TOPEKA, KAN. -- The legislation unanimously approved Wednesday by a special session of the Kansas Legislature today was signed into law by Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and was published in the Kansas Register by Secretary of State Kobach.
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt issued the following statement on the measure becoming law:
"I am truly grateful to the Legislature for moving swiftly to enact this measure, to Speaker Merrick and President Wagle for expediting the bill's processing after approval, to Governor Brownback for moving swiftly to sign it into law, and to Secretary Kobach for making arrangement to have it published immediately in the Kansas Register. Only four days after the Kansas Legislature convened in special session, the 'Hard 50' bill now has the force of law. From this day forward, those in our state who murder other human beings with premeditation and do so with aggravating circumstances can be assured of facing a jury of their peers whose actions can result in the killer's removal from society for at least 50 years. The law has been restored to where it was prior to the June 17 decision by the United States Supreme Court, and the longstanding will of the people of Kansas on this matter is once again the law of our land."
