Chairperson Humphries opened the Hearing on SB358.

Natalie Scott, Office of the Revisor of Statutes, presented the Bill Brief.  (Attachment 1)

Ms. Scott stood for questions.

Proponents:

Representative Sydney Carlin, 66th District, recognized the community members from her district who have come to testify today, as well as the testimony filed as written only.  She asked the Committee to consider their stories and the set of circumstances involving the person convicted of wrongdoing in their community.  (Attachment 2)

Barry Wilkerson, Riley County Attorney, 21st Judicial District, testified that this bill is overdue. He shared that this is an appropriate response to a reality that many sexual assault victims struggle with following a trial or conviction when the offender is not in custody until their sentencing.  He encouraged passage of SB358.  (Attachment 3)

Kathy Ray, Executive Director, The Crisis Center, Inc., testified that victim participation in the process of sexual assault cases is long and difficult.  She shared statistics concerning the serial nature of sex offenses. Often victims do not feel safe to report, especially if safety can't be ensured after a conviction.  She called for the passage of SB358.  (Attachment 4) 

Kathleen Cashman, Private Citizen, a survivor of sexual violence, testified that there is a need to make communities safer by not allowing defendants to go home after guilty verdicts are given. SB358 would not allow this to happen.  (Attachment 5)

Shelley LeValley, Private Citizen, shared that even though she originally didn't have the fortitude to report the offenses of her perpetrator, she shared the fear of others who had testified in the case as they watched the defendant be released after a guilty conviction. After the trial she did report her experiences to the police, and now pleaded with the Committee to pass this bill to try to end re-victimization by the judicial process.  (Attachment 6)

Hjerda McAllister, Private Citizen, testified that victims were appalled when their perpetrator was allowed to go home after conviction of 51 crimes. This group of survivors is calling for a bill that will revoke bond after a guilty conviction.  (Attachment 7)

Abby Stark, Private Citizen, spoke as a sexual assault survivor of a case different that most of those testifying today. She remembers the fear she experienced when she was told of the possibility of her perpetrator being able to be released after a guilty verdict. She called for passage of this bill to keep this from happening to anyone in the future.  (Attachment 8)

Rita Weltsch, Private Citizen, shared of the necessity to pass this bill, considering the guilty verdict. Victims should have the right to feel safe after the case is prosecuted. The victims in this case feel betrayed by the court system and call for passage of this bill.  (Attachment 9)

Denise Wyrick, Private Citizen, shared that this bill is an important step in recognizing the immediacy of our judicial process. It would help reduce the fear of further harm that victims in some situations may experience. Bond should be revoked when a person is convicted of certain serious crimes.  (Attachment 10)

Representative Dr. Megan Steele, 51st District, shared that she wanted to recognize the brave victims in the room from her district and thanked the committee for hearing their stories today.  (Attachment 11)

The Proponents stood for questions.

Chairperson Humphries drew attention to the Written Only testimonies:

Senator Brad Starnes, 22nd District and Senator Kenny Titus, 18th District  (Attachment 12)

Michelle McCormick, Executive Director, Kansas Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence  (Attachment 13)

Audrey Clowers, Private Citizen  (Attachment 14)

Cathy Doane, Private Citizen  (Attachment 15)

Suzan Fitzsimmons, Private Citizen  (Attachment 16)

Elizabeth Jankord, Private Citizen  (Attachment 17)

Carson Kober, Private Citizen  (Attachment 18)

Cheryl McCabria, Private Citizen  (Attachment 19)

Krysten McGillis, Private Citizen  (Attachment 20)

Chairperson Humphries drew attention to the Opponent Written Only testimony:

Grace Tran, Criminal Defense Attorney, Private Citizen  (Attachment 21)

The Chairperson closed the Hearing on SB358.

Post meeting information:

As a response to questions from the committee, post meeting information was sent by the Office of Revisor of Statutes concerning bail provision.  (Attachment 22)

The Office of Revisor of Statutes sent additional information concerning 3 bail provision cases.  (Attachment 23)

The 2025 Crime Listings document was provided by Kansas Legislative Research Department.  (Attachment 24)