This bill amends Kansas law to streamline the expungement process for municipal court convictions and related arrest records for individuals who have successfully completed a specialty court program. It empowers the chief judge of each municipal court to establish these programs in line with Supreme Court rules. Individuals can petition for expungement under specific conditions, such as completing a specialty court program, fulfilling a diversion agreement, or after a designated time period following the completion of their sentence or probation. The bill also repeals existing sections of K.S.A. 12-4516 and 20-173, replacing them with updated language to reflect these changes.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a specialty court funding advisory committee within the judicial branch, tasked with evaluating resources, securing funding, and recommending legislation to support specialty courts. The committee will consist of various members, including legislative representatives and judicial appointees, and will be chaired by a member designated by the chief justice. It also creates a specialty court resources fund in the state treasury to support these programs, specifying that funds can come from multiple sources. The bill clarifies that while a judge may modify a sentence for those who complete a specialty court program, they cannot reduce it below the legal minimum. The bill will take effect upon publication in the Kansas register.

Statutes affected:
As introduced: 12-4516, 20-173