Requires certain police officers to be paid a minimum wage of twenty dollars per hour
Impact
If enacted, HB 1794 would represent a significant change in how peace officers are compensated in Missouri, specifically in larger counties. This adjustment could help in recruiting and retaining qualified personnel within law enforcement agencies, addressing one of the critical challenges faced by police departments, which is the need for competitive wages to attract talent. Furthermore, implementing standardized pay may foster greater morale among officers by providing them with a sense of value as essential public servants.
Summary
House Bill 1794, known as the Blue Pay Fairness Act, proposes to amend Chapter 290 of Missouri's laws to establish minimum wage requirements for certain peace officers employed in urban counties with populations over one million. The legislation mandates that all licensed peace officers within these counties receive a minimum hourly wage of twenty dollars or the prevailing federal minimum wage, depending on which is higher. This bill aims to address wage disparities and to ensure fair compensation for law enforcement personnel serving in areas with a higher cost of living.
Contention
While proponents of HB 1794 support the bill as a necessary step toward fair pay for police officers, there may be concerns regarding the financial implications for counties that would be required to comply. Critics may argue that enforcing a minimum wage could strain local budgets, particularly in communities already facing financial constraints. Additionally, there may be debates about the appropriateness of mandating wage standards at the state level, which could limit local control over budgetary decisions and law enforcement funding practices.
Repeals the law that allowed employers to pay some of their minor employees and employees who are full time students and not attained the age of nineteen (19), less than minimum hourly wages, requiring them to be paid a minimum hourly wage.
Establishes a five thousand dollar to twenty-five thousand dollar tax credit for the hiring and retaining of unemployed veterans for a minimum thirty-five hours per week, minimum one year employment period.
Directs the municipal police training council to develop, and the commissioner of the division of criminal justice services to implement, certain training requirements for police officers on the operation of police vehicles, including a minimum of 40 hours of training for new police officers and 4 hours of training for police in-service training courses.