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Minutes for HB2147 - Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice

Short Title

Allowing early discharge from prison for certain drug offenders.

Minutes Content for Tue, Feb 16, 2021

Chairperson Jennings opened the hearing on HB2147.

Natalie Scott, Assistant Revisor, gave an overview of HB2147 and the affected statute. (Attachment 1) The revisor stood for questions.

Randall Bowman testified on behalf of Secretary Zmuda in support of HB2147. As proposed, HB2147 would reduce some bed space facility costs but would be offset by an increase in the number of Prisoner Review Board hearings and the number of persons being supervised by community corrections programs who receive the majority of their funding through grants administered by the Kansas Department of Corrections. (Attachment 2)

Chairperson Jennings requested the Committee hold questions until all proponents have provided testimony.

Scott Schultz submitted a Prison Bed Space Impact Assessment and testified in support of HB2147 stating the Kansas Sentencing Commission requested the bill for introduction. Under HB2147, eligible non-violent drug offenders can apply to the Prisoner Review Board (PRB) for release to community corrections for the remainder of their sentence and would only be granted if the offender met specific PRB criteria and could be revoked for non-compliance. (Attachment 3) (Attachment 4)

Kendall Seal testified in support of HB2147 as a positive step toward a more just and equitable criminal legal system. However, several amendments related to the bill’s impact on low-income and minority communities are requested. (Attachment 5)

Questions from the Committee of proponent testimony participants were addressed.

Written opponent testimony was submitted by:

  • Ed Klumpp, Legislative Liaison for Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police; Kansas Sheriff's Association; and the Kansas Peace Officers Association (Attachment 6)
  • Greg Smith, Special Deputy Sheriff for Government, Veteran, and Crime Victim Affairs, Johnson County Sheriff's Office (Attachment 7)

There was no neutral testimony.

Chairperson Jennings called for final questions from the Committee.

The hearing on HB2147 was closed.

 

The next meeting will be February 17, 2021.

The meeting adjourned at 2:10p.m.