(Feb. 16, 2023) – Today, the Senate Judiciary committee, chaired by Senator Kellie Warren (R-Leawood), held a hearing on Senate Bill 228. The legislation modernizes statutes on when counties contract with city jails to keep prisoners and require a medical examination before certain United States prisoners or city prisoners are taken into custody of a county jail.

Proponents included:

• Sandy Horton, Retired Crawford County sheriff
• Adam Danbury, Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police

The conferees suggested an amendment that the associations have worked on with the Kansas Hospital Association. They also testified more education for communities is needed when medical clearances are required.

The committee members asked if this could be amended to have a compensation mechanism for counties holding state patients awaiting admission at state hospitals. They also asked about inmate housing based on gender. The committee asked for clarification that these people receiving medical services remain under arrest.

The committee also attempted to work Senate Bill 74. The bill provides for joint liability for costs and sanctions in third-party-funded litigation, requires certain discovery disclosures and requires payment of certain costs for nonparty subpoenas. The committee discussed possible amendments but saw a motion ultimately to table the bill.

The committee then turned to Senate Bill 75, the bill changes the legal rate of interest from a fixed rate to a variable rate base on the statutory rate provided for interest on judgments. The bill was recommended favorably for passage and now goes before the full Senate.