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Minutes for HB2740 - Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice
Short Title
Increasing the criminal penalty for a third or subsequent conviction of domestic battery and creating a mandatory minimum sentence for aggravated domestic battery.
Minutes Content for Wed, Feb 14, 2024
The Chair opened the hearing on HB2740. Natalie Scott provided an overview of the bill. (Attachment 1)
Will Hurst, Johnson County District Attorney's Office testified in support of the bill. Mr. Hurst said this bill does not impact first time offenders or offenders who commit non-person crimes. This bill only impacts offenders who are convicted of domestic battery three times in a five year window. He said that as part of their prior convictions for domestic battery, most of these individuals have already been through standard probation and that probation most likely included mandatory treatment and counseling for domestic violence and if appropriate, substance abuse and mental health treatment. (Attachment 2)
Ed Klumpp testified in support of the bill on behalf of the Kansas Sheriffs Association, the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police and the Kansas Peace Officers Association. Mr. Klumpp said this bill addresses the sentencing provision for a third or subsequent conviction within five years for non-aggravated domestic battery. They believe the application of the higher sentence is very appropriate for a third time offender. (Attachment 3)
Roberta Jackson, Private Citizen testified in support of the bill. Ms. Jackson shared her personal story of being a domestic violence survivor and about her experience as a 911 operator handling domestic violence calls. She said probation does not work in most cases and encouraged the committee to consider this bill. (Attachment 4)
