HB301--PUBLICSAFETY
SPONSOR: Roberts
SPECIALPROSECUTOR(Section56.601)
ThisbillallowstheGovernortoappointaspecialprosecutorin
theCityofSt.Louisforaperiodoffiveyearsif,after
reviewingvariousrelevantstatistics,theGovernordeterminesthat
athreattopublicsafetyandhealthexistsintheCityofSt.
Louis.TheGovernorwillbeabletorenewthefive-yeartermof
thespecialprosecutoriftheGovernordeterminesthatthethreat
tothepublicsafetyandhealthcontinues. Thespecialprosecutor
willhaveexclusivejurisdictiontoinitiateandprosecutecertain
offensesasspecifiedinthebill.TheGovernormayremovethe
specialprosecutorforfelonycriminalmisconductorincompetency.
Fundsforthespecialprosecutorwillbeprovidedbythestatefrom
theGeneralRevenueFund.Thespecialprosecutorwillhavea
budgetandwillbeauthorizedtohireupto15assistantspecial
prosecutingattorneysandupto15staffmembers. Theseprovisions
aresubjecttoanemergencyclause.
SERVICESFORFORMERINMATES(Sections208.151and217.830)
Thebillprovidesthat,subjecttoapprovalofastateplan
amendmentbytheCentersforMedicareandMedicaidServices,any
personwhohasbeenreleasedfromthecustodyoftheDepartmentof
Corrections(DOC)withintheprevioussixmonthsandwhodoesnot
haveaccesstohealthinsurancethroughajoborotheravenues
shallbeeligibletoreceiveMOHealthNetbenefitsforsixmonths.
Additionally,DOC,workingwiththeDepartmentofHealthandSenior
ServicesandtheDepartmentofRevenue,mustprovideevery
Missouri-bornoffenderwithvariousdocumentation, includinghisor
herbirthcertificateandastateidentification card,priortothe
offender'sreleaseupontheexpirationofhisorhersentence. For
offendersbornoutsidethestate,DOCmustassisttheoffenderin
completingthenecessaryformsandapplicationstoobtainthe
necessarydocumentation.
CONDITIONSOFRELEASE(Section544.453)
Thebillestablishescertainfactorsthatmustbeconsideredwhena
judgeorjudicialofficersetsbail.Thefactorsincludewhether
thepersonposesadanger,isaflightrisk,hascommittedcertain
offensesinthelastfiveyears,orhasfailedtoappearincourt
asaconditionforprobationorparoleforcertainoffenseswith
thelastthreeyears.
MINIMUMPRISONTERMS(Sections217.760and558.019) Currently,certainoffenses,includingseconddegreemurder,
voluntaryandinvoluntarymanslaughter,firstdegreeassault,and
otheroffenses,haveminimumprisontermsforoffenderswithprior
felonyconvictions.
Thisbillrepealsthoseprovisionsrelatingtocertainoffensesand
providesthatallclassesoffelonies,exceptcontrolledsubstance
offenses,shallbesubjecttominimumprisontermsforoffenders
withpriorfelonyconvictions.
Thebillalsorepealsprovisionsthatallowoffendersconvicted
priortoAugust28,2019,tonolongerbesubjecttotheseminimum
prisonterms.Thebillprovidesthattheseprovisionsshallapply
onlytooffensesoccurringonorafterAugust28,2003.
UNLAWFULPOSSESSIONOFAFIREARM(Section571.070)
Currentlawprovidesthatapersoncommitstheoffenseofunlawful
possessionofafirearmifthepersonknowinglypossessesafirearm
andthepersonhasbeenconvictedofafelony.Thisbillchanges
theprovisiontoapplyonlytoindividualswhohavebeenconvicted
ofaviolentfelony.Thebillalsospecifiesthatapersoncommits
theoffenseofunlawfulpossessionofafirearmiftheperson
knowinglyhasafirearminhisorherpossessionandthepersonis
eitheronprobationorparoleforanonviolentfelonyortheperson
isunder18yearsofage,isonpublicproperty,isnotaccompanied
byanadult21yearsoldoroder,andisnotpossessingthefirearm
asotherwiseallowedbylaw.
LAWENFORCEMENT(Sections590.060,590.1070,and590.1075)
Thebillalsospecifiesthatnolawenforcementagencyorpolitical
subdivisionempoweredbylawtomaintainalawenforcementagency
willcontractwithanypublicorprivateentitytoprovidelaw
enforcementtrainingunlesstheentity'sinstructorsandcurriculum
havebeenapprovedbytheDepartmentofPublicSafety.
Thebillalsoestablishesthe"PeaceOfficerBasicTrainingTuition
ReimbursementProgram". Missouriresidentswhoattendabasiclaw
enforcementacademyfortrainingrequiredtobeapeaceofficerand
whoobtainfull-timeemploymentwithalawenforcementagency,on
orafterSeptember1,2023,mayapplytohavetheirtuition
reimbursedundertheprogramatarateof25%peryearof
employment,withfulltuitionreimbursedbytheendoffouryears
ofemployment. Qualifyinggovernmententitiesthatpayfora
persontoattendtheacademymaysubmitfortuitionreimbursement
atthesamerate.ThePOSTCommissionwillbetheadministrative
agencyforimplementation ofthereimbursementprogram. Thebillalsoestablishesthe"PeaceOfficerBasicTrainingTuition
ReimbursementFund",whichwillconsistofmoneysappropriatedby
theGeneralAssembly,aswellasanygifts,bequests,ordonations,
andthefundsaretobeusedsolelyfortheadministration ofthe
reimbursementprogram.