Kansas lawmakers are working towards changes in the state parole system after an uproar developed last year over a Prisoner Review Board decision on convicted murderer Jimmie Nelms.
The Prisoner Review Board decided to parole Nelms, who had been in prison 47 years after shooting Kansas Highway Patrolman Conroy O’Brien to death after a chase that ended near the Matfield Green service exit. Nelms, who received over two life terms for premeditated murder, aggravated kidnapping and unlawful possession of a firearm, had his parole erased after sharp criticism from law enforcement, lawmakers and Governor Laura Kelly. 17th District Senator Mike Argabright of Olpe called the initial decision troubling.
60th District Representative Mark Schreiber of Emporia:
Senate Bill 459 passed the Senate by a 33-7 vote. It was modified before passing unanimously in the House, so the new version needs Senate approval before it can go to Governor Kelly for her decision. All lawmakers representing Lyon County — Argabright, Schreiber, 13th District Representative Duane Droge of Eureka and 76th District Representative Brad Barrett of Osage City — voted in favor of either the original or modified version. Schreiber says it was a relatively quick process, given the timing of the parole board’s decisions last year.
The bill would replace the current 3-member board, effective July 1. Schreiber says these are good changes.
Argabright sees merit in changing the board member selection process.
Argabright also says there is a notable change for families of crime victims.
Separately, the House and Senate have overwhelmingly passed House Bill 2527, which would prevent certain sex offenders from being on school grounds or from attending school activities. All lawmakers representing Lyon County were in favor. The bill would prohibit people on the state’s sex offender registry from going to school grounds or school activities if they were at least age 18 and the victim was under 18 when the crime was committed.
Meanwhile, House and Senate appear to be in the process of removing the in-state college tuition option for immigrants as part of Senate Bill 254, which would also say people without US legal status cannot receive public benefits from a city, county or state unless the federal government says otherwise. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach says the state’s ongoing policy on immigrant tuition violates federal law and puts the state at risk of a federal lawsuit. Both House and Senate accepted a conference committee report on the bill, but neither by veto-proof majorities — the Senate by a 22-18 vote, the House by a vote of 78-46. Barrett and Droge were for the bill, while Argabright and Schreiber were against.
