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Minutes for SB416 - Committee on Judiciary
Short Title
Prohibiting fines and fees from being assessed against a juvenile or a juvenile's parent, guardian or custodian in a case pursuant to the revised Kansas juvenile justice code.
Minutes Content for Wed, Mar 13, 2024
Chairwoman Warren opened the hearing on SB416
Jason Thompson, Revisor's Office, provided an overview of the bill and stood for questions. (Attachment 1)
Noah Bein, Justice Action Network, provided testimony in support of the bill. He stated this bill does the right thing for kids, families, community safety, and taxpayers. We urge the committee to support it. (Attachment 2)
Desmond E. Bryan White, Program Manager, Progeny, is a proponent for SB416. He stated young people can face heavy loads of debt, civil judgements, and ruined credit, limiting their opportunities for years to come. This bill is something that I hope that all people can get behind. (Attachment 3)
Dante Bristow, Youth Leader Intern of Progeny supports this bill. He testified that he was a youth that's been punished, and he doesn't want to see the youth punished for these fines and fees. (Attachment 4)
Tyler Williams, Community Organizer with Progeny is a proponent of this bill. He stated if we really want to help kids rehabilitate back into society after making a mistake, then we need to stop trapping them in financial crises with no feasible way out. We need to end the insanity of treating kids like adults. (Attachment 5)
Mike Fonkert, Deputy Director, Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice provided testimony in support of the bill. He urges listening to bipartisan support and of other states who have seen the ineffectiveness and counterproductive results of youth fines and fees and vote in favor of the bill. Keeping a promise to Kansas kids that a mistake made as a child, will not set them up for a lifetime of failure. (Attachment 6)
Rashane Hamby, American Civil Liberties Union, Kansas, provided testimony in support of SB416. She stated that the passage of this legislation is a moral imperative to lift the unjust financial burden off the shoulders of our youth and their families, thereby paving the way for a more just and equitable society. (Attachment 7)
Written only testimony in support of SB416 was submitted by:
- TO'nia Avery, Youth Leader Intern of Progeny (Attachment 8)
- Adonijah Metcalf, Youth Leader Intern of Progeny (Attachment 9)
- Mark Dupree Sr, Wyandotte County District Attorney (Attachment 10)
- Suzanne Valdez, Douglas County District Attorney (Attachment 11)
- Sarah Johnson, Senior Youth Defense Counsel, The Gault Center (Attachment 12)
- Ebony Stoutmiles, State Policy Advocate, Juvenile Law Center (Attachment 13)
Written only neutral testimony for SB416 was submitted by Lara Blake Bors, Juvenile Justice Oversight Committee (Attachment 14)
Jay Hall, Deputy Director and General Counsel, Kansas Association of Counties provided testimony opposed to the bill. The Association would recommend more study of this issue to determine which, if any fees should be eliminated, where the juvenile court may be given discretion to determine if a fee should be reduced or waived, and which fees are necessary. (Attachment 15)
There being no further conferees, Chairwoman Warred closed the hearing on SB416.
