Several Kansas legislators say they are interested in reviewing the state law that allows citizens to convene grand juries by petition.

A Johnson County grand jury called for such a review last week after finishing a three-month investigation of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri and its Comprehensive Health clinic in Overland Park. It issued no indictment.

The jurors recommended that the law be changed to require more signatures on a petition. It also suggested that citizens be required to provide some evidence of wrongdoing.

Rep. Kevin Yoder, an Overland Park Republican and a member of the House Judiciary Committee, said several lawmakers have discussed changing the law.

“I think there is concern that the (grand jury) process is being abused,” Yoder said.

Rep. Mike O’Neal, a Hutchinson Republican and the committee’s chairman, said he thinks grand juries should have some evidence to go forward. The law’s original purpose was to allow citizens to pursue a prosecution when a district or county attorney refused to do so, he said.

Rep. Lance Kinzer, an Olathe Republican and the committee’s vice chairman, said he also would be open to a review.

However, he said, he supports the current requirement for citizens to gather signatures from 2 percent of those who voted in the previous election for governor, plus 100. Also, he said, any requirement that petitioners provide evidence would have to take into account how that evidence would be considered and weighed.

On the Senate side, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, John Vratil, a Leawood Republican, said he sees a need to change the law.

But he said, “A lot of legislators will oppose any change. They’re of the same political persuasion as the same people who passed a petition for the grand jury in Johnson County.”

The Star’s Laura Bauer contributed to this report.