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Minutes for HB2625 - Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice
Short Title
Establishing confidentiality of records contained in the central registry of all Kansas police officers and law enforcement officers.
Minutes Content for Thu, Mar 1, 2018
Natalie Scott gave an overview of HB2625. The Committee had questions and comments.
Michelle Meier testified on behalf of Kansas Commission on Peace Officers' Standards and Training (KCPOST) in support of HB2625 stating the bill is to bring the Central Registry statute in line with the original statutory intent. (Attachment 1)
The Committee had questions and comments.
Greg Smith testified on behalf of the Johnson County Sheriff's Office in support of HB2625 but they have concerns with the language on page two, lines 20-31, the word "any" is too broad and it would be preferred to clarify that law enforcement officers who are decertified for medical issues are not included in the public release of records. (Attachment 2)
The Committee had questions and comments.
Written testimony in support of HB2625 was submitted by Kirk Thompson, Kansas Bureau of Investigation (Attachment 3); Laura Nordgren Kansas Judicial Council (Attachment 4); Ed Klumpp, Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, Kansas Sheriffs Association, and Kansas Peace Officers Association (Attachment 5); Andrew Dean, Kansas Highway Patrol (Attachment 6); and Chief Michael Fleming, Fairway Police Department (Attachment 7).
Doug Taylor testified on behalf of the League of Kansas Municipalities in a neutral position of HB2625 with a primary concern the bill would have unintended consequences of the change in Sections 1, (a) (3) from "shall disclose" to "may be disclosed" . (Attachment 8)
The Committee had questions and comments.
Max Kautsch testified on behalf of the Mike Kautsch with the Kansas Press Association, Kansas Association of Broadcasters, and Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government in opposition of HB2625 with the hope of illustrating how the bill may be modified to foster more transparency by KCPOST and, ultimately, enhance public confidence in the state's law enforcement agencies. (Attachment 9)
Chairperson Jennings called for final questions from the Committee and then closed the hearing.
Chairperson Jennings will recommend HB2738 and HB2739 be sent to the Judicial Council for further discussion.
Chairperson Jennings adjourned the meeting.
