A bill advocating for increased transparency in civil asset forfeiture received unanimous support in both chambers of the Kansas legislature.
Senate Bill 458 seeks to eliminate specific offenses that result in forfeiture. The bill also aims to empower the court to assess whether forfeiture is unconstitutionally excessive. Additionally, it proposes to introduce additional time constraints and make various amendments to the Kansas Asset Seizure and Forfeiture Act.
The Americans for Prosperity Foundation-Kansas (AFPF-KS) published a report last year on civil asset forfeiture in Kansas, revealing that law enforcement in the state confiscated over $25 million in money and property. Interestingly, the report highlighted that the majority of these seizures in Kansas did not involve individuals connected to organized crime, but rather resulted in significant losses for ordinary citizens.
According to a press release by Americans for Prosperity Foundation-Kansas, they have released an updated report that analyzes civil asset forfeiture data in the state. The report highlights the need for significant reforms to ensure that the law protects people’s property without engaging in overreach or unconstitutional confiscation.
According to a report by Americans for Prosperity Foundation-Kansas, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is accused of significantly underrepresenting the actual value of cash and property forfeited in its annual reports. In 2022, the KBI reported a total of $3,447,219 in forfeited property.
