K.S.A. Chapter 12 CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES
Article 41.--CODE FOR MUNICIPAL COURTS;
Current through end of 2018 legislative session
12-4101. Title.
12-4102. Scope.
12-4103. Intent; construction; procedure not provided.
12-4104. Municipal court; jurisdiction; search warrants proscribed.
12-4105. Municipal judge; appointment; qualifications; compensation.
12-4106. Municipal judge; powers and duties.
12-4107. Same; absence; vacancy; pro tem.
12-4108. Clerk of the municipal court; appointment; powers and duties; execution of bond.
12-4109. Municipal court; courtroom, supplies, records; sessions, time, place.
12-4110. City attorney to prosecute.
12-4111. Law enforcement officers; employment; powers.
12-4112. Costs.
12-4113. Definitions.
12-4114. Municipal judge, training programs; certification; examinations; continuing education requirement; duties of supreme court.
12-4116. Judicial branch education fund; assessments against municipal cases.
12-4117. Municipal court assessments.
12-4118. Performance of marriage ceremonies by municipal judge; disposition of honorariums.
12-4119. Collection of debts owed to municipal courts or restitution; contracts for collection.
12-4120 Fees; community corrections supervision fund; human trafficking victim assistance fund.
This act is called and may be cited as the Kansas code of procedure for municipal courts.
History: L. 1973, ch. 61, § 12-4101; April 1, 1974.
This code governs the practice and procedure in all cases in municipal courts.
History: L. 1973, ch. 61, § 12-4102; April 1, 1974.
12-4103. Intent; construction; procedure not provided.
This code is intended to provide for the just determination of every proceeding for violation of city ordinances. Its provisions shall be construed to secure simplicity in procedure, fairness in administration and the elimination of unjustifiable expense and delay. If no procedure is provided by this code, the court shall proceed in any lawful manner consistent with any applicable law and not inconsistent with this code.
History: L. 1973, ch. 61, § 12-4103; April 1, 1974.
12-4104. Municipal court; jurisdiction; search warrants proscribed.
(a) The municipal court of each city shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine cases involving violations of the ordinances of the city, including concurrent jurisdiction to hear and determine a violation of an ordinance when the elements of such ordinance violation are the same as the elements of a violation of one of the following state statutes and would constitute, and be punished as, a felony if charged in district court:
(1) K.S.A. 8-1567, and amendments thereto, driving under the influence;
(2) K.S.A. 21-5414, and amendments thereto, domestic battery;
(3) K.S.A. 21-5801, and amendments thereto, theft;
(4) K.S.A. 21-5821, and amendments thereto, giving a worthless check; or
(5) subsection (b)(3) of K.S.A. 2009 Supp. 21-57066, and amendments thereto, possession of marijuana.
(b) Search warrants shall not issue out of a municipal court.
History: L. 1973, ch. 61, § 12-4104; L. 2007, ch. 168, § 3; L. 2009, ch. 32, § 20; L. 2010, ch. 74, § 1; L. 2011, ch. 30, § 101; July 1.
12-4105. Municipal judge; appointment; qualifications; compensation.
The municipal court shall be presided over by a municipal judge. The judge shall be selected in the manner provided by statute. The person who is selected shall be:
(a) A citizen of the United States;
(b) a graduate of a high school or secondary school or the equivalent thereof; and
(c)(1) in cities other than cities of the first class, an attorney regularly admitted to practice law in the state of Kansas or certified by the supreme court in the manner prescribed by K.S.A. 12-4114, as qualified to serve as a municipal judge; or
(2) in cities of the first class an attorney regularly admitted to practice law in the state of Kansas.
The municipal judge shall receive a monthly or annual salary set by ordinance of the city in which such municipal judge presides, except where otherwise provided by law.
History: L. 1973, ch. 61, § 12-4105; L. 1989, ch. 66, § 4; July 1.
12-4106. Municipal judge; powers and duties.
