3 June 2005

Governor Sebelius joins Kansas City community leaders to sign bill outlawing racial profiling

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – With the goal of promoting equality of opportunity for all Kansans in mind, Governor Sebelius was joined by community leaders as she ceremonially signed a bill banning racial profiling.

“Every Kansan has a right to be free from discrimination. Nowhere is this more important than in the application of our laws. Racial profiling, actual or perceived, hurts the relationship between members of law enforcement and the people they serve, and it is important we ensure it does not happen in Kansas,” Governor Sebelius said.

The bill, SB 77, makes the practice of relying on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender or religious dress, as the sole factor in law enforcement practices illegal. It creates a grievance process by which individuals can report suspected profiling and sets up annual education programs for law enforcement. In addition, this bill creates a Governor’s Task Force to monitor this issue.

Rev. C.L. Bachus, a Kansas City, Kan., pastor who attended the event praised the Governor’s efforts: “This legislation’s time has come. We in Kansas must show that though we are not the largest state in America, we can be leaders in creating a fair and just society.”

“This is the result of a partnership between community leaders and law enforcement,” Governor Sebelius said. It is a step towards a lasting relationship of trust and respect and I’m pleased to be joined by many of the people who helped make this happen.”

As defined by the new law, racial profiling is the practice of a law enforcement officer or agency relying, as the sole factor, on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, or religious dress in selecting which individuals to subject to routine investigatory activities, or in deciding upon the scope and substance of law enforcement activity following the initial routine investigatory activity.

Governor Sebelius will also be in the Wichita community on June 7 to sign a ceremonial bill with community leaders.