SESSION OF 2023
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2027
As Amended by Senate Committee on Judiciary

Brief*
HB 2027, as amended, would amend the “slayer rule” in
the Kansas Probate Code to create a procedure to prevent
the distribution of estate assets until the resolution of criminal
proceedings involving a person who has interest in the estate
and who has been arrested or charged with the felonious
killing of the decedent.
[Note: The bill contains a whereas clause designating its
provisions as Karen’s Law.]
Designated Beneficiary
Current law prohibits persons convicted of feloniously
killing, or procuring the killing of another person, from
receiving any portion of the estate or property in which the
decedent has an interest by specifying ways in which that
transfer could not occur. The bill would add the circumstances
in which the person convicted of such crime is a designated
beneficiary of real or personal property of the decedent.
Court Order
The bill would allow a court to prohibit the sale,
distribution, spending, or use of the decedent’s asset or
interest, or a portion of such by a person who has been
arrested for or charged with the felonious killing or procuring
the killing of the decedent.

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*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org
 The bill would allow the court to make such order based
on its own motion or upon the written request of any party
and may enter the order ex parte upon a showing of criminal
charges filed against a person interested in the estate.
Modification or Termination of a Court Order
The bill would specify a court order would be in effect
until modified or terminated by the court. However, if a person
subject to the order makes a written request, the court would
be required to fix the time and place for the hearing and
provide notice of the hearing.
The court would be required to terminate the order if the
court finds any of the following events relating to the arrest or
charges that were the basis for the order have occurred:
● Dismissal of all charges;
● Acquittal of all charges;
● Conviction or other disposition; or
● Expungement of the arrest records by court order
pursuant to continuing law.
Background
The bill was introduced by Representatives Wasinger
and Ballard.
House Committee on Judiciary
In the House Committee on Judiciary hearing on
January 17, 2023, two private citizens testified as
proponents, describing their personal experience with a
scenario in which the bill’s provisions could have been utilized
to freeze probate assets during a pending criminal case.
Written-only neutral testimony was provided by a
representative of the State Board of Indigents’ Defense
2- 2027
Services (BIDS), requesting an amendment to clarify
language regarding the automatic termination provision in the
bill.
No other testimony was provided.
Senate Committee on Judiciary
In the Senate Committee hearing on March 7, 2023,
Representatives Ballard and Blew (on behalf of
Representative Wasinger), an attorney, and a private citizen
testified as proponents of the bill. The proponents generally
stated the bill would remove a void in the statute that allows
individuals to inherit who may have been criminally charged
with the decedent’s death.
Neutral written-only testimony was provided by a
representative of BIDS.
No other testimony was provided.
The Senate Committee amended the bill to clarify an
event that would trigger the termination of a court order
authorized by the bill.
Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
Budget on the bill, as introduced, the Office of Judicial
Administration states enactment of the bill could have a fiscal
effect on expenditures because the bill’s provisions could
increase the workload for court employees and judges
processing and deciding cases. The Office states a fiscal
effect cannot be estimated until the Judicial Branch has had
an opportunity to operate under the bill’s provisions.
Any fiscal effect associated with the bill is not reflected
in The FY 2024 Governor’s Budget Report.
Kansas Probate Code; decedent; felonious killing; court order; ex parte

3- 2027


Statutes affected:
As introduced: 59-513, 22-2410
As Amended by Senate Committee: 59-513, 22-2410
Enrolled - Law effective July 1, 2023: 59-513, 22-2410
Enrolled: 59-513, 22-2410