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Minutes for SB214 - Committee on Ways and Means
Short Title
Enacting the attorney training program for rural Kansas act to provide financial assistance to lawyers and law students who practice law in rural areas.
Minutes Content for Wed, Feb 12, 2025
Chairperson Billinger opened the hearing on SB 214. Tamera Lawrence, Office of the Revisor of Statutes, provided an overview of the bill and responded to questions from Committee members. (Attachment 9)
Justice K.J. Wall of the Kansas Supreme Court testified in support of the bill. Student loan debt is a deterrent to gaining and maintaining attorneys in rural areas and this bill mirrors the programs available for medical and veterinary programs. We need local attorneys to help local businesses and have people who understand the local area versus hiring someone from a larger city. While there are economic advantages, we also need adequate numbers to provide for the constitutional duty to ensure the right to counsel. Justice Wall responded to questions from Committee members. (Attachment 10)
Dr. JuliAnn Mazachek, President of Washburn University, spoke in favor of the bill as Washburn is one of two law schools in Kansas. Washburn Law has a rural law program but shortages in rural areas are alarming. This program would enhance the existing program and encourage students to choose rural areas. (Attachment 11)
Ann Sagan, Board of Indigents' Defense Services (BIDS), stood in support of the bill. Most rural areas don't have public defenders and have to rely on assigned counsel. New lawyers are generally going to urban and suburban areas but BIDS would benefit from these programs that would draw new and experienced attorneys to rural areas. BIDS has to pay attorneys to travel hundreds of miles to provide counsel in rural areas and this bill would provide for a long term solution. Ms. Sagan responded to questions from Committee members. (Attachment 12)
Ashley Comeau, Kansas Women Attorney Association, testified in favor of the bill. She and her husband chose to live in a small rural community. They have full time jobs and are invested in their community. When she left her mid-size law firm in Kansas City, her salary was reduced dramatically and her family may need to consider leaving their rural community in order to pay law school debt. This bill would have an immediate impact for those already out in the rural communities. (Attachment 13)
Angela Meyer, Rural Justice Initiative Committee and Kansas Bar Association, spoke in support of the bill. As a small town lawyer, it is not uncommon for their court docket to not have attorneys to represent the litigants. This bill is a good foundation and would play a key role in fostering the economic and civic development of rural communities. She feels fortunate to have a home in a small town but she had to scrimp and save to pay off her law school student debt. (Attachment 14)
Susan Richmeier, Finney County Attorney, stood in favor of the bill. She spends a significant amount of time recruiting for her office and they are typically short by two to three attorneys. In the last five years at least half of the attorneys in her judicial district have retired. It is difficult to recruit to rural areas due to the pay differential and lack of resources for residents. (Attachment 15)
Written testimony in support of the bill was submitted by:
John Goodyear, League of Kansas Municipalities (Attachment 16)
Wendee Grady, Kansas Farm Bureau (Attachment 17)
Joseph Molina, Kansas Bar Association (Attachment 18)
Tabitha Owens, Kansas County and District Attorney's Association (Attachment 19)
There being no further conferees, Chairperson Billinger closed the hearing on SB 214.