(a) The municipal judge shall have the power to administer the oaths and enforce all orders, rules and judgments made by such municipal judge, and may fine or imprison for contempt in the same manner and to the same extent as a judge of the district court.
(b) The municipal judge shall have the power to hear and determine all cases properly brought before such municipal judge to: Grant continuances; sentence those found guilty to a fine or confinement in jail, or both; commit accused persons to jail in default of bond; determine applications for parole; release on probation; grant time in which a fine may be paid; correct a sentence; suspend imposition of a sentence; set aside a judgment; permit time for post trial motions; and discharge accused persons.
(c) The municipal judge shall maintain a docket in which every cause commenced before such municipal judge shall be entered. Such docket shall contain the names of the accused persons and complainant, the nature or character of the offense, the date of trial, the names of all witnesses sworn and examined, the finding of the court, the judgment and sentence, the date of payment, the date of issuing commitment, if any, and every other fact necessary to show the full proceedings in each case.
(d) The municipal judge shall promptly make such reports and furnish the information requested by any departmental justice or the judicial administrator, in the manner and form prescribed by the supreme court.
(e) The municipal judge shall ensure that information concerning dispositions of city ordinance violations that result in convictions comparable to convictions for class A and B misdemeanors under Kansas criminal statutes is forwarded to the Kansas bureau of investigation central repository. This information shall be transmitted, on a form or in a format approved by the attorney general, within 30 days of final disposition.
(f) In all cases alleging a violation of a city ordinance prohibiting the acts prohibited by K.S.A. 8-2,144, 8-1567 or 32-1131 or K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 21-6419 or 21-6421, and amendments thereto, the municipal court judge shall ensure that the municipal court reports the filing and disposition of such case to the Kansas bureau of investigation central repository, and, on and after July 1, 2014, reports the filing and disposition of such case electronically to the Kansas bureau of investigation central repository.
(g) In all cases in which a fine is imposed for a violation of a city ordinance prohibiting the acts prohibited by K.S.A. 8-2,144 or 8-1567 or K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 21-6421, and amendments thereto, the municipal court judge shall ensure that the municipal court remits the appropriate amount of such fine to the state treasurer as provided in K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 12-4120, and amendments thereto.
History: L. 1973, ch. 61, § 12-4106; L. 1989, ch. 67, § 1; L. 1992, ch. 239, § 30; L. 1993, ch. 291, § 5; L. 1994, ch. 291, § 7; L. 2004, ch. 71, § 1; L. 2009, ch. 107, § 7; L. 2011, ch. 105, § 20; 2012, ch. 172, § 21, L. 2013, ch. 10, § 1; L. 2013, ch. 133, § 2; L. 2014, ch. 28, § 1; L. 2018, ch. 106, § 14; July 1.
12-4107. Same; absence; vacancy; pro tem.
In the event the municipal judge is temporarily unable to preside due to absence, illness or disqualification, the municipal judge shall designate an attorney or other qualified person to act as judge pro tempore. In the event the municipal judge fails to appoint a judge pro tempore, the judge pro tempore shall be appointed in the same manner as the municipal judge is selected. The judge pro tempore shall receive compensation as shall be provided by ordinance, payable in the same manner as the compensation of the regular municipal judge.
In the event a vacancy shall occur in the office of municipal judge, a successor shall be appointed to fill the unexpired term in the same manner as the municipal judge was appointed.
History: L. 1973, ch. 61, § 12-4107; April 1, 1974.
12-4108. Clerk of the municipal court; appointment; powers and duties; execution of bond.
The governing body of each city may provide for the office of clerk of the municipal court. The municipal judge shall appoint such clerk or if no clerk is provided for, the judge shall also serve as clerk. The clerk shall issue all process of the court, administer oaths, file and preserve all papers, docket cases and set same for trial and shall perform such further acts as may be necessary to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the court. The clerk shall receive, account for and pay to the city treasurer monthly all fines and forfeited bonds paid into the court.
