HCSHB301--PUBLICSAFETY
SPONSOR: Roberts
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPasswithHCS"bytheStanding
CommitteeonCrimePreventionandPublicSafetybyavoteof19to
3.
ThefollowingisasummaryoftheHouseCommitteeSubstituteforHB
301.
SPECIALPROSECUTOR(Sections56.110and56.601)
ThisbillallowstheGovernortoappointaspecialprosecutorfora
periodofuptofiveyearsiftherateofhomicidesinanycircuit
orprosecutingattorney'sjurisdictionexceeds35casesperevery
100,000peopleand,afterareviewofcertaincrimestatistics,the
Governordeterminesthereisathreattopublicsafetyandhealth.
IftheGovernormakessuchadeterminationheorsheshallsubmita
requesttotheMissouriSpecialProsecutorAppointmentCommitteeto
selectanattorneytoserveasthespecialprosecutor. Thebill
createsthe"MissouriSpecialProsecutorAppointmentCommittee"
whichwillbecomprisedoffivemembers,asspecifiedinthebill.
IfthecommitteedoesnotgivetheGovernorthenameofapersonto
appoint,within30daysofthereceivingtherequest,theGovernor
willselectapersonhimselforherself. Thespecialprosecutor
willhaveexclusivejurisdictiontoinitiateandprosecutecertain
offensesasspecifiedinthebill.Fundsforthespecial
prosecutorwillbeprovidedbythestatefromtheGeneralRevenue
Fund.Thespecialprosecutorwillhaveabudgetandbeauthorized
tohireupto15assistantspecialprosecutingattorneysandupto
15staffmembers. Theseprovisionsaresubjecttoanemergency
clause.
SERVICESFORFORMERINMATES(Sections208.151and217.830)
Thebillprovidesthat,subjecttoapprovalofastateplan
amendmentbytheCentersforMedicareandMedicaidServices,any
personwhohasbeenreleasedfromthecustodyoftheDepartmentof
Corrections(DOC)withintheprevioussixmonthsandwhodoesnot
haveaccesstohealthinsurancethroughajoborotheravenues
shallbeeligibletoreceiveMOHealthNetbenefitsforsixmonths.
Additionally,DOCmustcreateapolicyandproceduresoutliningfor
offendershowtoobtainvariousdocumentation, includinghisorher
birthcertificate,SocialSecuritycard,andastateidentification
card,priortotheoffender'srelease.
SPECIALLICENSEPLATES(Section301.3175) ThebilldirectstheDepartmentofRevenuetoissuetheBackthe
Bluespeciallicenseplatefornon-apportionedvehiclesofany
classification forwhichitissuesplates.
CONDITIONSOFRELEASE(Section544.453)
Thebillestablishescertainfactorsthatmustbeconsideredwhena
judgeorjudicialofficersetsbail.Thefactorsincludewhether
thepersonposesadanger,isaflightrisk,hascommittedcertain
offensesinthelastfiveyears,orhasfailedtoappearincourt
asaconditionforprobationorparoleforcertainoffenseswithin
thelastthreeyears.
MINIMUMPRISONTERMS(Section558.019)
Currently,certainoffenses,includingseconddegreemurder,
voluntaryandinvoluntarymanslaughter,firstdegreeassault,and
otheroffenses,haveminimumprisontermsforoffenderswithprior
felonyconvictions.
Thisbillrepealsthoseprovisionsrelatingtocertainoffensesand
providesthatallclassesoffelonies,exceptcontrolledsubstance
offenses,shallbesubjecttominimumprisontermsforoffenders
withpriorfelonyconvictions.
Thebillalsorepealsprovisionsthatallowoffendersconvicted
priortoAugust28,2019,tonolongerbesubjecttotheseminimum
prisonterms.Suchoffenderswillnolongerbesubjecttothe
minimumprisontermsiftheycompletecertainrequirements,suchas
completingadrugtreatmentprogramandpassingadrugtestprior
torelease. Italsoprovidesthatoffendersconvictedofa
sexuallyviolentcrimeoranyunlawfulsexualoffenseunderChapter
566,RSMo,willberequiredtoserve100%oftheirsentencesprior
tobeingeligibleforprobationorparole.Thebillalsoclarifies
thattheseprovisionsdonotprohibitoffendersfromearning
creditsthroughDOCforvariousreasons.
UNLAWFULFIREARMOFFENSES(Sections571.030and571.070)
Thebillprovidesthataschoolofficercommissionedbythe
districtschoolboardoraschoolprotectionofficer,asdescribed
underSection160.665shallnotbeprohibitedfromcarryinga
firearmintoanyschool,ontoanyschoolbus,orontothepremises
ofanyfunctionoractivitysponsoredorsanctionedbyschool
officialsorthedistrictschoolboard.
