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Minutes for HB2739 - Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice
Short Title
Changing the requirements for juvenile offenders required to register for sex offenses to match the requirement for adults.
Minutes Content for Wed, Feb 28, 2018
Natalie Scott gave an overview of HB2739. The Committee had questions and comments.
Representative John Whitmer testified in support of HB2739 stating this bill would change the requirements for juvenile offenders required to register for sex offenses to match the requirement for adults convicted of similar offenses. (Attachment 1)
Edward Runyan testified in support of HB2739 expressing this bill is very important to his family and to his girls (daughter, Alyssa, and his granddaughter, Zaylyn) who suffered at the hands of a juvenile sex offender. He believes that his girls would be alive if the juvenile sexual offender had been placed on the sex offender registry for the public to see. (Attachment 2)
Sarah Good testified in support of HB2739 compelling the Committee to flip the table, and prioritize the rights of constituents over the rights of the general public. (Attachment 3)
Kiersten Adkins, on behalf of Pathway To Hope testified in opposition of HB2739 conveying with the bias of being both a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and the mother of a survivor, changing the statue will cut the thread of hope for the children not fully culpable for their actions. (Attachment 4)
Phillip Cosby testified on behalf of the American Family Action of Kansas and Missouri, in opposition of HB2739 stating no one should label a child for a lifetime sentence of a registered sex offender. (Attachment 5)
Topher Philgreen testified on behalf of Youthfront in opposition of HB2739 strongly asked that the Committee not strike the sections of this bill that would require a minor who is convicted of a sex crime to register as a sex offender for life. He offered that it be required students to get professional help instead of condemning them to a life on the sex offender's registry. (Attachment 6)
The Committee had questions and comments.
Written testimony in opposition to HB2739 was submitted by Secretary Joe Norwood, Kansas Department of Corrections (Attachment 7); Benet Magnuson, Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice (Attachment 8); Jennifer Roth, Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Attachment 9); Robert Cox, Life Recovery Consulting (Attachment 10); Emily Schmidt (Attachment 11); Jennifer Donahue-Runyan (Attachment 12); and Jason D. Runyan (Attachment 13).
Chairperson Jennings called for final questions from the Committee and then closed the hearing.
Chairperson Jennings adjourned the meeting.
