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Minutes for HB2515 - Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice
Short Title
Creating a mechanism to seek relief from the Kansas offender registration act requirements for drug offenders and allowing expungement of offenses when such relief is granted.
Minutes Content for Mon, Feb 7, 2022
Chairperson Owens opened the hearing on HB2515. Natalie Scott provided an overview of the bill. (Attachment 1) There were no questions for Ms. Scott.
Aileen Berquist testified in support of the bill. She stated that Kansas has some of the most restrictive offender registries in the country and that we need an exit ramp for people who have served their time, completed all parts of their sentence, and don't pose a threat to their communities. She said this committee has the chance to make that happen by creating a sensible way for drug offenders to petition to get off the registry. (Attachment 2) There were no questions for Ms. Berquist.
Jennifer Roth testified in support of the bill on behalf of the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. She provided a brief background on the inclusion of drug offenses in the Kansas Offender Registration Act (KORA). She provided a summary of how KORA - as it relates to drug registration, exit mechanism, and penalties - has changed over time and how groups of stakeholders have proposed to bring it in line with data, research, and available resources. Ms. Roth said changes to KORA are long overdue and this bill would be one step in the process. (Attachment 3) Ms. Roth stood for questions.
Written only testimony in support of the bill was provided by:
- Ed Klumpp, Kansas Sheriffs Association, Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, Kansas Peace Officers Association (Attachment 4)
- Patrick Armstrong, Project Manager, Council of State Governments Justice Center (Attachment 5)
- Dany Kravitcz, Private Citizen (Attachment 6)
There was no neutral testimony.
Greg Smith testified in opposition to the bill. He stated that the registry is an effective means of oversight of drug offenders, especially due to the likelihood of re-offending. He asked that if the committee does decide to move forward with the bill, that the bill be amended so that no one on the registry for a drug offense, who re-offends, be allowed to petition for removal from the list and that they not be allowed to have the conviction expunged. (Attachment 7) Mr. Smith stood for questions.
Chairperson Owens closed the hearing on HB2515.