The clerk of the municipal court, or the municipal judge if no clerk is appointed, within 10 days after selection, and before entering upon the duties of office, shall execute to the city such bond as the governing body may require, which shall be approved by the governing body, and filed in the office of the city clerk, conditioned for the faithful performance of the duties required of such clerk by law, and for the faithful application and payment of all moneys that may come into such clerk's hands in the execution of the duties of the office. The city shall pay the cost of such bond.
History: L. 1973, ch. 61, § 12-4108; L. 1989, ch. 67, § 2; July 1.
12-4109. Municipal court; courtroom, supplies, records; sessions, time, place.
Each city shall provide at the expense of the city a suitable courtroom for the municipal court, together with all necessary supplies and records. Municipal court shall be held at such time and places designated by ordinance.
History: L. 1973, ch. 61, § 12-4109; April 1, 1974.
12-4110. City attorney to prosecute.
The city attorney, in person or by assistants, shall prosecute all causes in the municipal court.
History: L. 1973, ch. 61, § 12-4110; April 1, 1974.
12-4111. Law enforcement officers; employment; powers.
The governing body may employ law enforcement officers who shall have power to execute all process issued by any municipal judge within the state and delivered to him or her for that purpose, to detain persons, to place them in custody, and to arrest them, pursuant to the terms of this act.
The powers of law enforcement officers with respect to the code of criminal procedure shall not be reduced by this code.
History: L. 1973, ch. 61, § 12-4111; April 1, 1974.
No person shall be assessed costs for the administration of justice in any municipal court case, except for
(a) witness fees and mileage as set forth in K.S.A. 12-4411, and amendments thereto;
(b) the assessment required by K.S.A. 12-4116, and amendments thereto;
(c) the assessment required by K.S.A. 12-4117, and amendments thereto; and
(d) the assessment required by K.S.A. 12-16,119, and amendments thereto.
History: L. 1973, ch. 61, § 12-4112; L. 1989, ch. 66, § 5; L. 1992, ch. 315, § 4; L. 1998, ch. 155, § 2; L. 2016, ch. 46, § 20; L. 2016, ch. 88, § 6 July 1.
As used in this act:
(a) "Appearance bond" means an undertaking, with or without security, entered into by a person in custody by which the person is bound to comply with the conditions of the undertaking.
(b) "Accused person" means a person, corporation or other legal entity accused by a complaint of the violation of a city ordinance.
(c) "Arraignment" means the formal act of calling the person accused of violating an ordinance before the municipal court to inform the person of the offense with which the person is charged, to ask the person whether the person is guilty or not guilty and, if guilty, to impose sentence.
(d) "Arrest" means the taking of a person into custody in order that the person will appear to answer for the violation of an ordinance. The giving of a notice to appear is not an arrest.
(e) "Bail" is the security given for the purpose of insuring compliance with the terms of an appearance bond.
(f) "City attorney" means any attorney who represents the city in the prosecution of an accused person for the violation of a city ordinance.
(g) "Complaint" means a sworn written statement, or a written statement by a law enforcement officer, of the essential facts constituting a violation of an ordinance.
(h) "Custody" means the restraint of a person pursuant to an arrest.
(i) "Detention" means the temporary restraint of a person by a law enforcement officer.
(j) "Law enforcement officer" means any person who by virtue of office or public employment is vested by law with a duty to maintain public order and to make arrests for violation of the laws of the state of Kansas or ordinances of any municipality thereof.
(k) "Notice to appear" is a written notice to a person accused by a complaint of having violated an ordinance of a city to appear at a stated time and place to answer to the charge of the complaint.
(l) "Subpoena" is a process issued by the court to cause a witness to appear and give testimony at a time and place therein specified.
(m) "Ordinance traffic infraction" is a violation of an ordinance that proscribes or requires the same behavior as that proscribed or required by a statutory provision that is classified as a traffic infraction in K.S.A. 8-2118 and amendments thereto.
(n) "Warrant" is a written order made by a municipal judge directed to any law enforcement officer commanding the officer to arrest the person named or described in it.
