Brief (1)
HB 2772 amends the Property Crime Restitution and Compensation Act to raise the amount of compensation payments that may be made for victims of felony crimes to $500 (currently $250) and for misdemeanors and traffic offenses to $250 (currently $150). The bill also deletes a provision of current law prohibiting payments to any corporation, partnership, or other business or government entity.
The bill also places adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation hearings conducted by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) under the Kansas Administrative Procedure Act.
Background
The property crime restitution aspect of the bill was supported by the Lincoln County Attorney and representatives of the Lincoln County Property Crime Compensation Board. Proponents said moneys could be used to help local business and government entities that have suffered property crime losses such as offsetting a portion of an insurance deductible. The Property Crime Restitution and Compensation Act authorizes counties to establish local crime victims' compensation boards.
The adult abuse hearing aspect of the bill was supported by KDHE. The agency has the responsibility to investigate alleged acts of abuse, neglect, or exploitation which occur in adult care homes. A proponent said the law needed clarification to insure there will not be problems with judicial enforcement of agency subpoenas and judicial review of agency decisions. Current law does not indicate how hearings are to be conducted.
The Senate Committee amended HB 2772 to use the Senate version of amendments (no substantive amendment was made) to the Property Crime Restitution and Compensation Act (SB 505) and added provisions of SB 446 dealing with adult abuse hearings.
1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/bill_search.html