House Status:
Senate Status:
Senate Status:
Minutes for HB2445 - Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice
Short Title
Allowing children who run away to be placed in a juvenile detention facility for 24 hours.
Minutes Content for Tue, Jan 28, 2020
Natalie Scott gave an overview of HB2445.
Christie Appelhanz on behalf of the Children’s Alliance of Kansas testified in opposition of HB2445. She stated the bill pits safety against well-being and asks policymakers to choose between the lesser of two evils. (Attachment 1)
The Committee had questions for Ms. Appelhanz.
Thomas Witt on behalf of Equality of Kansas testified in opposition of HB2445. He stated while they understand the goal of this bill is to help get runaway youth off the streets and into places of safety, placing runaways especially LGBT children in juvenile detention facilities likely increases the risk to the lives, health, and well-being of an already vulnerable population. (Attachment 2)
George Hanna testified in opposition of HB2445. He felt he could help shed a first hand account to the Committee because he has fought very hard to become who he is today after being a runaway. (Attachment 3)
The Committee asked questions of Mr. Hanna.
Written only testimony in opposition of HB2445 was submitted by:
- Kansas Department of Corrections (Attachment 4)
- Terri Williams Kansas Advisory Group on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (Attachment 5)
- Justin Burton, Stop Gap, Inc. (Attachment 6)
- Alyson Clements, National Juvenile Justice Network (Attachment 7)
- Mike Fonkert, Kansas Appleseed (Attachment 8)
- Jeremy Johnson (Attachment 9)
- Tanya Keys, Department of Children and Families (Attachment 10)
- Adrienne Olejnik, Kansas Action for Children (Attachment 11)
- Tyler Williams, Progeny (Attachment 12)
Chairperson Jennings called for final questions from the Committee and then closed the hearing.
