A bill in the Kansas Legislature would change the current forfeiture law and require that a person has to be convicted of a crime before the state can take their property.

Kansas’ current forfeiture law does not require a person to be convicted of a crime before law enforcement can take property they believe was used in a crime.

The Lawrence Journal World reports (http://bit.ly/1QD067Y) a forfeiture case is civil, not criminal, and law enforcement must prove by a preponderance of evidence rather than beyond a reasonable doubt that the seized property was used in a crime.

The new measure would require individuals be convicted of a crime before they can have their property taken.

Several law enforcement agencies oppose the measure because forfeitures provide police agencies with needed funding.

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Information from: Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World, http://www.ljworld.com.