39-717. Illegal disposition; purchase, acquisition or possession of assistance; criminal penalties; exemption of assistance from legal process. (a) Assistance granted under the provisions of this act shall not:

(1) Be sold or otherwise disposed of to others by the client or by anyone else except under the rules and regulations of the secretary for children and families or the secretary of health and environment; or

(2) knowingly be purchased, acquired or possessed by anyone unless the purchase, acquisition or possession is authorized by the rules and regulations of the secretary for children and families, the Kansas department of health and environment or the laws under which the assistance was granted.

(b) (1) Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a class A nonperson misdemeanor if the value of the assistance sold or otherwise disposed of, purchased, acquired or possessed was less than $1,000.

(2) Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a severity level 9, nonperson felony if the value of the assistance sold or otherwise disposed of, purchased, acquired or possessed was at least $1,000 but less than $25,000.

(3) Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a severity level 7, nonperson felony if the value of the assistance sold or otherwise disposed of, purchased, acquired or possessed was $25,000 or more.

(c) None of the money paid, payable, or to be paid, or any tangible assistance received under this act shall be subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or other legal process, or to the operation of any bankruptcy or insolvency law.

History: L. 1937, ch. 327, § 15; L. 1980, ch. 126, § 1; L. 1983, ch. 145, § 1; L. 1993, ch. 291, § 225; L. 1994, ch. 291, § 72; L. 2006, ch. 194, § 27; L. 2014, ch. 115, § 80; July 1.