Currentlawprovidesthatapersoncommitstheoffenseofunlawful
possessionofafirearmifthepersonknowinglypossessesafirearm
andthepersonhasbeenconvictedofafelony.Thisbillchanges theprovisiontoapplyonlytoindividualswhohavebeenconvicted
ofaviolentfelony,asdefinedinthebill.Thebillalso
specifiesthatapersoncommitstheoffenseofunlawfulpossession
ofafirearmifthepersonknowinglyhasafirearminhisorher
possessionandthepersoniseitheronprobationorparolefora
nonviolentfelony.
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.
Thefollowingisasummaryofthepublictestimonyfromthe
committeehearing. Thetestimonywasbasedontheintroduced
versionofthebill.
PROPONENTS: SupporterssaythatthisseekstogivetheGovernor
theabilitytoappointaspecialprosecutorwhenreviewed
statisticsdeemitnecessary. Theroughestimateofhomicidecases
inSt.LouisistwicethatofChicago. Exclusivejurisdictionis
needed,versusconcurrent,becauseofconsistency. Wehavea
problemandwhatwearecurrentlydoingisnotworking,soitis
bettertodoexclusivejurisdictiontoavoiddifferencesof
opinion. Thebillprovidesservicesforformerinmates,including
MedicareandMedicaidservicesaswellasmakingsuretheyhave
necessarydocumentstoassistintheirsuccessupontheirrelease.
Therealityisthatalotofpeoplewhoarereleasedrecidivate
whentheydonothaveopportunitiesforsuccess,andthisis somethingweknowhashistoricallycontributedtorecidivism. It
dealswithtruthinsentencing. Unlawfulpossessionofafirearm
isbecauseofjuvenilesbeinginpossessionofafirearmandlaw
enforcementfeelliketheycannotdoanything. Therearesome
incidencesinSt.Louiswherechildrenwerefoundtobein
possessionof9mmhandguns. Lawenforcementtrainingreimbursement
provisions,too,forofficerswhofindemployment;thishelps
defraythecostoftheacademy. Theaveragecostoftheacademyis
$6,000but,forsomepeople,especiallydesirableindividualswith
goodexperience,thatistoomuchmoneytotakeonatacertain
pointinlife.Theywanttoaddapieceaboutholdingpeoplefor
48hoursanditisimportanttobalanceinterestsofnotholding
innocentpeoplefortoolongandnotlettingviolentoffendersout
tooearly.Thebusinesscommunitybelievescrimeisaneconomic
issueandithindersbusinesses’abilitytoattractpeopletothe
stateandbusinessestothestate.Businessesdonotliketobein
atop10stateforpersonalandpropertycrime.Therisingcrime
rateisaffectingeconomiccompetitiveness. Propertycrimeisa
growingconcernanditisatopconcern. Itisastatewideissue,
notjustaKansasCityorSt.Louisissue.Everybusinessand
communityinthestateisimpactedbythis.TheMOChamberof
CommercewantstomakesureMissouriisopenandsafeforevery
business. Someofthelocalchambersofcommercehavegreat
programsforemployerstorecruitindividualswhoarecomingoutof
thejusticesystem.Nooneshouldhavetomoveneighborhoodsto
feelsafe.Weneedtomakesurewhenindividualscommitcrimes
theygetprosecutedandthatwedonottrainindividualstobecome
criminalsinprisonbutthatwetrainthemtobecomeactivemembers
ofsociety. St.LouisCityvotersdonothavetheabilityto
recalltheprosecutorbecausesheisacountyofficialsoitwould
bethemayorwhodoesit.Thereisasignificantshortageof
officersinSt.LouisCitybutithasnotbeenthisbaduntil
recently. Therehasnotbeenapendingapplicationforwarrant
listthisbigpriortothecurrentadministration.
TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative Roberts;
MissouriChamberofCommerce&Industry;MOTireIndustry
Association;MORetailersAssociation;MOGrocersAssociation;St.
LouisCountyPoliceOfficersAssociation;St.LouisPoliceOfficers
Association(SLPOA);MOFraternalOrderofPolice(MOFOP);
CoalitionofSuretyBondAgents;andJayAshcroft,Missouri
SecretaryofState.
