Substantial Interest

OVERVIEW

Kansas law requires that certain state employees annually file Statements of Substantial Interests (SSI) with the Secretary of State. Included are all faculty members at state educational institutions who receive annual salaries of $150,000 or more; individuals with specific kinds of responsibilities, no matter what their salary levels; and, in certain instances, faculty and staff who serve as consultants.

Each March, the University of Kansas submits to the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission a list of employees who meet the criteria established by law. The law requires that affected employees submit their SSIs between April 15 and April 30 of each year; however, the SSI forms will be accepted prior to April 15. Human Resources and Equal Opportunity will send emails to employees who are required to file SSIs. Employees who are included on the list must file even if they leave state employment in 2010. (To review relevant legislation, click on the Statutes link.) Of particular interest are statutes 46-247, 46-248, and 46-282 through 46-285.)(To review relevant legislation, click on the Statutes link.) Of particular interest are statutes 46-247, 46-248, and 46-282 through 46-285.)

WHO AT KU MUST FILE?

Included on the list that the University of Kansas submitted are:

• A) all faculty members who receive an annual salary of $150,000 or more per year, regardless of their responsibilities. Please note that the law changed in 2010. Formerly all faculty earning an annual $50,000 or were required to file.;
• B) any employee who holds a position:

1. defined as a major policy making position (chairs, directors, deans, vice provosts, etc.);
2. responsible for contracting, purchasing or procurement, except persons whose sole responsibility is the purchasing of gasoline or emergency repair for a state vehicle assigned to them for their use or persons whose sole responsibility relating to purchasing or procurement includes only transactions pursuant to pre-existing state contracts;
3. responsible for writing or drafting specifications for contracts;
4. responsible for awarding grants, benefits or subsidies; or
5. responsible for inspecting or regulating any person or entity.

• C) any faculty member or other employee who consults for an individual or entity and then lobbies, testifies, promotes or opposes action or non-action on any issue, including expenditure of public funds, by any federal or state agency or political subdivision. The "Consulting" link provides detailed information.

HOW DO I FILE?

You may file electronically or by submitting a paper form to the Secretary of State. If you filed electronically last year, your information will be populated into the 2010 form and you will need only to update it. The SSI Guides and Definitions, Letter from the Governmental Ethics Commission, and letter from the Provost's Office provide detailed information about completing the form.

WHEN MUST I FILE?

Individuals who are required to file, whether because of their responsibilities or because they are faculty members who earn an annual salary of $150,000 or more, must file within 15 days of their appointments and then annually thereafter, between April 1 and April 30. HR/EO will send out a reminder for the annual process each spring.

To print a blank paper copy of the Statement of Substantial Interests form, click here. If you would like for Human Resources and Equal Opportunity to send you a form, email hrdept@ku.edu or call (785)864-4946.