|
Vertical Divider
|
More Law Enforcement information is available at: KsLawEnforcementInfo.com
COVID-19 Information for Law Enforcement Federal Law Enforcement Related Legislation |
2021 Session Information
Weekly Update 2021 Legislative Session (Week 1)
The legislature held hearings on several priority bills the first week of the session. One of those topics was a bill to extend the statutes on the Emergency Management Act set to expire on January 26 without any major change. The plan is to extend those statutes until later in the session in order to have more time to engage in meaningful discussions on amendments to them. We will be monitoring those bills and are prepared to present testimony on law enforcement issues when the broader discussions take place later in the session.
Primarily the first week has been the introduction of new bills and a handful of hearings.
You can see a list of all law enforcement related bills at this link.
The scheduled hearings of interest to law enforcement are available at this link. Updated 1/19/21 9 AM
Key bills by Topic:
Justice Reform (Law Enforcement)
HB2025 Concerns
We have already heard a lot of concern about HB2025 about protecting private property from unauthorized access by certain government officials and unauthorized surveillance. The bill attempts to limit ability of Wildlife Officers and Weed Control Officials from surveilling activity “on private property” without a search warrant. I believe the intent of this is to require a search warrant before entering any private property to conduct surveillance to “monitor activity or collect information related to the enforcement of any law. It includes in person and electronic surveillance, including tracking devices. Although this only applies to wildlife officers and weed control officials, we will be closely monitoring the bill and respond appropriately with amendment recommendations or opposition to be determined as we learn more about the intent of the bill.
Another section of the bill prohibits agreements between any law enforcement agency and a utility company to install “tracking devices” on utility poles. This section certainly lacks clarity of intent. We will work toward removing any limitations that could negatively affect the use of pole cameras.
Any member with expertise in these areas that would like to present testimony if the bill gets a hearing should contact me.
We will also be working on initiating bills on the following topics:
Marijuana Bills
One marijuana bill has already been requested by the marijuana industry. We expect at least one other to be requested by the House Federal and State Affairs Committee. We also are being told there will likely be a hearing on the issue during this session. No bill has been published yet.
Other Major Topics This Session
The legislature held hearings on several priority bills the first week of the session. One of those topics was a bill to extend the statutes on the Emergency Management Act set to expire on January 26 without any major change. The plan is to extend those statutes until later in the session in order to have more time to engage in meaningful discussions on amendments to them. We will be monitoring those bills and are prepared to present testimony on law enforcement issues when the broader discussions take place later in the session.
Primarily the first week has been the introduction of new bills and a handful of hearings.
You can see a list of all law enforcement related bills at this link.
The scheduled hearings of interest to law enforcement are available at this link. Updated 1/19/21 9 AM
Key bills by Topic:
Justice Reform (Law Enforcement)
- SB9 - Requiring newly certified law enforcement officers to attend diversity meetings organized by the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training.
- HB2008 - Providing for the attorney general to coordinate training for law enforcement agencies on missing and murdered indigenous people.
- HB2056 - Regulating the sale and distribution of kratom products as a part of and supplemental to the Kansas food, drug and cosmetic act.
- HB2026 - Creating a drug abuse treatment program for people on diversion and allowing county and district attorneys to enter into agreements with chief judges and community corrections for supervision.
- HB2058 - Allowing reciprocity to recognize out-of-state licenses to carry a concealed handgun.
- HB2059 - Providing reciprocity for licenses to carry concealed handguns and creating two classes of concealed carry licenses.
HB2025 Concerns
We have already heard a lot of concern about HB2025 about protecting private property from unauthorized access by certain government officials and unauthorized surveillance. The bill attempts to limit ability of Wildlife Officers and Weed Control Officials from surveilling activity “on private property” without a search warrant. I believe the intent of this is to require a search warrant before entering any private property to conduct surveillance to “monitor activity or collect information related to the enforcement of any law. It includes in person and electronic surveillance, including tracking devices. Although this only applies to wildlife officers and weed control officials, we will be closely monitoring the bill and respond appropriately with amendment recommendations or opposition to be determined as we learn more about the intent of the bill.
Another section of the bill prohibits agreements between any law enforcement agency and a utility company to install “tracking devices” on utility poles. This section certainly lacks clarity of intent. We will work toward removing any limitations that could negatively affect the use of pole cameras.
Any member with expertise in these areas that would like to present testimony if the bill gets a hearing should contact me.
We will also be working on initiating bills on the following topics:
- Auto thefts
- Severity levels for various aggravating factors during attempt to elude cases
- Amending statutes allowing court ordered infectious disease testing when LEO exposed, to include COVID, Hepatitis B, and other infectious diseases.
Marijuana Bills
One marijuana bill has already been requested by the marijuana industry. We expect at least one other to be requested by the House Federal and State Affairs Committee. We also are being told there will likely be a hearing on the issue during this session. No bill has been published yet.
Other Major Topics This Session
- Law enforcement reform issues are expected to be the topic of several bills. We know some of these recommendations will be good, some will need amendments, and others will need opposition testimony. We will be monitoring for these bills and respond as they are presented. To date only the two training related bills listed above have been introduced.
- Offender registration amendments are expected. Some provisions will be good, and others will be concerning. You can see their report at this link.
- DUI amendments. This topic was studied by the Judicial Council and they have made numerous recommendations. You can see their report at this link.
2020 Session Information
Final 2020 Reports
Latest Summary Report
What Every Administrator Needs to Know About the 2020 Passed Legislation
What Every Officer Needs to Know About the 2020 Passed Legislation
List of Law Enforcement Related Bills Introduced in 2020
What Every Administrator Needs to Know About the 2020 Passed Legislation
What Every Officer Needs to Know About the 2020 Passed Legislation
List of Law Enforcement Related Bills Introduced in 2020
|
Address:
PO Box 2163 Hutchinson, KS 67504-2163 Phone: (620) 899-4122 Email: ksacp@ksacp.org |
The KACP is comprised of and represents law enforcement leaders from agencies of all sizes from throughout the state. The Association has developed and administers numerous member and community service programs as shown and described within this website.
|
|
