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Minutes for SB18 - Committee on Judiciary
Short Title
Providing a process for the attorney general to enter into diversion agreements.
Minutes Content for Thu, Mar 7, 2019
Chairperson Patton opened a hearing on SB18.
Natalie Scott, Assistant Revisor, reviewed SB18 for the membership. (Attachment 1) She addressed questions.
Paul Brothers testified as a proponent for SB18 stating in recent years their office has expanded their capacity to investigate and prosecute a substantial number of “white collar” crimes, which resulted in the creation of their Fraud and Abuse Litigation Division in 2016. Their division’s work includes the authorities that were transferred to the attorney general to prosecute cases that were previously handled by the Insurance Department and the Office of the Securities Commissioner. They have also entered into an agreement with the Kansas Department of Revenue to prosecute cases that are investigated by the Office of Special Investigations, including tax fraud, driver’s license fraud and related crimes. Some of these prosecutions involve lower-level felonies or misdemeanors involving defendants who have little or no criminal history. The interest of justice in these cases sometimes warrants the consideration and granting of a diversion. (Attachment 2) He stood for questions.
No testimony neutral or in opposition to SB18 was presented to the Committee.
Being no further testimony, Chairperson Patton closed the hearing on SB18.
