Abolishing the Death Penalty – SB 375

February 19, 2010 | , . | Posted in News/Updates

Text of SB 375

SB 375 would repeal Kansas’ death penalty law and abolish its use in the state.  The Catholic Church seeks to end use of the death penalty as a method of punishment. Modern industrialized nations such as ours have the means to permanently imprison those convicted of the most heinous crimes in order to protect society. Use of deadly force should be a last resort, not the first.

Kansas has not executed anyone since 1965.  Ten inmates currently sit on death row, all of whom were convicted after the death penalty was reinstated in 1994.  SB 375 would preserve death sentences for those already sentenced to death, and under the bill the death penalty would remain an available sentence for those who commit capital murder before July 1, 2010.  From that point forward, life without parole would be the strongest available sentence.

Status:

02/19/2010 Senate failed 20-20

Vote Tallies:

02/19/2010 Senate failed 20-20

Yeas 20, Nays 20. (21 needed for approval)

Yeas: Brungardt, Emler, Faust-Goudeau, Francisco, Haley, Hensley, Kelly, Kultala, Lee, McGinn, Morris, Owens, Pilcher-Cook, Reitz, Schmidt V, Steineger, Taddiken, Teichman, Umbarger, Vratil.

Nays: Abrams, Apple, Barnett, Brownlee, Bruce, Colyer, Donovan, Holland, Huelskamp, Huntington, Kelsey, Lynn, Marshall, Masterson, Ostmeyer, Petersen, Pyle, Schmidt D, Schodorf, Wagle.