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Minutes for HB2581 - Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice
Short Title
Increasing the criminal penalities for the crime of giving a false alarm in certain circumstances.
Minutes Content for Tue, Feb 13, 2018
Natalie Scott gave an overview of HB2581. The Committee had questions and comments.
Representative John Carmichael testified in support of HB2581 explaining the purpose of this bill is to better define a crime which is becoming more frequent, with tragic consequences, likely not fully contemplated when our giving a false alarm statute was drafted. (Attachment 4)
Representative Patty Markley testified in support of HB2581 declared swatting hoaxes are not funny and are not simply prank calls. She said actions have consequences and should someone be harmed or killed, the callers must be held accountable for their actions. (Attachment 5)
Representative John Whitmer in support of HB2581 stating the bill would change the crime of giving a false alarm to making an unlawful request for emergency service assistance. (Attachment 6)
Ed Klumpp testified on behalf of the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, Kansas Sheriffs Association, and Kansas Peace Officers Association in support of HB2581 stated swatting is the act of intentionally creating a false request for emergency assistance reporting that person is in immediate violent danger for the purposes of causing a high-risk police response to the victim's location. (Attachment 7)
Greg Smith testified on behalf of the Johnson County Sheriff's Office in support of HB2581 as the bill increases the criminal penalties for the crime of giving a false alarm in certain circumstances. (Attachment 8)
Representative Koesten requested the number of swatting calls called into 911 in Johnson County. (Attachment 9)
Kim T. Parker testified on behalf of the Kansas County and District Attorneys Association in support of HB2581 claims swatting puts law enforcement and the people being swatted in dangerous situations. (Attachment 10)
Lisa Finch testified on behalf of her son, Andrew T. Finch, in support of HB2581 asking the Committee to name the bill after her son, who was shot and killed because of a prank swatting call. (Attachment 11)
Ann Jones testified as a friend of the deceased, Andrew T. Finch, in support of HB2581 asking the Committee to name the bill after Mr. Finch. (Attachment 12)
Michael Mihalakis testified on behalf of The Daily Haze in support of HB2581, he, also, requested the bill be named after Andrew T. Finch. (Attachment 13)
Mik Shanks testified on behalf of the Kansas Fraternal Order of Police in support of HB2581 speaking to the various reasons swatting takes place. (Attachment 14)
Written testimony in support of HB2581 was submitted by Doug Taylor testified on behalf of League of Kansas Municipalities. (Attachment 15)
Chairperson Jennings called for final questions from the Committee and then closed the hearing.
