(AP) — Kansas legislative leaders are preparing to appoint committees to study several issues before lawmakers convene their annual session in January.

The Legislative Coordinating Council has scheduled a meeting for Monday afternoon. The council is the Legislature’s top seven leaders, including Senate President Susan Wagle and House Speaker Ray Merrick.
The agenda includes a discussion of potential study topics, including various budget issues.
Legislative leaders typically appoint joint House-Senate committees to review issues and make recommendations ahead of each annual session.
But Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Jeff King wants to have a daylong committee hearing on Gov. Sam Brownback’s next appointment to the Kansas Court of Appeals.
Brownback must nominate a new judge by Aug. 29. The appointment is subject to Senate confirmation when lawmakers reconvene in January.