K.S.A. Chapter 21 - New Statute

Encouraging Suicide

New 7/1/24

L. 2024, Ch. 86, § 1 (HB2144 Sec. 1): Encouraging Suicide

 

(a)   Encouraging suicide is knowingly encouraging another person to commit or attempt to commit suicide when the person knows that such other person has communicated a desire to commit suicide and such encouragement:

        (1)   Is made proximate in time to the other person committing or attempting to commit suicide; and

        (2)   substantially influences the other person's decision or methods used to commit or attempt to commit suicide.

(b)   Encouraging suicide is a:

        (1)   Severity level 5, person felony if the other person attempts to commit suicide; and

        (2)   severity level 4, person felony if the other person commits suicide.

(c)    As used in this section:

        (1)   "Attempt to commit suicide" means any physical action done by a person with the intent to commit suicide; and

        (2)   "encouraging a person to commit or attempt to commit suicide" means oral, written or visual communication that is persuasive or intended to be persuasive and that gives advice to commit suicide, attempt to commit suicide or develop a plan to commit suicide.

(d)   This section shall be a part of and supplemental to the Kansas criminal code.

History: L. 2024, ch. 86, § 1; July 1.