Kansas SB 96: Creating the crime of deprivation of rights under color of law and providing a civil action for victims.

Bill Text

Session of 2025
SENATE BILL No. 96
By Senator Haley
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AN ACT concerning deprivation of rights under color of law; creating the
crime of deprivation of rights under color of law and providing criminal
penalties therefor; authorizing a civil cause of action; requiring
restitution to the victim; amending K.S.A. 22-3424 and repealing the
existing section.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
New Section 1. (a) Deprivation of rights under color of law is any
action by any person, under color of any law, statute, county resolution,
ordinance or regulation, that knowingly subjects another person to the
deprivation of any rights, privileges or immunities secured or protected by
the constitution or laws of the United States or the state of Kansas, by
causing:
(1) Bodily harm to another person;
(2) great bodily harm to another person or disfigurement of another
person;
(3) bodily harm to another person with a deadly weapon, or in any
manner whereby great bodily harm, disfigurement or death can be
inflicted;
(4) physical contact with another person when done in a rude,
insulting or angry manner, or in any manner whereby great bodily harm,
disfigurement or death can be inflicted;
(5) mental anguish, emotional harm, embarrassment or similar
distress to another person; or
(6) monetary loss to another person.
(b) Deprivation of rights under color of law as described in:
(1) Subsection (a)(1) or (a)(5) is a class B person misdemeanor;
(2) subsection (a)(2) is a severity level 4, person felony;
(3) subsection (a)(3) or (a)(4) is a severity level 7, person felony;
(4) subsection (a)(6), when the monetary loss is:
(A) Less than $1,000, is a class A nonperson misdemeanor;
(B) at least $1,000, but less than $25,000, is a severity level 9,
nonperson felony; and
(C) $25,000 or more, is a severity level 7, nonperson felony.
(c) This section shall be a part of and supplemental to the Kansas
criminal code.
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SB 96 2
New Sec. 2. (a) A person injured as a result of the conduct of another
that would constitute conduct prohibited by section 1, and amendments
thereto, may bring an action in an appropriate state court against the
person or persons who engaged in such conduct.
(b) In any action brought under this section, a prevailing plaintiff
shall recover up to three times the actual damages such person sustained or
$10,000, whichever is greater, and the cost of the suit, including
reasonable attorney fees.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any action
commenced under this section shall be filed within three years after the
later of:
(1) The date of discovery of the violation of section 1, and
amendments thereto; or
(2) the conclusion of a related criminal case.
(d) At the victim's request, the attorney general may pursue cases on
behalf of any Kansas victim under this section. All damages obtained shall
go to the victim, and the attorney general may seek reasonable attorney
fees and costs.
(e) Any action brought under this section shall be subject to the
provisions of K.S.A. 74-7312, and amendments thereto.
Sec. 3. K.S.A. 22-3424 is hereby amended to read as follows: 22-
3424. (a) The judgment shall be rendered and sentence imposed in open
court.
(b) If the verdict or finding is not guilty, judgment shall be rendered
immediately and the defendant shall be discharged from custody and the
obligation of the defendant's appearance bond.
(c) If the verdict or finding is guilty, judgment shall be rendered and
sentence pronounced without unreasonable delay, allowing adequate time
for the filing and disposition of post-trial motions and for completion of
such presentence investigation as the court may require.
(d) (1) If the verdict or finding is guilty, upon request of the victim or
the victim's family and before imposing sentence, the court shall hold a
hearing to establish restitution. The defendant may waive the right to the
hearing and accept the amount of restitution as established by the court. If
the court orders restitution to be paid to the victim or the victim's family,
the order shall be enforced as a judgment of restitution pursuant to K.S.A.
20-169, and amendments thereto, and K.S.A. 21-6604(b)(2), and
amendments thereto.
(2) (A) The court shall order a person convicted of human trafficking
or aggravated human trafficking, K.S.A. 21-3446 or 21-3447, prior to their
repeal, or K.S.A. 21-5426, and amendments thereto, or commercial sexual
exploitation of a child, K.S.A. 21-6422, and amendments thereto, to pay
restitution to the victim of the offense for:
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SB 96 3
(i) Expenses incurred or reasonably certain to be incurred by the
victim as a result of the offense, including reasonable attorney fees and
costs; and
(ii) an amount equal to three times the greatest of the following, with
no