The bill amends K.S.A. 38-612 to impose stricter penalties for individuals or entities that employ persons or children in violation of the law. It removes previous language that classified such violations as misdemeanors with fines ranging from $25 to $100 and jail time of 30 to 90 days. Instead, the bill establishes a tiered penalty system where a first violation is classified as a Class A person misdemeanor, a second violation becomes a severity level 7 person felony, and a third or subsequent violation escalates to a severity level 5 person felony. Additionally, it introduces substantial fines of $25,000 for a second conviction and $50,000 for a third or subsequent conviction.

Furthermore, the bill repeals the existing K.S.A. 38-612, indicating a complete overhaul of the previous legal framework regarding employment violations. The new provisions aim to enhance accountability and deter repeat offenses by significantly increasing the financial penalties associated with violations. The act will take effect upon its publication in the statute book.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 38-612
As introduced: 38-612