Chairwoman Warren opened the hearing on HB2610.
Natalie Scott, Revisor's Office, provided an overview of the bill and stood for questions, (Attachment 1)
Laura Williams, Kansas House of Representatives 30th District, provided testimony in support of this bill. She stated these changes are straightforward but impactful, addressing procedural gaps in the issuance of warrants and summonses while promoting accountability and public safety. (Attachment 2)
Mike Kagay, District Attorney, Shawnee County District Attorney Office supports this bill. He states that this bill limits the use of summonses to misdemeanor cases and requires felony complaints to proceed by warrant. That change reflects the seriousness of felony offenses and ensures that felony cases begin under formal judicial process. (Attachment 3)
Shane Rolf, Executive Vice President, Kansas Bail Agents Association testified in support of the bill. He stated limiting the use of summons in felony cases allows the Legislature to actually set state policy on this issue and not have this subject to the whims of a particular prosecutor in felony cases. (Attachment 4)
Proponent conferees stood for questions and discussion.
Sheriff Jeff Easter, Sedgwick County, Kansas Sheriffs Association, opposes the bill. Judges today have the ability to see individual's past record, previous conduct and if they have failed to appear in prior incidents and determine if a bond should be placed on them or if an own recognizance bond will suffice. (Attachment 5)
Marc Bennett, District Attorney, Eighteenth Judicial District, provided testimony in opposition to the bill. He said if this bill is to advance further, he asks the committee to inject more measured language to address the most serious offenders while trusting local authorities to make the right decisions. (Attachment 6)
Jennifer Roth, Private Citizen, testified in opposition to the bill. She stated that the impact of this change will have an impact on law enforcement, who are responsible for serving warrants or arresting people on warrants when they encounter them. Doing away with summons in all felony cases will increase law enforcement officers' workloads (Attachment 7)
Norbert Marek Jr, District Judge, Jackson County District Court, spoke in opposition to the bill. He outlined 5 areas of concern in his testimony. (Attachment 8)
Written only testimony in opposition to HB2610 was submitted by the following:
Carter Jones, Public Defender, Topeka, KS (Attachment 9)
Logan DeMond, Director of Policy and Research, ACLU Kansas (Attachment 10)
Opponent conferees stood for questions and discussion.
Jack Beck, Assistant Public Defender at the Eleventh Judicial District Public Defender Office, BIDS Legislative Committee, provided Neutral testimony. He stated county attorneys collaborate with law enforcement to ensure they have the necessary information to properly prosecute a case. They should have the necessary information to exercise their judgement in determining whether a summons or warrant is more appropriate. The current statute allows them this discretion. (Attachment 11)
Neutral conferee stood for questions and discussion.
No further conferees.
Chairwoman Warren closed the hearing on HB2610.