Kansas Legal Services pushes to renew expungement funding, add driver’s‑license clinic support

Matthew Keenan, executive director of Kansas Legal Services, told the Committee on General Government Budget that KLS’s statewide clinics provide free legal help that supports workforce entry and mobility.

Keenan said KLS helped about "23,000 Kansans last year in all 105 counties of the state" and provided clinic statistics: 985 people participated in expungement clinics, 753 cases were processed and more than 410 cases were expunged during the reported period. He described the programs as workforce development and asked the committee to renew a $200,000 appropriation and add $100,000 for driver’s-license clinics.

Keenan argued the programs generate economic value: "For every dollar that is given to KLS returns about $7 of economic impact," he said, and explained that restoring driver’s licenses and clearing records improves employment prospects in counties where travel time and employment options are limited.

Representative Turk and other committee members acknowledged the reported outcomes and urged the committee to weigh the cost‑benefit data when considering funding renewals. Keenan said the clinics reach rural and urban counties and repeatedly asked the committee to consider the scale of demand when making funding decisions.

Next steps: Keenan’s request will be considered as part of the committee’s budget negotiations; committee members asked staff to note the program’s outcomes and to include the request in their deliberations.