Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB96

Introduced
1/28/25  

Caption

Creating the crime of deprivation of rights under color of law and providing a civil action for victims.

Impact

If passed, SB96 will amend existing Kansas statutes related to civil rights and law enforcement accountability. Specifically, it provides a civil cause of action for victims who suffer due to the deprivation of their rights, allowing them to seek compensatory damages. A prevailing plaintiff could recover up to three times their actual damages or $10,000, whichever is greater, indicating a strong stance towards victim restitution. Additionally, SB96 sets a three-year statute of limitations on filing related claims which will enable victims to seek justice without the pressure of immediate legal deadlines.

Summary

Senate Bill 96 seeks to establish the crime of deprivation of rights under color of law in Kansas. The bill defines such deprivation as actions taken by individuals while executing their authority, which knowingly inflict bodily harm, great bodily harm, or emotional distress on others while violating their constitutional rights. The new statute would classify these offenses into varying degrees of severity, with misdemeanor charges for certain categories of harm and higher-level felonies for more significant injuries or damages. The framework introduced aims to ensure that individuals in positions of authority are held accountable when they abuse their power.

Contention

The key points of contention surrounding SB96 relate to the scope of accountability it seeks to impose on law enforcement and public officials. Critics may argue that the bill could lead to potential overreach, where law enforcement personnel may be subjected to frivilous lawsuits, thereby inhibiting their ability to perform their duties effectively. Moreover, concerns may arise regarding the implementation of these provisions and the actual impact on community relations with law enforcement. Proponents, however, argue that these measures are necessary to provide essential protections for citizens against abuses of power.

Law_changes

By creating a new category of criminal and civil liability tied to the abuse of authority, SB96 aims to enhance the framework of accountability for public officials in Kansas. The law will amend the criminal code to include these specific violations, thereby integrating them into the legal systems governing law enforcement and constitutional protections, which could have significant implications for law enforcement training, policies, and public perceptions.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2003

Establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, modifying the definition of household income and increasing the appraised value threshold for eligibility of seniors and disabled veterans related to increased property tax claims and citing the section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, providing property tax exemptions for certain personal property including watercraft, marine equipment, off-road vehicles, motorized bicycles and certain trailers, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value, providing for certain exclusions from the prohibition of paying taxes under protest after a valuation notice appeal and providing four prior years' values on the annual valuation notice.

KS SB6

Providing a sales tax exemption for sales of electricity to residential premises by municipally owned or operated utilities.

KS HB2001

Authorizing the secretary of commerce to enter into agreements with major professional sports franchises to establish STAR bond projects for a major professional sports complex, providing for additional revenue sources, expanding the powers and discretion of the secretary and making other changes to the STAR bonds financing act to facilitate such projects, limiting the secretary’s authority to approve such projects to one year unless extended by the legislative coordinating council, authorizing the Kansas development finance authority to issue STAR bonds for such projects, transferring funds under certain circumstances from the state gaming revenues fund to the attracting professional sports to Kansas fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and, if approved by the legislative coordinating council, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

KS SB2

Eliminating the income limit to qualify for the subtraction modification exempting social security benefits, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, citing the increased property tax homestead refund claim section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, decreasing the normal privilege tax rate, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, decreasing the rate of ad valorem tax imposed by a school district; providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund, reducing the state rate of tax on sales of food and food ingredients and modifying the percent credited to the state highway fund from revenue collected.

KS SR1701

Providing for the organization of the Senate for the 2024 special session of the Legislature.

KS HR6001

Providing for the organization of the House of Representatives for the 2024 special session of the Legislature.

KS SB1

Modifying income tax rates for individuals, exempting all social security benefits from Kansas income tax, increasing the Kansas standard deduction and the Kansas personal exemption, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, decreasing the privilege tax normal tax, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value for property tax valuation purposes, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund and abolishing the local ad valorem tax reduction fund and the county and city revenue sharing fund.

KS SB7

Authorizing federally licensed firearm dealers, in addition to county sheriffs, to receive applications for concealed carry licenses and forward such applications to the attorney general, prohibiting sheriffs from assessing any fee related to application services and allowing dealers to assess a fee related to application services not to exceed $20.

KS SB8

Exempting the sale of firearms, firearms accessories, ammunition, firearm safes and firearm safety devices from the retatilers' sales tax.

KS SCR1604

Proposing to amend section 1 of article 11 of the constitution of the state of Kansas to limit property tax valuation increases for real property and personal property mobile homes.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.