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Minutes for SB157 - Committee on Judiciary
Short Title
Requiring warrants issued for failure to appear to be provided to a compensated surety, changing the criteria for setting aside bond forfeiture and requiring remission if the defendant is returned to custody in certain circumstances.
Minutes Content for Thu, Feb 13, 2025
Chairwoman Warren opened the hearing on SB157.
Natalie Scott, Revisor's Office, provided an overview of the bill and stood for questions. (Attachment 9)
Stephen Owens, Kansas Senator, District 31, spoke in favor of the bill. This bill accomplishes three important things. Allows a fugitive recovery agent to access the warrant, changes the criteria for setting aside a bond forfeiture, and creates a statewide standard for a remission requirement. (Attachment 10)
Shane Rolf, Vice President, Kansas Bail Agents Association, testified in support of the bill. He also spoke of the three changes to K.S.A. 22-2807, all of which solve ongoing problems. The bill would provide a defense to forfeiture if the defendant has left the country. All told, these changes will establish additional consistency in the enforcement of bond forfeitures. (Attachment 11)
The proponent conferees stood for questions.
Sheriff Jeff Easter, Sedgwick County on behalf of Kansas Sheriffs' Association, Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, provided testimony as an opponent to the bill. He provided language that they would like to see made to the bill. (Attachment 12)
Aaron Breintenbach, Deputy District Attorney, on behalf of Marc Bennett, District Attorney, Eighteenth Judicial District, testified as an opponent to the bill. He asks to hold bondsman liable to the contracts they sign to assure the timely presence of criminal defendants in court. He stated their county, in the past few months, has begun to see the effects of last year's legislation with more consistency in best practices for professional sureties and required bond amount are starting to decrease as a result. He stated this was good news, but SB157 reverses this positive momentum. (Attachment 13)
Opponents stood for questions.
No further conferees.
Chairwoman Warren closed the hearing on SB157.
