Sebelius signs law to help law enforcement go after stalkers
Police and prosecutors will have more tools to protect Kansans

Governor Kathleen Sebelius has signed a bill to help law enforcement officers intervene earlier in cases of stalking.

“This bill will allow law enforcement officers to get involved sooner in these potentially dangerous situations and is intended to get dangerous criminals off the street before they harm the person they are stalking,” said Sebelius.

“My thoughts and prayers are with Jodi Sanderholm’s family, friends, and community, as this bill becomes law.”

SB 414 broadens and clarifies the definition of stalking and imposes stronger penalties for intentional or reckless behavior. This bill also removes the “credible threat” requirement existing in current law. By removing this requirement, law enforcement officers will be able to intervene more effectively when responding to an allegation of stalking, and successful prosecution of those cases. This bill goes into effect after its publication in the statute book.

Sebelius also signed six other bills into law today, bringing the total number of bills signed in the 2008 Legislative Session to 138 with three having been vetoed.

Increasing the photo fees for a driver’s license

SB 23 provides more resources to the Department of Revenue to make drivers license photos more secure and to prepare Kansas for compliance with the federal REAL ID Act. This bill goes into effect after its publication in the statute book.

Amending Kansas insurance law 

SB 113 requires an insurance company to pay interest or dividends during the six months after the surrender of policy as if the policy hadn’t been surrendered.  The bill also amends the Kansas Health Care Prompt Payment Act to create a limited time frame during which an insurer could request reimbursement from an insured individual or a provider for a claim paid in error. This bill goes into effect after its publication in the statute book.

Requiring flame retardant cigarettes

SB 178 requires all cigarettes sold in Kansas to be “flame retardant” and tested for ignition strength prior to sale. Noncompliance penalty fees will be deposited into a fund that will support fire and safety prevention programs. This bill goes into effect after its publication in the statute book. 

Enforcing child support payments

SB 273 authorizes the Secretary of SRS to enter into a business agreement with any organization that provides matching information about child support debtors against information about liability insurance claimants. The Secretary would be allowed to disclose information about any individual who owes past due support in a Title IV-D case if the debtor owes at least $25.

Insurance companies that provide liability coverage would be required to disclose information about a claimant, as instructed by the Secretary, if the claimant’s aggregate claim totals $1,000 or more. The insurer is permitted under the bill to disclose information about its claimants who have a claim that totals less than $1,000. This bill goes into effect after its publication in the statute book.

Invalidating certain dealer and franchise agreements

SB 379 amends the law on an indemnification provision in construction contracts, motor carrier transportation contracts, dealer agreements, or franchise agreements. The bill also expands the exceptions that are not affected by this provision. This bill goes into effect on July 1, 2009 and its publication in the statute book.

Amending connection types allowed for KAN-ED

SB 391 allows universal provider interconnection; peering rights; or competitively bid end-user programs as acceptable KAN-ED connections. In addition, this bill prevents the creation of a barrier to interconnecting to KAN-ED through unnecessarily difficult technical standards or provider changes. This bill goes into effect after its publication in the statute book. 

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