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Minutes for HB2676 - Committee on Judiciary
Short Title
Adding additional conduct that constitutes the crime of assisting suicide and providing criminal penalties therefor.
Minutes Content for Thu, Feb 8, 2024
Chairperson Humphries open the hearing on HB2676. Natalie provided an explanation of the bill. She stood for questions. (Attachment 1)
Neutral
Martin Kearny stated he was testifying to describe his experience with the site Sanctioned Suicide, a forum where suicide is both encouraged and supported. A site that gets millions of page views a month. The philosophy espoused by those who created the forum is very influential on its mainly young user base and it’s not hard to see that it’s intentionally crafted to undermine the efforts of mental health specialists. Users of the site are told mental health or emergency services are only interested in money and just want to lock the user up. So don’t speak to them. Users are also told parents are not to be trusted. If the user tells their parents what they are thinking, parents will just invalidate the users feelings and call emergency services to get them locked up. The most commonly stated argument on the platform is that only suicidal people can understand other suicidal people. Those who are successful, those who won the game of life don’t understand. They’re anti-suicide for selfish reasons. They just want to make themselves feel better. They can’t be trusted. There are many other aspects of the site that are dangerous. Mr. Kearney answered a variety of questions about the site from the membership. (Attachment 2)
Proponents
Steve Dennis spoke in memory of William Gregory Dennis. He stated raising children in today's world is undoubtedly challenging, especially with the constant inundation of negative content through various channels like TV news, social media, and online searches. He has always felt the responsibility to shield his boys from harmful content, emphasizing the importance of education. His purpose here is not to debate the First Amendment or the rights of terminally ill elderly individuals to make end-of-life decisions. Rather, their group is advocating for change to protect the promising lives of children and young people who simply need medical attention for their mental health. Mr. Dennis stood for questions. (Attachment 3)
Jennifer Dennis explained HB2676 will save lives. Her son had an mental illness that had not been diagnosed . Instead of coming to his parents for help, he went to Sanctioned Suicide where he was brainwashed by sociopaths. These sociopaths did not love my son. They were not professionals such as doctors or psychologists. The sociopaths behind Sanctioned Suicide have one goal, as much death by suicide as possible and as parents desperately we need your help. Law enforcement needs to be able to identify the perpetrators and hold them accountable for their actions so that this website comes down. Ms. Dennis stood for questions. (Attachment 4)
Kristi Khan stated she knows if HB2676 passes it will not bring her son back and will not give my family any sort of justice, but she is sure it will help many other mothers avoid grieving the loss of their children as if there are actual consequences for these actions. It will make those encouraging suicide think twice about what they are doing because they will care about the punishment they will have to face for what they have done. Ms. Khan stood for questions. (Attachment 5)
Kelli Wilson explained she is here to support HB2676. It is imperative that we do whatever we can to protect vulnerable people while they are struggling and in their darkest moments. It is no secret that the way people communicate has drastically changed over the years. The common denominator here is that the people that are encouraging suicide, sharing methods, and method sources, are online and anonymous. Please help put in place something that would be a deterrent. Ms. Wilson stood for questions. (Attachment 6)
Bruce Brown thanked the membership for allowing him to speak on HB2676, an important bill that creates a framework to help reduce suicides that all too often are encouraged through internet communications. Mr. Brown stood for questions. (Attachment 7)
Jill Janes stated since standing before the committee only 7 days ago, clips of the testimonies from that hearing had been shared on social media, bringing over 1 million views collectively. The response in such a short period of time has been overwhelming, both in volume and emotion. From these viewers, approximately 3000 comments have flooded into these threads in support of this adaptation to Kansas Law. Her personal in box has been overloaded with people sharing their own stories of loss related to suicide. In fact, it is through these postings one of the mothers testifying today learned of this hearing and brought her story to the table. It’s important for the committee to know that the number of Kansans in the threads who have been touched by suicide is heartbreaking. But the volume of these individuals who share that their loved one experienced coercion from others prior to their actions is shocking. She believes news of such a change in law will spread quickly and there will be altered behavior that will yield the prevention outcomes they are seeking. Ms. Janes stood for questions. (Attachment 8)
Kathy Brown, stated support for the bill since suicide with young people is urged on by websites. Ms. Brown stood for questions. (Attachment 9)
Written Only Proponent Testimony
Ed Klumpp, Kansas Sheriffs Association; Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police; Kansas Peace Officers Association. (Attachment 10)
Lucrecia Nold, Public Policy Specialist, Kansas Catholic Conference (Attachment 11)
Amy Campbell, Lobbyist & Coordinator, Kansas Mental Health Coalition (Attachment 12)
Robert L. Stuart, Executive Officer, Kansas Bureau of Investigation (Attachment 13)
Opponent
Emily Brandt stated due to the constitutional implications of HB2676, her organization opposes the bill. In analyzing its assisting suicide statute, the Minnesota Supreme Court held that the statutory prohibitions against advising and encouraging another to commit suicide violate the First Amendment because they were not narrowly drawn to serve a compelling government interest, and further held that speech in support of suicide, however distasteful, is an expression of a viewpoint on a matter of public concern and is entitled to special protection. Ms. Brandt stood for questions. (Attachment 14)
Chairperson Humphries closed the hearing on HB2676.
Chairperson Humphries adjourned the meeting at 5:30 pm.
