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State lawmakers’ panel on ‘Hard 50’ to meet

(AP) — A special committee of Kansas lawmakers will meet Aug. 26 to consider proposals for rewriting a state law allowing judges to sentence convicted murderers

House Judiciary Committee chairman Lance Kinzer
Lance Kinzer

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.

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