DECEMBER 2015 MINUTES
KACSO EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
December 17, 2015
Topeka/Shawnee County Public Library – Topeka, KS
CALL TO ORDER:
Chris Esquibel, 29th (Interim President), Tom Weishaar, 1st (Vice-President), Jennifer Fogg, 1st (Secretary), Kelly Johnson, 4th (Treasurer), Spence Koehn, 4th (Parliamentarian), Mike Clark, 21st (Training), Cody McArthur, 3rd (Legislative), Kelsey Cox, 18th (Interim Public Relations), Stephanie Springer, 27th (Membership/Nominations).
Guests: Steve Kearney and Patrick Vogelsberg (Kearney & Associates), and Chris Mechler (Court Services Specialist)
OFFICER’S REPORTS:
Reading/Review of the Minutes:
Interim President, Chris Esquibel (29th), called the meeting to order. Mike Clark (18th) made a motion to approve the minutes from the November 19, 2015 board meeting. Jennifer Fogg (1st) seconded; motion carried 9-0.
Treasurer’s Report:
Lobbyist Contributions Update: Kelly Johnson (4th) reported the lobbyist contributions are at $12,561.00, and $556.00 was from fundraisers. The board discussed raffles and other fundraising ideas. Chris Esquibel (29th) stated that the DOR form has been completed, but needs to put the dates of when the fundraisers will be held.
Budget Report: Kelly Johnson (4th) discussed the budget report for October ($42,244.38) and November ($44,041.86).
Stephanie Springer (27th) made a motion to approve the October 2015 and November 2015 Budget Report. Kelsey Cox (18th) seconded; motion carried 9-0.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Training:
Upcoming Conferences:
(Spring) April 13-15, 2016 Wichita, KS - Drury Inn: Mike Clark (21st) stated that the room rate is $89.00 per room. Chris Esquibel (29th) asked if the $89.00 included breakfast, and Mike stated that he would look into it. Kelly Johnson (4th) asked if Mike he would also look into the price of the vendor tables, because they seemed pricey. Kelsey Cox (18th) asked if Mike could provide her with the contact information of who at the Drury Inn should the vendors contact in order to get set up.
(Fall) October 19-21, 2016 Overland Park, KS - Holiday Inn: contracted out
(Spring) April 19-21, 2017 Mayetta, KS – Prairie Band Resort: contracted out
Legislative:
Cody McArthur (3rd) informed the board of the future Legislative Board meeting dates:
January 19, 2016
February 9, 2016
March 1, 2016
Kearney & Associates:
KACSO is currently paying $1,666.00 per month/$20,000.00 per year for K & A. It was suggested that the board speak with K&A and ask how our services will be effected if we pay $1,500.00 per month/$15,000.00 per year. Also if KACSO could pay a flat fee if there is something we needed them to write up or represent Court Services on.
The board discussed KACSO possibly waiting a year on the decision to terminate services with K&A, and try to implement the fundraising ideas and push CSOs to contribute.
Will see if K&A will come to the conference and participate in a roundtable discussion.
Kelly Johnson (4th) stated that the board has already discussed how much it would contribute to the lobbyist if funds were short. Asked if that amount should be raised.
MOTION: Stephanie Springer (27th) made a motion - KACSO will continue with Kearney & Associates through 2016. Mike Clark (21st) second; motion carried 9-0.
Public Relations:
Website: Kelsey Cox (18th) reported that the monthly cost of the hosting site will be $12.42. It will cost $150.00 for training on the website, and that cost includes travel for the provider. She states that after everything is added to the website, changes can be made. The plan is to have everyone who is interested in being trained on the website, trained by January 2016.
Training:
Mike Clark (21st) asked if there could be more training on the DUI laws and sentencing. He says that there are some concerns that not all of the districts are following the post incarceration supervision requirements.
Kelsey Cox (18th) also asks if OJA is looking into more evidence based practices.
Chris M. stated that there is talk about Epics training in the near future. However, she has been led to believe that there have been too many training opportunities already.
Tom Weishaar (1st) states that DOC has training all over the place. Court Services earns training money, yet we only have 2 CEUs.
The board discussed other training options including: Motivational Interviewing; Thinking for a Change; and Epics.
Chris Mechler would not pick Thinking for a Change. She recommends Anger Replacement, or something that is a shorter focused training. She says that the administrators need to know about the training concerns, and feedback from field CSOs is encouraged. Possibly the Chiefs and the board can email her a request for training, and she would pass it on.
