil service jobs.

Supporters say the changes will put state agencies more in line with private industry and make it easier to tailor jobs to staffing needs.

Critics say many of the state’s 13,000 civil service employees will lose job protections.