Missouri House Bill HB1982

Missouri 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/3/24
• Refer: 4/25/24

Caption

Establishes provisions limiting liability for an individual who is a member of a volunteer safety group or for a church, synagogue, or other place of religious worship

Impact

With the enactment of HB1982, churches and similar religious institutions will also receive protection from liability for acts or omissions committed by members of volunteer safety groups, provided that they had no reasonable notice of any unfitness to fulfill security duties. This could encourage more religious organizations to create or utilize these safety groups by alleviating concerns over potential legal repercussions linked to volunteer actions in security roles. It may also empower congregations to take a more active role in safety without fearing undue liability.

Summary

House Bill 1982 establishes legal protections for members of volunteer safety groups who provide security services at churches, synagogues, or other places of religious worship. This bill aims to limit the liability of these individuals in case of legal action arising from their duties in providing security. Under this proposed legislation, members acting in good faith and within their scope of responsibilities would not incur legal or personal financial liability for any injury claims or torts that occur during their service. This applies as long as they exercised a reasonable degree of care in their actions.

Contention

While the bill aims to enhance the safety of worship locations by allowing more organized security measures, it could raise concerns regarding the oversight of these volunteer groups. Critics may argue that reducing liability could lead to less accountability and possibly create situations where unfit individuals are tasked with security duties, impacting the safety of those within these religious institutions. Furthermore, discussions in the legislative context could revolve around the balance of protecting volunteers while ensuring that churches take necessary precautions when selecting members for such critical roles.