(a) On and after July 1, 1995, a retirant who retires as provided in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 20-2608, and amendments thereto, may return to temporary judicial duties while receiving service retirement benefits. Upon written agreement with the Kansas supreme court, such retirant shall be available to perform assigned judicial duties for not more than 104 days or 40% of each year. Notwithstanding the provisions of law in effect on the retirement date of a retirant, such retirant shall receive a stipend, payable monthly, equal to 25% of the current monthly salary of judges or justices serving in the same position as that held by the retirant at the time of retirement. Such agreement shall be for a period of not more than two years. A retirant may enter into subsequent agreements, except that the aggregate of these agreements shall not exceed 15 years. The supreme court is hereby authorized and may pay on behalf of such retirant the amount specified by the Kansas state employees health care commission under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 75-6508, and amendments thereto, as if the retirant is serving as a full-time employee of the judicial branch and participating in the state health care benefits program to provide for such participation of the retirant. Any retirant entering into a written agreement with the Kansas supreme court to be available to perform assigned judicial duties for less than 104 days or 40% of each year for a proportionally reduced stipend shall be considered as if the retirant is serving under a part-time appointment as an employee of the judicial branch and participating in the state health care benefits program to provide for such participation of the employee and the supreme court may pay on behalf of the retirant the amount specified by the Kansas state employees health care commission and Kan. Stat. Ann. § 75-6508, and amendments thereto.

(b) If a written agreement is entered into pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a), and notice is received by the chief justice of the refusal of the retirant to accept a temporary assignment without just cause, the written agreement shall be terminated.

(c) Nothing in this act shall be construed to require a retirant of the retirement system for judges to enter into an agreement to perform temporary judicial duties.

(d) Nothing in this act shall be construed to limit the supreme court’s ability to make judicial assignments pursuant to the provisions of Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 20-310b and 20-2616, and amendments thereto; and the stipend provided by this act shall not be counted toward the annual limitation on compensation provided in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 20-2616, and amendments thereto.

(e) Any retirant who has fulfilled the requirements of an agreement entered into pursuant to this act may continue to accept judicial assignments and shall be compensated for such subsequent assignments in accordance with the provisions of Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 20-310b and 20-2616, and amendments thereto.

(f) If an assignment given to a retirant in accordance with this act will require the retirant to exceed the 104 day limitation provided in subsection (a), the retirant shall be compensated in accordance with the provisions of Kan. Stat. Ann. § 20-2616, and amendments thereto.

(g) For purposes of this act, “retirant” shall include any justice of the Kansas supreme court, judge of the Kansas court of appeals, and district judge of any district court of Kansas who retired pursuant to the provisions of the retirement system for judges. Retirant shall not include any district magistrate judge.