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Minutes for HB2398 - Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice
Short Title
Adding the placing of controlled substances into pills into the definition of manufacture, increasing the criminal penalties for manufacturing fentanyl and creating a special sentencing rule to make sentences for distributing fentanyl presumptive imprisonment.
Minutes Content for Tue, Feb 14, 2023
Chairperson Owens opened the hearing on HB2398. Natalie Scott provided an overview of the bill. (Attachment 8) Ms. Scott responded to questions from committee members.
Captain Travis Rakestraw testified in support of the bill. He said that starting in 2020, they began to see a dramatic shift away from meth towards a flood of illicit fentanyl on their streets. Counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl are being sold in bulk for as little as one dollar a pill and that fentanyl powder is being used to lace other drugs like cocaine, crack cocaine, meth and other illegal drugs. He shared some data points regarding the significant increase in fentanyl related overdose deaths in Sedgwick county. (Attachment 9) Captain Rakestraw responded to committee questions.
Sheriff Jeff Easter testified in support of the bill. Sheriff Easter shared that there was a large interception at the border of the binding material that goes into making pills so the alarm is that we will see more of that kind of material transported into the United States. Seeing this at the border means it is going to end up here sooner or later and he thinks this bill would help to combat the manufacture of those pills. (Attachment 10) Sheriff Easter responded to committee questions.
There was no neutral nor opponent testimony.
Chairperson Owens closed the hearing on HB2398.
The meeting adjourned at 2:11 PM.
