TOPEKA, Kan. - The Kansas House Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice today unanimously recommended the domestic violence tag bill to the full body of the Kansas House of Representatives.
HB 2517 would require that domestic violence markers be attached to all criminal cases where the district court finds evidence that an offender committed any other criminal violations against a person with whom the offender had an intimate relationship. The list would include battery, arson, assault, kidnapping, disorderly conduct and destruction of property.
Advocates of the legislation have argued that it would result in more complete and timely information available to judges, law enforcement officials, corrections officers and social service advocates, who might then offer more effective protections to potential victims of domestic violence.
Nationally recognized activists for greater domestic violence protections Christie and Curt Brungardt praised committee members for their thoughtful but focused work on the bill.
"While this is only one step, it is a step in the right direction," Curt Brungardt said after the vote.
At hearings last week before the committee, the Brungardts endorsed the legislation as public policy that could save lives in Kansas. The Brungardts lost their daughter, Jana Mackey, in July, 2008 when she was murdered by an ex-boyfriend.
The bill could reach the floor of the Kansas House for a vote as early as next week.
Thank you, Darrel, for posting this information. Everyone needs to call their Representative and recommend supporting this bill.
Support this important bill and thanks to Darrell and the victims family for keeping the need to change our laws in the media.