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Minutes for HB2583 - Committee on Judiciary
Short Title
Increasing the criminal penalties for harming or killing certain dogs and horses and requiring restitution for such offense to include certain expenses.
Minutes Content for Thu, Mar 7, 2024
Chairwoman Warren opened the hearing on HB2583
Jason Thompson, Revisor's Office, provided an overview of the bill and stood for questions. (Attachment 1)
Timothy Johnson, KS Representative of the 38th District, provided testimony in support of the bill. He addressed the issue of inclusion of legal protection for police horses. (Attachment 2)
Sgt Ryan Sumner, Lenexa PD, behalf of the Kansas Peace Officers Association, is a proponent of HB2583. He stated it is their belief that passage of this bill will hold those that kill or disable a working canine or horse more accountable than the current Kansas Statute. (Attachment 3) .
Sheriff Jeff Easter, Sedgwick County, behalf of the Kansas Sheriffs Association and the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, provided proponent testimony on HB2583. In the new section (c) subsection (1) identifies this crime as a level 4, nonperson felony which is a change that the associations support. (Attachment 4)
Sgt, Ben Jonker, with Kansas State Lodge, Fraternal Order of Police, supports HB2583. He states the current statute treats the K-9s lives as equivalent to equipment. The dogs are finely tuned and exceptionally trained and deserve recognition beyond their role in law enforcement.(Attachment 5)
Deputy Tyler Brooks, with Kansas State Lodge, Fraternal Order of Police, provides testimony in support of this bill. He stated the current sentencing guidelines for killing or seriously injuring a police animal are not significant enough for the damage of losing one of the amazing animals. (Attachment 6)
Sgt Ed Brower, Kansas State Lodge, Fraternal Order of Police, fully supports HB2583. He states this bill would enhance the penalties for killing or injuring police horses and dogs and mandate compensation in the event of such an offense.(Attachment 7)
Greg Smith, Johnson County Sheriffs Office, Special Deputy for Government Affairs, supports the bill. He stated the enhanced penalties of this bill reflect the importance and contributions of these animals. (Attachment 8)
Written-only opponent testimony was submitted by Keisha James, National Police Accountability Project. (Attachment 9)
There being no further conferees, Chairwoman Warren closed the hearing on HB2583.
