Web posted
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Adoption requirements clear committee
By CARL MANNING
Associated Press Writer
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- The Senate Judiciary Committee has endorsed a House-passed bill imposing additional requirements on those dealing in the adoption of children.
The unanimous vote Thursday sends the measure to the Senate. If passed there, it will return to the House to consider senators' changes. The bill was introduced last year, but time ran out before the committee could act.
The bill says those who advertise about dealing in adoptions must include whether they are licensed and if so, in what profession and who issued the license.
The bill also says people can't promise a pregnant woman such things as child placement through adoption for using their services.
Committee Chairman John Vratil said there had been reports of problems in the Wichita area.
''Advertisers aren't totally truthful in some cases,'' said the Republican from Leawood.
Willa DeCastro of American Adoption in Overland Park told the committee that 17 other states have similar laws on the books.
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COMPETENCY HEARING: Municipal court judges could transfer misdemeanor cases to district courts for competency hearings for defendants under a proposal from Sen. Phil Journey.
Journey, a Haysville Republican and an attorney, said in such cases now, defense lawyers often enter a no-contest plea and then appeal the case to district court. There, a competency hearing is conducted, and the case remains open if the person is found capable of standing trial.
''It's frustrating for a judge to try to make a determination of someone looking for some aluminum foil to make a hat,'' Journey said.
His proposal would allow the district court to determine competency and send the case back to municipal court to deal with the charges.
He said he doesn't favor the idea of allowing municipal court judges, who unlike district court judges don't have to be lawyers, to conduct competency hearings.
''The vast majority of municipal court judges are lay individuals who haven't had much exposure to this area of the law,'' Journey said.
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EXPUNGED RECORDS: Kansans convicted of violating a city ordinance could ask to have their records expunged after two years under a bill being considered by senators.
Currently, a person must wait three years to petition a court to expunge the records of the conviction and related arrest records. The bill calls for the person to pay up to $100 to cover the costs.
Its sponsor, Sen. Donald Betts, a Wichita Democrat, said three years is a long time to wait when even a misdemeanor can prevent someone from getting a job. Betts testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The bill wouldn't apply to felony convictions or under-the-influence convictions.
The committee took no action.
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LOTTERY REVENUE: Kansas Lottery sales hit $240 million during the budget year that ended June 30, the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee learned.
Lottery Director Ed Van Petten told the senators that during that one-year period, $71 million was transferred to the state, $134 million was paid out in prizes and $14 million in commissions were paid to retailers who are lottery vendors.
Van Petten said the lottery is 1.35 percent behind last year's sales because the jackpot games weren't performing as well as previous years.
He said the lottery hopes to make up the shortfall during January, February and March, when ticket sales are highest.
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UNDER THE DOME: Thursday was the fourth day of the legislative session, out of 90 scheduled. ... Scores of people gathered at the Statehouse for a ceremony honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The actual holiday is Monday when state offices are closed and the Legislature won't meet. ... The conservative Americans for Prosperity-Kansas will announce its legislative priorities at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Statehouse.
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