(a) The board of education of any school district may establish an early retirement incentive program for the benefit of the employees of the district for retirement prior to the retirement age as provided pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 416(l)(1) of the social security act as in effect on the effective date of this act. As used in this act, an “early retirement incentive program” is a program that provides cash payments, either in the form of a lump-sum payment at the beginning of the fiscal year, or in regular payments during the fiscal year. No payment pursuant to an early retirement incentive program as provided in this section shall be made prior to the retirement under the provisions of the Kansas public employees retirement system for any employee of the district.

(b) Commencing in the fiscal year that commenced in calendar year 2002 and every three years thereafter, each board that has established an early retirement incentive program shall prepare and submit a report to the state board of education related to such early retirement incentive program. Such report shall contain: (1) Three years of budget data of such program, including actual costs, and current year and future years’ budget data for three to five years; (2) current costs and benefits of such program and projected costs and benefits of such program for three to five years; (3) current and projected number of participants in such program; and (4) such other information as required by the state board of education. The state board of education shall design and distribute forms to carry out the provisions of this act to the board of education of each school district that has established an early retirement incentive program. The state board of education shall compile and prepare a summary report which shall be submitted to the joint committee on pensions, investments and benefits no later than January 1 of the year that follows the end of the fiscal year in which the reporting is required as provided in this subsection.