(Feb. 20, 2023) – Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Senator Kellie Warren (R-Leawood), worked Senate Bill 228. The bill modernizes statutes concerning county jails by:

• Removing the requirement that every county shall have a jail
• Modifying procedures used when district courts commit prisoners to jail in another county and when counties contract with city jails to keep prisoners
• Requiring a medical examination in certain instances before being taken into a county jail.

The committee added language regarding the demolition or repurposing of jails no longer in use. In addition, language was added stating:

• Inmates are to be identified according to biological sex
• Once in a sheriff or jailkeeper's custody, the prisoner must be taken for medical examination at the financial responsibility of the prisoner.

The bill was further amended to deal with county jails being compensated for keeping individuals awaiting involuntary in-patient stays. The bill was recommended favorably for passage as amended.

The committee also took up Senate Bill 75. The legislation changes the legal rate of interest from a fixed rate to a variable rate based on the statutory rate provided for interest on judgements.