Division of the Budget
Landon State Office Building Phone: (785) 296-2436
900 SW Jackson Street, Room 504 adam.c.proffitt@ks.gov
Topeka, KS 66612 Division of the Budget http://budget.kansas.gov
Adam Proffitt, Director Laura Kelly, Governor


March 11, 2021


The Honorable Fred Patton, Chairperson
House Committee on Judiciary
Statehouse, Room 519C-N
Topeka, Kansas 66612
Dear Representative Patton:
SUBJECT: Fiscal Note for HB 2375 by House Committee on Judiciary
In accordance with KSA 75-3715a, the following fiscal note concerning HB 2375 is
respectfully submitted to your committee.
HB 2375 would amend the crime of criminal possession of a knife by a convicted felon to
include in the definition a pocketknife with a blade longer than two inches and a box cutter. If
possessed by a person who is incarcerated, the bill would include in the definition of “knife” an
item with a sharp blade or edge or any item shaped as a pointed instrument or a cutting instrument
that was originally manufactured as a non-pointed or non-cutting instrument. In addition, sword
and machete would be added to the definition of a “weapon.”
The Kansas Sentencing Commission estimates that enactment of HB 2375 may have an
effect on prison admissions and bed space, but that this effect cannot be determined at this time.
The current estimated available bed capacity is 9,420 for males and 948 for females. Based upon
the Commission’s most recent ten-year projection contained in its FY 2020 Adult Inmate Prison
Population Projections report, it is estimated that the year-end population for available male
capacity will be under capacity by 1,287 inmates in FY 2021 and 1,241 inmates in FY 2022. The
Department of Corrections indicates that the bill would have no fiscal effect on the agency.
The Office of Judicial Administration indicates that enactment of the bill could result in
more charges or cases being filed, which could increase the amount of time spent by judges and
court staff in processing and hearing these charges or cases. The Office also indicates the
additional charges or cases could result in additional docket fees, fines, and other revenues
The Honorable Fred Patton, Chairperson
Page 2—HB 2375

collected by courts. However, a precise fiscal effect cannot be estimated. Any fiscal effect
associated with HB 2375 is not reflected in The FY 2022 Governor’s Budget Report.


Sincerely,

Adam Proffitt
Director of the Budget

cc: Scott Schultz, Sentencing Commission
Randy Bowman, Corrections
Debbie Thomas, Judiciary


Statutes affected:
As introduced: 21-6304