Opinion ID: 2632280
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: S.A. 2001 Supp. 59-29a04 75-day Limitation

Text: In Ingram, 266 Kan. 46, the State appealed the dismissal of its petition charging Ingram as being a sexually violent predator under the Kansas Sexually Violent Predator Act. At the time the petition was filed, Ingram was confined, serving a sentence for rape. However, the petition was not filed within 75 days of the attorney general receiving the written notice as provided for by K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 59-29a04. The attorney general had filed the petition 88 days after receiving written notice, rather than within the 75-day period. Ingram asserted that the 75-day period was jurisdictional. The district court agreed, and the petition was dismissed. The State appealed. The Ingram court noted that there was no dispute as to whether the agency with jurisdiction complied with the notice provision of K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 59-29a03. The Secretary of Corrections sent written notice that Ingram fit within the definition of a sexually violent predator to the attorney general and the multidisciplinary team 90 days prior to Ingram's release date. The court then observed that the attorney general failed to take action within the time specified under K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 59-29a04, which provided: When it appears that the person presently confined may be a sexually violent predator and the prosecutor's review committee appointed as provided in subsection (e) of K.S.A. 59-29a03 and amendments thereto has determined that the person meets the definition of a sexually violent predator, the attorney general may file a petition, within 75 days of the date the attorney general received the written notice by the agency of jurisdiction as provided in subsection (a) of K.S.A. 59-29a03 and amendments thereto, alleging that the person is a sexually violent predator and stating sufficient facts to support such allegation. (Emphasis added.) The Ingram court noted that the question of whether the petition must be filed within the 75-day period was a question of law; therefore, review was unlimited. 266 Kan. at 48; see State v. Lewis, 263 Kan. 843, 847, 953 P.2d 1016 (1998). The court observed that the statute plainly and unambiguously authorized the attorney general to file a petition, within 75 days of the date the attorney general received the written notice. K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 59-29a04; see 266 Kan. at 48. Finding that there was no provision in the Act for a petition to be commenced outside of the 75-day period, the court held that K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 59-29a04 provided the sole authority for the State to file a petition to have a person declared a sexually violent predator. The court determined that the 75-day limitation was jurisdictional, determined that the district court had no jurisdiction to entertain a petition filed beyond the time provided for in K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 59-29a04, and affirmed the district court. 266 Kan. 48-49. The legislature's response to the decision in Ingram is instructive. Less than 1 year after the Ingram decision, the legislature amended 59-29a04 to include a provision stating that the failure to comply with the provisions of that statute, including the 75-day period, was not jurisdictional. L. 1999, ch. 140, sec. 4; see K.S.A. 2001 Supp. 59-29a04(b); Blackmore, 30 Kan. App.2d at 95. At the same time, the legislature also amended 59-29a03, which requires that the attorney general be given 90 days' notice that an individual might meet the criteria of a sexually violent predator, by including a provision stating that the provisions within that statute were also not jurisdictional. L. 1999, ch. 140, sec. 3; see K.S.A. 2001 Supp. 59-29a03(f). Strict compliance with the 60-day period under K.S.A. 2001 Supp. 59-29a06 is essential to the preservation of the rights of those against whom a petition has been filed and a probable cause finding has been made. Even though the term shall is not conclusive, it indicates the legislature intended the 60-day period to be more than directory. The intent for the 60-day provision to be mandatory may also be inferred from the legislative history of the Act. The fact the legislature amended both the provision specifically addressed in Ingram, as well as another statute within the Act, but did not amend the statute in question, is supportive of the assumption that the 60-day period provided for in K.S.A. 2001 Supp. 59-29a06 was intended by the legislature to be mandatory. When the legislature fails to modify a statute to avoid the standing judicial construction of that statute, it is presumed that the legislature agreed with the court's interpretation. In re Adoption of B.M.W., 268 Kan. 871, 881, 2 P.3d 159 (2000).