The bill amends Kansas law regarding the pretrial release of individuals charged with specific drug-related offenses, mandating a minimum bail of $50,000 in cash or surety and prohibiting release on one's own recognizance. It introduces unsecured judicial release programs, which can only be granted if the court finds that the defendant is unlikely to re-offend, imposes pretrial supervision, or the defendant agrees to participate in a licensed drug treatment program. This aims to enhance public safety by ensuring that those charged with serious offenses are not released without adequate oversight.

Additionally, the bill removes provisions for release on recognizance and establishes stricter penalties for failure to appear in court, classifying it as a class B nonperson misdemeanor and aggravated failure to appear as a severity level 10 nonperson felony. It revises the conditions for release, requiring a magistrate to order release on an appearance bond unless specific criteria are met, and allows for additional conditions such as drug and alcohol evaluations. The bill also introduces supervised release programs administered by court services officers, outlining eligibility criteria and disqualifying certain serious offenses from participation, thereby overhauling the pretrial release process in Kansas.

Statutes affected:
As introduced: 21-5703, 65-4161, 65-4163, 21-36a05, 21-5709, 21-5710, 21-5910, 21-5915, 21-6316, 21-6329, 22-2802, 22-2803, 22-2814, 22-2815, 21-5505, 21-5506, 22-2816, 22-2817