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Minutes for HB2350 - Committee on Judiciary
Short Title
Creating the crimes of human smuggling and aggravated human smuggling and providing penalties therefor.
Minutes Content for Wed, Mar 15, 2023
Chairwoman Warren opened the hearing on HB2350. Jason Thompson, Revisor's Office, provided an overview of the bill and stood for questions.(Attachment 1)
Carrie Barth testified in support of HB2350. She stated there is a loophole in our Kansas Law. Currently we do not have a law against human smuggling. This is a known problem in our state and HB2350 makes it so law enforcement can do their jobs. (Attachment 2)
Rebecca Schmoe gave testimony in support of HB2350. She stated we have an opportunity before us to take a step in holding people accountable for their role in smuggling human beings into and through our state. (Attachment 3)
The two Representatives stood for questions.
Jeff Richards testified in support of HB2350. He stated human smuggling not only endangers the lives of those being smuggled, but also poses a danger to the citizens of our communities. (Attachment 4)
Robert Jacobs gave testimony in support of HB2350 because it fills a gap in Kansas law that human trafficking doesn't address. HB2350 would allow law enforcement to mitigate the movement of individuals in Kansas who have unlawfully entered the United States. (Attachment 5)
Kris Kobach testified that he supports HB2350 and that it fills an important gap in Kansas criminal law. He stated he has a amendment to the bill that he described to the committee. (Attachment 6)
Written-only testimony was submitted in support of HB2350 by:
- Brandon L. Jones, Franklin Attorney (Attachment 7)
- John Oelze, Executive Director, Hope Ranch for Women (Attachment 8)
Emily Brandt testified as an opponent to HB2350. She stated our state court infrastructure is not presently designed to make immigration determinations or to protect the due process rights of people alleged to be in the United States illegally. (Attachment 9)
There being no further conferees, the hearing on HB2350 was closed.