OPPONENTS: Thosewhoopposethebillsaythatthewarrantoffice
getscloseto9,000casesperyear.Theyneedtospendmoretime
ontheviolentcases.Mostotherprosecutingofficeshadaboutthe
samenumberofbackloggedcases.TheCircuitAttorney'sofficein
St.LouiswasinstructedbytheCircuitAttorneytobefully
functioningpriortoCOVIDandmadesuretheywere.Theywould keepgrandjuryopenwithoutinterruptioneventhroughCOVID
becauseofalltheviolentcases.Thebillseemstoassumethat
thebacklogisabacklogofviolentcases,butthedirectionsfrom
thestarthavebeentonevereverdelayviolentcases.Tothe
ChiefWarrantOfficer'sknowledge,assistancebythelegislature
hasneverbeenoffered. Thebacklogisabout3,500cases,butthat
isnotanaccuratenumberbecausethepolicehaveresubmittedin
somecases,soitisprobablymorelike3,000.Thereareno
violentcrimesorsexcrimesinthebacklog. Rightnow,law
enforcementisbringingineveryonetheyareinterestedinwithin
24hours.Theyconstantlyupdatethebacklognumber.Anattorney
wasjusthiredandhisorhersolejobistoreducethenumberof
pendingwarrantapplications. Theattorneyturnoverwasmore
abruptwhenMs.Gardnertookover,butnowithasbecomemoreofa
naturalturnoverthattheCircuitAttorney’sOfficenormallyhas.
Proliferationoffirearmshasincreasedcrimeaswell.Therewas
anexclusionlistofofficerswhotheydidnotwanttotakecases
frombecausetheywould"pleadthe5th"sotheywereconcerned
abouttakingwarrantapplicationsfromtheseofficersbecausethey
losecredibilityasspeakingforotherofficersbecausethey
thoughtmaybeitwouldtakeawaythelibertiesofotherpeople.If
anofficerfromthelistgetsinvolvedinacase,theywilltake
testimonyfromtheofficeronacase-by-casebasis.Theofficers
knowtheyareonthelist.Ms.Gardnersendscommunicationtothe
chieflawenforcementofficialwhenanofficerisaddedtothe
list.Thepolicemadeitnews,butthenamesonthelisthave
remainedconfidentialanditisonlysharedwithattorneysinthe
office.JenniferJoycelikelydidnothaveanexclusionlist.
Repeatoffendersnevermakeittothebacklog. Withoutawarrant,
youcannothaveanyrestrictionsonaperson.About5,000cases
aredeclinedinayear,approximately. Thereisnoconnection
betweendeclining/rejecting casesandcrime.Theofficehasasked
forhelponthreedeathpenaltycases.Theytoldthecourtthey
neededhelpfromtheAttorneyGeneral'sOfficeandtheywere
rejectedbythecourt.ProsecutorGardnerisdoingthebestshe
cananditshouldnotbeputonherifthestateallowsgunsall
overtheplaceandthestatewonderswhycrimehasincreased.
Self-defenselawsinMissouriaswellascaselawhasmadethe
prosecutor’sjobmoredifficult. Officepolicyrequiresadruglab
reportbeforeissuingawarrant. Thereisalwaysabackupfor
stufftheyarewaitingonsothatcontributestothebacklog. It
isnotagainstthelawforchildrentocarryfirearmsinMissouri.
Theysometimescitetheparentbutthatisnothappeningalot.
Castledoctrineandself-defenselawsjustaddanotherhurdleto
prosecutingguncrimes.Itisaninescapablerealitythatthis
billdisenfranchises voterswhohavetwicenowvotedforKim
Gardner. Shewonhersecondelectionoverwhelmingly. Therehave
beenotheryearswithlotsofhomicidesinSt.Louis,suchasin
themid-'90s.The'80sand'70shadhighhomicides,too,butthis proposalwasnevermadethen.Thenumbersdon’treflect
prosecutorialactivity;theyreflectthecitytheprosecutorswork
in.Thebestwaytoaddresscrimeistogetinfrontofit,not
behindit.
TestifyinginpersonagainstthebillwereProChoiceMissouri;
LockeThompson,MissouriAssociationofProsecutingAttorneys;
ReddittHudson;andChristopherHinckley,CircuitAttorney's
Office.
OTHERS:Otherstestifyingonthebillsubmittedtheirtestimonyin
writing,whichcanbefoundonline.
TestifyingonthebillwereMissouriFoundationForHealth;
MissouriCoalitionOfRecoverySupportProviders;andMissouri
AssociationOfCriminalDefenseLawyers.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonyandwitnessestestifyingonlinecanbefound
underTestimonyonthebillpageontheHousewebsite.