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Minutes for SB215 - Committee on Judiciary
Short Title
Increasing penalties for domestic battery and amending child endangerment to include domestic battery in the presence of a child.
Minutes Content for Wed, Jan 22, 2020
Jason Thompson gave a presentation on SB215 explaining that it increases penalties for the crime of domestic battery and amends the crime of child endangerment to include domestic battery in the presence of a child.(Attachment 1)
Oletha Faust-Goudeau testified as a proponent of SB215 explaining that she introduced this legislation to help decrease domestic violence.(Attachment 2).
Ed Klumpp testified as a proponent of SB215 stating that domestic violence offender assessment is useful in guiding the offender to understand what causes domestic violence and can help stop it happening in the future. However, his organizations have concern about Section 2 of the bill which concerns child endangerment. The provision is too broad and needs to have more specific language to identify when a child is present during domestic abuse.(Attachment 3).
Kim Parker testified as a proponent of SB215 explaining that the child endangerment portion of the bill is viable and a necessary piece of legislation. (Attachment 4)
Steven M.S. Halley testified as a proponent of SB215 stating that perpetrators of domestic abuse may be doing it for years before they appear in the legal system. Mandating assessment is a wise step toward stopping domestic violence. (Attachment 5).
Michelle McCormick testified as a proponent of SB215 stating that domestic violence is a serious offense with complex responses within the community. Mandated assessment should be in place so appropriate intervention programs can be used to stop the violence. (Attachment 6)
Dale Goter testified as a proponent of SB215 saying it holds the promise of a safer environment for current and future victims of domestic violence. (Attachment 7) He included a Batterer Intervention Program Analysis done for the City of Wichita as supplemental testimony. (Attachment 8).
Brandi Calvert testified as a proponent of SB215 because domestic violence is preventable. Offender assessment can make this happen. (Attachment 9)
Written proponent testimony was provided by Dorthy Stucky Hailey (Attachment 10) and Joan Wagnon.(Attachment 11)
There was discussion of the testimony.
Jennifer Roth testified as an opponent of SB215 because it removes the court's discretion to require domestic violence offender assessment. Survivors of domestic abuse can be wrongly accused of such crimes when they stand up to their abusers. This does not help them. (Attachment 12)
It was announced that the hearing for SB58 would be moved to January 23,2020. The hearing was closed.
