[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6658973,"mediaKeyId","2474232-58812ebcc29fcc3cea9686b21e6f6091","parentId",2474232,"title","Committee hears testimony on making first-offense buyers felony and mandating AG-approved treatment","audioSeconds",2802,"startMs",946910,"endMs",3749000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2474232-58812ebcc29fcc3cea9686b21e6f6091&start=946&end=3749","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2474232-58812ebcc29fcc3cea9686b21e6f6091/thumbnail_946910.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6658973/Kansas/Committee-hears-testimony-on-making-first-offense-buyers-felony-and-mandating-AG-approved-treatment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6658973-7de6b37fe2266f61f1f2cedbe6c999ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1770924731&Signature=YxBCTMyekJ16aZGEXLH-AcE2nabldMqp1XXZc0KFTdWACzrDfWyxPw9SoG4y45gwRWcISDJpdVfSX21QFzU471I5NGP03UaqdNHBvuIba~jkWrK0vt1GkRMnORAsnUCpl-1GYI1yGYAB8cBeyhKcaTx3h1z9fK4za6ASdUcrsG9pSyraxQA-enoJpbiEDWuakcWLkiYF3jSTZNZyIdQGj8P50b9IKW~bdnAl0ZUXoYO54iQA8eI0c1977DnoxGyAWseAldphYETT5tjdP8lRSeIh6l8cOJkfGaRxwb55HLYsZWXH4qLGZsoA5ZEjCmkJe3ruougsalwZ~nKLLxscsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Committee on Judiciary","date","2025-03-03T22:43:16.247Z","article","Senate Bill 71 would reclassify the crime commonly referred to in committee as \"buying sexual relations\" so that a first offense becomes a severity level 9 person felony, increase the minimum fine to $2,000, and require offenders to complete an educational or treatment program approved by the Attorney General in certain cases.

Under the bill as described by the committee reviser, section 1 would direct the Attorney General to consult with the Office of Judicial Administration and adopt rules to evaluate and approve one or more educational or treatment programs regarding commercial sexual exploitation; the AG would adopt rules and regulations by Jan. 1, 2026. Sections amending chapter 12 statutes would remove references to municipal ordinances for the offense. For the buying-sexual-relations offense, the bill would change the penalty structure: all violations would be a severity level 9 person felony (eliminating the current first-offense misdemeanor), increase the statutory fine minimum from $1,200 to $2,000, and require courts to order completion of the AG-approved program for convictions that occur on or after July 1, 2026. The diversion statute (KSA 22-2909) would be amended so that diversions after July 1, 2026 must include the AG-approved program. The reviser stated the bill takes effect July 1, 2025 to permit rulemaking, with some sentencing provisions delayed until July 1, 2026; the bill passed the Senate 40-0 before reaching the House committee.

Proponents framed the bill as a demand-reduction measure. Mike Kagay (testifying as Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kahe) said Kansas should target the demand side of commercial sexual exploitation because \"human trafficking is modern day slavery.\" He and other prosecution and law enforcement witnesses emphasized that buyers fuel the market for traffickers and that moving cases out of municipal court into state felony court ensures centralized records and better visibility for prosecutors and law enforcement. Testifying for the Kansas Sheriffs Association and allied groups, Ed Klump said taking the offense out of municipal court would ensure records enter the central state court database and aid prosecutors in tracking prior diversions or dispositions.

Service providers and survivor advocates described the harms they see and urged felony penalties and mandatory programming. Terry Hund, program director for Project to Restore, said most survivors the program serves were coerced or trafficked and that buyers have a choice while victims do not: \"Buyers have a choice,\" she said, \"and it's clear the only way we are going to stop this crime is by making buying a felony.\" Lucy Bloom of Impact Strategies cited evidence and programs used elsewhere — including a Kansas-Missouri education program called Stop Sexual Exploitation — and said studies and program results support both criminal deterrence and behavioral change through education. Emma Markowitz, a human trafficking intelligence analyst with the Shawnee County District Attorney's office, described the prevalence of online advertisements and provided counts of local and statewide postings to illustrate scale.

Committee members pressed for clarification on timing and implementation. Representative John Carmichael asked whether parts of the bill take effect July 1, 2025 and whether program requirements are delayed until 2026; the reviser confirmed the bill's effective date starts the rulemaking process in 2025 and most AG-approved-program sentencing requirements apply July 1, 2026. Members asked proponents about program effectiveness, enforcement discretion and recordkeeping if cases remain in municipal court; proponents said centralized state felony records and a mandatory AG-approved diversion or sentencing program would increase accountability and support victim-centered outcomes.

