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Minutes for SB336 - Committee on Judiciary
Short Title
Providing compensation for a person who was wrongfully convicted and imprisoned.
Minutes Content for Wed, Feb 14, 2018
Chairman Wilborn opened the hearing on SB336 - Providing compensation for a person who was wrongfully convicted and imprisoned. Jason Thompson provided an overview of the bill. (Attachment 1)
Senator Baumgardner made introductory remarks from her seat as sponsor of SB336.
Senator Haley testified in support of SB336 recognizing the bill as superior to previous approaches to the issue. (Attachment 2)
Michelle Feldman thanked the committee for their previous work in addressing the main causes of wrongful conviction and offered support for SB336. Ms. Feldman noted that Kansas is one of 18 states without a compensation law to provide help for those who are returning to society after being exonerated for a crime they did not commit. She believes the bill draws on lessons learned in other states and puts Kansas in the mainstream of what is being done. (Attachment 3)
Alice Craig spoke in support of SB336 and told the committee of her work with the Paul E. Wilson Project for Innocence and Post-Conviction Remedies, a clinic at the Kansas University School of Law. The clinic represented the exonerated men appearing before the committee in this hearing. She asked committee members to pass the bill and bring Kansas in line with other states. (Attachment 4)
Floyd Bledsoe supported SB336 as one who has experienced the struggles of handling life after being exonerated. He spoke of all that he lost, including relationships with family, and of the difficulties he has faced since his release. He believes SB336 would help him move beyond survival mode as he begins to re-establish his life. (Attachment 5)
Lamonte McIntyre also spoke in favor of SB336 telling of the affects on his life since being wrongfully convicted. He is trying to move forward with life and believes the provisions of the bill would help him establish a sense of normalcy as he continues the adjustment from prison life to freedom. (Attachment 6)
Chairman Wilborn recognized Richard Jones, who was seated in the audience; Richard has also been exonerated for a crime he did not commit.
The Chairman noted written testimony in favor of SB336 submitted by:
Tricia Bushnell, Director, Midwest Innocence Project (Attachment 7)
Richard Jones, wrongfully convicted in Johnson County, exonerated June 2017 (Attachment 8)
Alvin Sykes, human rights worker (Attachment 9)
The Chairman also pointed out neutral written testimony on SB336 submitted by Liz Rice, Kansas Department of Corrections. (Attachment 10)
Senator Haley asked for Chairman Wilborn's indulgence in allowing Mr. Jones and Mr. Sykes to make brief comments to the committee; the Chairman allowed both men to speak.
Conferees answered questions from committee members.
Chairman Wilborn closed the hearing on SB336.
