Kansas Lawmakers’ Panel on ‘Hard 50’ to Meet August 26

A special committee of Kansas lawmakers will meet Aug. 26 to consider proposals for rewriting a state law allowing judges to sentence convicted murderers to at least 50 years in prison.

House Republican Lance Kinzer, the panel’s chairman, said Wednesday the 14-member committee will draft recommendations on repairing the “Hard 50” law at the meeting.

A U.S. Supreme Court decision in June raised questions about the law’s constitutionality. Gov. Sam Brownback has called a special session of the Legislature for Sept. 3 to revise the statute.

Kinzer said he’ll have a hearing on a proposal from Attorney General Derek Schmidt but also will consider amendments from committee members.

Schmidt has said his office is working with prosecutors on legislation.