Tom Weishaar (1st) stated that the advisory board also needs to be reaching out to OJA for more training opportunities.
DISCUSSION WITH KEARNEY & ASSOCIATES (Steve Kearney and Patrick Vogelsberg):
Juvenile Justice Report:
K&A sees the bill being split up into separate parts due to its size, and that the motive will be to push it through for approval as fast as they can. Court Services should focus on the specific points that are not agreed upon, including the weight of the bill.
There is concern regarding KDOC and consolidation.
One thing the bill does not mention are the victims.
Not every district works with a collection agency to help with collecting funds of terminated/closed cases.
Another issue with the bill, is increasing the use of risk assessment tools and linking it to the length of supervision and the risk of recidivism. So a poor child will get a greater supervision term, where a wealthier child will get a shorter supervision term.
There is concern that the County Attorneys will no longer do plea agreements.
Who are the “assessors”, and how will they determine who will be granted diversion when they are not qualified to make that decision. Are these “assessors” practicing law?
OJA REPORT:
CYZAP (LSIR Program):
Chris Mechler stated that the first specification meeting with CYZAP (LSIR Program) is tomorrow. The contract is almost finalized, and it is looking to be implemented on July 1, 2016. In June 2016, the Big 3 will be set up with the program to test it out, and then slowly the other counties will be included.
Juvenile Justice Report:
Could the board get a copy of case load stats from OJA?
Court Services needs to be willing to take over all of the Juvenile supervision, with or without funding.
Not sure if Court Services would even be effected (money and position wise) if they took over all of Juvenile supervision, because we already do most of the supervision. Concern is where the Juveniles will go if they are kicked out of group homes.
Stephanie Springer (27th) says that she will stay on top of the revised draft, and will make sure that all parties are made aware of the changes so we can stay ahead of them.
Sentencing Commission:
Chris Mechler stated that the recommendations to reduce prison population were going to be finalized today. In November 2015, prison population was 100.4% over capacity – with 9,681 inmates and 9,636 capacity.
The following was recommended to reduce admissions or increase release:
Repeal Special rule #26 – Third or subsequent. Felony Drug Possession – presumptive prison. Want to leave it up to criminal history. This would save about 28 beds (at $25,000.00 per bed, a year)
Expand Level 4D offenses to be SB 123 eligible (even though there is no money for SB 123)
Suggesting changes with SB 2170 – Doing away with the dips and imposing dunks for absconders (Sentencing commissions is also doing a study of who is and who is not using dips/dunks as directed by the statute).
Felony Offenses Threshold would be moved from $1,000.00 to $2,000.00.
They are also looking at possible changes with the way Juvenile convictions are counted. If the juvenile goes 5 years in the community, then their conviction wipes out. If they get another offense during that 5 year period, then the charge will count. The 5 year period can’t include incarceration time.
OLD BUSINESS:
No Update
NEW BUSINESS:
Upcoming Meeting: The next Executive Board meeting will be held on January 21, 2016 at 10:00am in Topeka, KS (location to be determined). A 2016 Executive Board meeting agenda has been provided to each board member.
CORRESPONDENCE: Chris Esquibel (29th) advised he would like to know the dates of when CSOs are expected to retire so he can send out retirement cards.
BILLS:
Website Host: $12.42 a month
Ordered checks through Deluxe: $36.19
Miles:
Stephanie Springer (27th) submitted a bill for $197.22 for mileage to/from the executive board meeting.
Kelsey Cox (18th) submitted a bill for $175.12 for mileage to/from the executive board meeting.
Tom Weishaar (1st) submitted a bill for $71.25 for mileage to/from executive board meeting.
Mike Clark (21st) submitted a bill for $57.00 for mileage to/from executive board meeting.
Cody McArthur (3rd) moved and Jennifer Fogg (1st) seconded to pay all bills as submitted. Motion carried 9-0.
STANDING RULES:
No Update
NEXT MEETING:
Upcoming Meeting: The next KACSO Executive Board meeting will be held on January 21, 2016 at 10:00am in Topeka, KS (location to be determined). A 2016 Executive Board meeting agenda has been provided to each board member.
ADJOURN:
Jennifer Fogg (1st) made a motion to adjourn, Kelly Johnson (4th) seconded. Motion carried 9-0.