Chairperson Humphries opened the Hearing on HB2594.

Jason Thompson, Office of Revisor of Statutes, presented the Bill Brief.  (Attachment 10)

Mr. Thompson stood for questions.

Proponents:

Tabitha Owen, Smith County Attorney, Kansas County & District Attorneys Association, testified that the proposed change to the statute will remove the specific link to the Breach of Privacy statute and instead use the language from that statute without the victim age limitations. This achieves the goal of expanding the blackmail statute to provide protection for victims of all ages without amending the breach of privacy statute, however, it is important to include the language of (a)(6) in order to keep the blackmail statute substantially the same and only be amended to add coverage for all children in Kansas.  (Attachment 11)

Ed Klumpp, Kansas Sheriffs Association; Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police; Kansas Peace Officers Association shared that perhaps his main reason for testifying today is related to the amendment included in his testimony which would change the words "videotape" to "video".  Unfortunately, this bill deals with crimes that the officers he represents see all too often.    (Attachment 12)

Joshua Steward, Assistant District Attorney, on behalf of Marc Bennett, District Attorney, 18th Judicial District; Kansas County & District Attorneys Association testified that the District Attorney's Office and Attorneys Association are in favor of this bill, with the four modifications included in his written testimony.   (Attachment 13)

The Chair drew attention to the Proponent Written Only testimonies:

Todd Thompson, Leavenworth County Attorney, Kansas County & District Attorneys Association  (Attachment 14)

Michelle McCormick, Executive Director, Kansas Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence  (Attachment 15)

The Chairperson closed the Hearing on HB2594.