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Minutes for SB204 - Committee on Judiciary
Short Title
Requiring the case and warrant information be sealed in criminal and juvenile offender cases.
Minutes Content for Tue, Mar 11, 2025
Chair opened the hearing on SB204.
Jason Thompson, Office of Revisor of Statutes, presented the bill brief. (Attachment 4)
Proponent Sheriff Jeff Easter, Kansas Sheriffs Association/Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police/Kansas Peace Officers Association, testified that juvenile records should be sealed, particularly arrest warrants and associated affidavits. This is necessary due to the juvenile nature of the case, but also critical for officer safety. (Attachment 5)
Proponent Stephen Howe, Johnson County District Attorney, testified that the public disclosure of a warrant is recklessly putting victims of violence, the general public, and law enforcement officers in harms way. He proposed an amendment to K.S.A. 60-2617 to rectify the situation. He also asked for an amendment which would seal subpoena information in juvenile justice cases from public view. (Attachment 6)
Proponent Marc Bennett, Kansas County & District Attorneys Association/Sedgwick County District Attorneys Office, testified that, for the safety of the public and law enforcement officers, warrant information should be sealed until the arrest is made. In a second component they ask that subpoenas be sealed from public view to protect personal identifying information. He proposed a friendly amendment to say subpoenas "and their return of service document" be sealed. (Attachment 7)
The Chair drew attention to the Proponent Written Only testimonies:
Heidi Wooten, SafeHome, partner of Kansas County & District Attorneys Association (Attachment 8)
Amanda Meyers, Wichita Family Crisis Center, partner of Kansas County & District Attorneys Association (Attachment 9)
Judi Rodman, Sunflower House, Child Advocacy Center, Shawnee, Kansas (Attachment 10)
The Chair drew attention to the Neutral Written Only testimonies:
Michelle McCormick, Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (Attachment 11)
Shane Rolf, Kansas Bail Agents Association (Attachment 12)
The Chair closed the hearing on SB204.