No opponents spoke in person; neutral/written testimony was filed by some groups according to the committee record. The committee did not take a vote during the hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Committee on Judiciary 03/03/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 71 would make a first offense of \"buying sexual relations\" a severity level 9 person felony, raise the minimum fine and require completion of Attorney General-approved education or treatment programs for convictions and diversions under a phased timetable.","taxTitle","Committee on Judiciary, Standing, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Kansas","taxId",18817,"location","Kansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6658978,"Committee hears bill to let county law library filing fees fund court access projects",900,36830,937730,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2474232-58812ebcc29fcc3cea9686b21e6f6091&start=36&end=937","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2474232-58812ebcc29fcc3cea9686b21e6f6091/thumbnail_36830.jpg","/articles/6658978/Kansas/Committee-hears-bill-to-let-county-law-library-filing-fees-fund-court-access-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6658978-7fdd21165612e73b74c78c0a80c5a3c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770924731&Signature=FsD3JfcdzZCtIDh0UIuC-DhzzxF3unOb~TWNr-dAyKg-nAvoQI8DRxCS8BxdOXQeraEfAg4b7xQlVWgHAXVfdv0s42RcuzEq-4Q7auLhBGgGCpQN8sFAifnCKu0TR65V9iMXE31JwNrFtZUO-3GVenzd1ZyDUIhzE4nmuSAkrSeT82MVB3iYQcfKScNOUxAbXS8KVlO97vMadRm-KWrYyYONud6dhnK-5bPdYX750PSyHjBMYVlEsKe83HqedS1pB4MOs7BHPnAXV1Eq4Jrbshy~1RvtsFeeKJBguXfJvKS487Z84iSURyAJOsosykxECq6oxT5Yicaf2BlpETXs1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 53 would change the composition of county law library boards in many Kansas counties and allow an additional category of filing fees to be used for District Court purposes if the board of trustees authorizes it.

The bill would amend KSA 23-127 to specify that, for counties other than Johnson, Sedgwick and Douglas, the Board of Trustees of the County Law Library would consist of the district judge or judges and \"not fewer than 2 attorneys who reside in the county,\" appointed by the chief judge. The bill also would add fees collected under KSA 20-31-29 to the list of law library funds that a board can authorize for \"facilitating and enhancing functions of the District Court of the county.\" Jason Thompson, the committee reviser, briefed the panel on the bill and said it came to the committee via the Senate and passed the Senate 40-0.

Chief Judge Grant Bannister, testifying in support for the Kansas District Judges Association, said the change addresses two linked issues: board membership and the use of a small portion of court filing fees. \"All counties have law library funds that are established by statute. All funds stay local,\" Bannister said. He described the second fee source as a \"small fraction of court filing fees,\" and argued the bill would prevent those monies from becoming \"a stranded asset\" by allowing them to be put toward access-to-justice efforts such as self-help legal centers, online legal resources, public Wi-Fi, device checkout programs and some courtroom technology.

Committee members asked practical questions about implementation. Representative Michael Goddard asked what happens in counties that might not have two resident attorneys; Thompson replied the statute would still specify two attorneys and suggested proponents address that practical concern. Bannister said some counties have adapted their library services by moving to online subscriptions or partnering with public libraries; he said Manhattan houses its law library at the Manhattan Public Library where patrons can access paid research subscriptions. Representative John Carmichael and Representative Osman asked about the county role and the statutory basis for docket fees; Bannister said the state framework provides uniformity and may reflect limits on counties'ability to assess docket fees without statutory authorization.

The bill sets July 1 as its effective date for the statutory changes described and the Senate sponsor recorded a 40-0 vote in that chamber. Proponents urged the committee to allow both sources of law library revenue to be used in the same manner so local boards can expand access to legal information and related services.

No opponents or neutral testimonies were offered at the hearing.

If the committee advances SB 53, the bill would leave ultimate spending decisions to the county law library board of trustees; the bill would add the specified filing fee authority to the existing statutory listing for permissible uses.","A Judiciary Committee hearing considered Senate Bill 53, which would require attorney board members of many county law libraries to be appointed by the chief judge and would permit an additional category of filing fees to be used, if approved by the local law library board, to support District Court access and services.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee hears testimony on making first-offense buyers felony and mandating AG-approved treatment

Committee hears bill to let county law library filing fees fund court access projects