(o) "Ordinance cigarette or tobacco infraction" is a violation of an ordinance that proscribes the same behavior as proscribed by subsection (m) or (n) of K.S.A. 79-3321 and amendments thereto.
History: L. 1973, ch. 61, § 12-4113; L. 1984, ch. 78, § 1; L. 1984, ch. 39, § 27; L. 1996, ch. 214, § 18; July 1.
12-4114. Municipal judge, training programs; certification; examinations; continuing education requirement; duties of supreme court.
(a) Any person who holds the position of municipal judge in any city in this state on January 1, 1990, and any person who thereafter becomes a municipal judge in any city in this state who has not been admitted to practice law in Kansas, as required by K.S.A. 12-4105, and amendments thereto, shall be permitted to temporarily commence the duties of office, conditioned that such judge becomes certified as being qualified to hold such office as provided in this section. The supreme court shall adopt rules and regulations to provide for a training program and an examination to ensure that each such municipal judge possesses the minimum skills and knowledge necessary to carry out the duties of such office. Such examination and training shall be administered without charge and such examination shall be given at least once each six months at a time and place designated by the supreme court. If a municipal judge fails to successfully complete such examination within 18 months after the date such judge takes office, such judge shall forfeit such judge's office and the municipal judge position previously held by such judge shall be vacant at the expiration of such eighteen-month period. A municipal judge who fails to successfully complete any examination may take such examination again at the next time it is offered prior to the expiration of such eighteen-month period. Any municipal judge who fails to successfully complete the examination within the prescribed time shall be ineligible to be a municipal judge, unless such person subsequently meets all the qualifications prescribed by K.S.A. 12-4105, and amendments thereto.
(b) Any person who successfully completes the examination administered under this section or who meets all of the qualifications prescribed by K.S.A. 12-4105, and amendments thereto, shall be certified by the supreme court as being qualified to hold such office. In order to continue to hold such office, such judge must attend at least 10 hours of continuing judicial education as approved by the supreme court in each calendar year. A continuing judicial education program offering at least 10 hours of credit shall be provided at least once each year at no expense to either the municipal judge or the municipality.
(c) The supreme court shall administer the training, testing and continuing judicial education provided for in this section, which shall be funded by the judicial branch education fund as provided for in K.S.A. 2001 Supp. 20-1a11 or may contract with another person or organization for that service.
History: L. 1989, ch. 66, § 1; L. 1992, ch. 315, § 5; July 1.
12-4116. Judicial branch education fund; assessments against municipal cases.
In each case filed in municipal court where there is a finding of guilty or a plea of guilty, a plea of no contest, forfeiture of bond, or a diversion, a sum in an amount not to exceed $1 shall be assessed for the training, testing and continuing judicial education of municipal judges as provided in K.S.A. 12-4114, and amendments thereto. Except as provided herein, the judge or clerk of the municipal court shall remit all assessments received pursuant to this section to the state treasurer in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 75-4215, and amendments thereto. Upon receipt of each such remittance, the state treasurer shall deposit the entire amount in the state treasury to the credit of the judicial branch education fund. If the amount of assessments collected in a month are less than $250, the municipal court may delay remitting its assessments until a month in which the cumulative amount of assessments collected equals or exceeds $250. If the cumulative amount of assessments collected never equals or exceeds $250 for the year, the amount of assessments collected and on hand on December 31 of the year shall be remitted to the state treasurer. The specific amount of the assessment shall be fixed by order of the supreme court and shall apply uniformly to all cities. For the purpose of determining the amount to be assessed according to this section, if more than one complaint is filed against one individual arising out of the same incident, all such complaints shall be considered as one case. For the purpose of this section, parking violations shall not be considered as cases.
History: L. 1989, ch. 66, § 3; L. 1992, ch. 233, § 1; L. 1993, ch. 54, § 1; L. 2001, ch. 5, § 54; July 1.
12-4117. Municipal court assessments.
