Opinion ID: 2601613
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: PEERA's pre-1986 version

Text: PERB and AAUP next argue this court should rely upon an older version of PEERA, which included an arguably broader remedy provision, to determine the power to make monetary awards implicitly exists today. This argument lacks merit under our statutory construction rules. By way of background, K.S.A. 75-4334(b) (Weeks 1977) initially contained a sentence stating: Any person aggrieved by a final order of [PERB] granting or denying in whole or in part the relief sought may obtain a review of such order in the district court. (Emphasis added.) L. 1971, ch. 264, sec. 14. In 1986, the law was changed to delete this provision and add language authorizing agency action reviews under the KJRA. L. 1986, ch. 318, sec. 139; see K.S.A. 75-4334(b),(c). The initial language is significant, PERB and AAUP argue, because this court held similar language within the Professional Negotiations Act gave the Secretary of Human Resources authority to impose a monetary remedy. U.S.D. No. 279 v. Secretary of Kansas Dept. of Human Resources, 247 Kan. 519, 532, 802 P.2d 516 (1990). AAUP and FOP argue the legislature accidentally removed the broader remedy language. They say the legislature merely intended to insert the statutory process for judicial review of agency decisions into PEERA. The amendment was made during a broad overhaul of the KJRA. See L. 1986, ch. 318, secs. 1-9, 139. But this argument is based on a heading used in the minutes of a committee report, not from any meaningful legislative history regarding this statutory section. See Minutes, Sen. Judiciary Comm., February 21, 1986. We find no support within the legislative history either to support or refute this contention. Further, there is no way to overcome the fact the legislature deleted this provision, even if the deletion was a mistake. When the legislature amends a statute, this court must presume it intended to change the law from how it existed because we assume the legislature does not enact useless or meaningless legislation. State v. McElroy, 281 Kan. 256, 263, 130 P.3d 100 (2006). This court may correct clerical errors or inadvertent errors in terminology if the intent of the legislature is plain and unmistakable. But appellate courts cannot delete vital provisions or add vital omissions to a statute if the legislature failed to enact the change as intended under any reasonable interpretation of the language used, regardless of the legislature's intention. Only the legislature may remedy these types of error. Kenyon v. Kansas Power & Light Co., 254 Kan. 287, 292-93, 864 P.2d 1161 (1993) (citing Russell v. Cogswell, 151 Kan. 793, 795, 101 P.2d 361 [1940]). Under the only reasonable reading of K.S.A. 75-4334 and the 1986 amendments, the legislature deleted the language stating: Any person aggrieved by a final order of the board granting or denying in whole or in part the relief sought may obtain a review of such order in the district court. This cannot be characterized as a clerical error. If the legislature did not intend to delete this provision, the legislature alone must remedy the mistake. As such, the legislature's decision to delete this wording weighs against finding PERB has remedial powers to award money damages for prohibited practices violations.