Missouri Senate Bill SJR54

Missouri 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/1/22
• Refer: 3/29/22

Caption

Establishes a court fee of three dollars for funding of the Sheriffs' Retirement System

Impact

If SJR54 is adopted, it will legally establish a new revenue stream for the Sheriffs' Retirement System by instituting a specific fee associated with criminal court filings. The aim is to enhance the financial stability of retirement benefits for sheriffs, who are vital elected officials responsible for law enforcement and public safety within their jurisdictions. This change could lead to increased security in retirement funding for these public servants, which would be reliant on collected fees from court cases going forward.

Summary

SJR54 is a Senate Joint Resolution introduced by Senator Bernskoetter aimed at amending the Missouri Constitution concerning the funding of retirement benefits for elected sheriffs. The resolution proposes the repeal of the existing Section 14 of Article I and the adoption of a new section that includes the imposition of a three-dollar fee on the initial filing of any criminal case in Missouri's courts. This fee is intended to be collected by the court clerk and directed to a designated fund to support retirement allowances and other benefits for elected sheriffs as permitted by Missouri law.

Contention

The proposed amendment could face contention surrounding the idea of imposing additional fees on residents involved in the criminal justice system. Critics may argue that adding a financial burden could disproportionately affect individuals seeking legal recourse or justice that requires court intervention. There may be concerns about the perceived fairness of this fee, particularly in a system that already imposes various court costs and fees, prompting discussions about equitable funding approaches for essential services like sheriff's pensions.