(a) In each case filed in municipal court other than a nonmoving traffic violation, where there is a finding of guilty or a plea of guilty, a plea of no contest, forfeiture of bond or a diversion, a sum in an amount of $22.50 shall be assessed and such assessment shall be credited as follows:
One dollar to the local law enforcement training reimbursement fund established pursuant to K.S.A. 74-5620, and amendments thereto, $11.50 to the law enforcement training center fund established pursuant to K.S.A. 74-5619, and amendments thereto, $5.00 to the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training fund established by K.S.A. 74-5619, and amendments thereto, $2 to the juvenile alternatives to detention fund established pursuant to K.S.A. 79-4803, and amendments thereto, to be expended for operational costs of facilities for the detention of juveniles, $.50 to the protection from abuse fund established pursuant to K.S.A. 74-7325, and amendments thereto, $.50 to the crime victims assistance fund established pursuant to K.S.A. 74-7334, and amendments thereto; $1 to the trauma fund established pursuant to K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 75-5670, and amendments thereto, and $1 to the department of corrections forensic psychologist fund established pursuant to K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 75-52,151, and amendments thereto.
(b) The judge or clerk of the municipal court shall remit the appropriate assessments received pursuant to this section to the state treasurer in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 75-4215, and amendments thereto. Upon receipt of each such remittance, the state treasurer shall deposit the entire amount in the state treasury to the credit of the local law enforcement training reimbursement fund, the law enforcement training center fund, the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training fund, the juvenile alternatives to detention fund, the crime victims assistance fund, the trauma fund and the department of corrections forensic psychologist fund as provided in this section.
(c) For the purpose of determining the amount to be assessed according to this section, if more than one complaint is filed in the municipal court against one individual arising out of the same incident, all such complaints shall be considered as one case.
History: L. 1992, ch. 315, § 10; L. 1994, ch. 335, § 1; L. 1996, ch. 234, § 6; L. 1999, ch. 127, § 9; L. 2000, ch. 181, § 3; L. 2001, ch. 5, § 55; L. 2002, ch. 199, § 1; L. 2006, ch. 170, § 1; L. 2010, ch, 53, § 1; L. 2010, ch. 147, § 2; L. 2016, ch. 46, § 21; L. 2016, ch. 88, § 7; L. 2017, ch. 100, § 1; July 1.
12-4118. Performance of marriage ceremonies by municipal judge; disposition of honorariums.
A municipal judge may retain any honorarium received for such judge's services in performing a marriage ceremony, except when such services are performed between the hours of eight o'clock a.m. and five o'clock p.m. on a day when the court is regularly open for the conduct of business in which event such honorarium shall be remitted to the city treasurer for deposit in the city general fund. The provisions of this section shall be part of and supplemental to the Kansas code of procedure for municipal courts.
History: L. 1996, ch. 194, § 3; July 1.
12-4119. Collection of debts owed to municipal courts or restitution; contracts for collection.
(a) Cities are authorized to enter into contracts for collection services for debts owed to municipal courts or restitution owed under an order of restitution. On and after July 1, 2007, the cost of collection shall be paid by the defendant as an additional court cost in all cases where the defendant fails to pay any amount ordered by the court and the court utilizes the services of a contracting agent pursuant to this section. The cost of collection shall be deemed an administrative fee to pay the actual costs of collection made necessary by the defendant's failure to pay court debt and restitution.
(b) The following terms shall mean:
(1) "Beneficiary under an order of restitution" means the victim or victims of a crime to whom a municipal court has ordered restitution be paid;
(2) "contracting agent" means a person, firm, agency or other entity who contracts hereunder to provide collection services;
(3) "cost of collection" means the fee specified in contracts hereunder to be paid to or retained by a contracting agent for collection services and shall not exceed 33% of the amount collected. The cost of collection shall be paid from the amount collected, but shall not be deducted from the debts owed to municipal courts or restitution. Cost of collection also includes any filing fee required under K.S.A. 60-4303, and amendments thereto; and
(4) "debts owed to municipal courts" means any assessment of court costs, fines, fees, moneys expended by the city in providing counsel and other defense services to indigent defendants or other charges which a municipal court judge has ordered to be paid to the court, and which remain unpaid in whole or in part, and includes any interest or penalties on such unpaid amounts as provided for in the judgment or by law. "Debts owed to municipal courts" also includes the cost of collection when collection services of a contracting agent hereunder are utilized.
