A top Republican legislator is drafting a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution to prevent courts from shutting down public schools in lawsuits over education funding.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Jeff King said he plans to have the panel review the proposal during a meeting next week. The Independence Republican also is Senate vice president.

King’s panel and its House counterpart are meeting together before a June 23 special session called by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.

He wants legislators to respond to a state Supreme Court decision last month that the state’s education funding system remains unfair to poor schools. The court said schools will be unable to reopen after June 30 if lawmakers don’t act.

If lawmakers approve King’s proposed amendment, it would go on the ballot in November.