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Minutes for SB203 - Committee on Judiciary
Short Title
Authorizing a notice to appear to be issued for an unavailable witness or a material witness.
Minutes Content for Mon, Feb 17, 2025
Chairwoman Warren opened hearing on SB203
Natalie Scott, Revisor's Office, provided an overview of the bill and stood for questions.(Attachment 10
Joshua Steward, Senior Assistant District Attorney, on behalf of Marc Bennett, District Attorney, Eighteenth Judicial District, and the Kansas County and District Attorneys Association. Provided testimony in support of the bill. He stated this legislation would be a benefit to the criminal justice system, the victims of crime and to society at large. (Attachment 11)
The conferee stood for questions
Lindsie Ford and Emily Brandt, BIDS Legislative Committee Kansas Board of Indigents' Defense Services, provided testimony opposed to the bill. The concerns are: exempting victim and material witnesses from appointed counsel violates due process, expanding the definition of "unavailable witness' violated the confrontation clause and allowing prosecutors to delay criminal trials violates fundamental fairness. (Attachment 12)
Conferees stood for questions.
No further conferees.
Chairwoman Warren closed the hearing on SB203