(c) Municipal courts are authorized to utilize the collection services of contracting agents pursuant to this section for the purpose of collecting all outstanding debts owed the municipal courts.
(d) Any beneficiary under an order of restitution entered by a municipal court is authorized to utilize the collection services of contracting agents pursuant to this section for the purpose of collecting all outstanding amounts owed under such order of restitution.
(e) Contracts shall provide for the payment of any amounts collected to the clerk of the municipal court for the court in which the debt being collected originated, after first deducting the collection fee. In accounting for amounts collected from any person, the municipal court clerk shall credit the person's amount owed the amount of the net proceeds collected. The clerk shall not reduce the amount owed by any person that portion of any payment which constitutes the cost of collection pursuant to this section.
(f) When the appropriate cost of collection has been paid to the contracting agent as agreed upon in the contract, the municipal court clerk shall then distribute amounts collected as follows:
(1) When collection services are utilized pursuant to subsection (c), all amounts shall be applied against the debts owed to the court as specified in the original judgment creating the debt;
(2) when collection services are utilized pursuant to subsection (d), all amounts shall be paid to the beneficiary under the order of restitution designated to receive such restitution, except where that beneficiary has received recovery from the Kansas crime victims compensation board and such board has subrogation rights pursuant to K.S.A. 74-7312, and amendments thereto, in which case all amounts shall be paid to the board until its subrogation lien is satisfied.
(g) Whenever collection services are being utilized against the same debtor pursuant to both subsections (c) and (d), any amounts collected by a contracting agent shall be first applied to satisfy debts pursuant to an order of restitution. Upon satisfaction of all such debts, amounts received from the same debtor shall then be applied to satisfy, debts owed to courts.
History: L. 2007, ch. 168, § 1; July 1.
12-4120. Certain fines remitted to state treasurer; community corrections supervision fund; human trafficking victim assistance fund.
(a) On and after July 1, 2012, the amount of $250 from each fine imposed for a violation of a city ordinance prohibiting the acts prohibited by K.S.A. 8-1567 or 8-2,144 and amendments thereto, shall be remitted by the judge or clerk of the municipal court to the state treasurer in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 75-4215, and amendments thereto. Upon receipt of each such remittance, the state treasurer shall credit the entire amount to the community corrections supervision fund established by K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 75-52,113, and amendments thereto.
(b) One half of each fine imposed for a violation of a city ordinance prohibiting the acts prohibited by K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 21-6421, and amendments thereto, shall be remitted by the judge or clerk of the municipal court to the state treasurer in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 75-4215, and amendments thereto and the remainder shall be remitted as otherwise provided by law. Upon receipt of each such remittance, the state treasurer shall credit the entire amount to the human trafficking victim assistance fund established by K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 75-758, and amendments thereto.
(c) On and after July 1, 2017, the amount of $20 from each fine imposed for a violation of a city ordinance requiring the use of safety belts for those individuals required by K.S.A. 8-2503(a)(1), and amendments thereto, shall be remitted by the judge or clerk of the municipal court to the state treasurer in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 75-4215, and amendments thereto. Upon receipt of each such remittance, the state treasurer shall credit the entire amount to the seat belt safety fund established by K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 8-1,181, and amendments thereto.
History: L. 2012, ch. 172, § 1; L. 2013, ch. 120, § 9; L. 2017, ch. 78, § 5; L. 2017, ch. 74, § 7; L. 2017, ch. 100, § 7; L. 2018, ch. 106, § 15; July 1.