TOPEKA, Kan. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is praising legislators for giving final approval to a bill aimed at helping law enforcement fight gang activity, human trafficking and drug dealing.
The bill would allow prosecutors to pursue a new set of felonies when a suspect repeatedly commits or attempts to commit crimes, or influences or coerces others to commit crimes or to benefit financially from crimes.
The legislation was designed after the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, or RICO.
Senators approved the measure Tuesday on a 38-2 vote, sending it to Gov. Sam Brownback. The House approved it last week.
Schmidt has been pushing the measure. He said in a statement that the bill gives Kansas law enforcement officials a new tool for fighting crime and criminal conspiracies.
