HJR134--FIRSTRESPONDERS
SPONSOR: Burger
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPass"bytheStandingCommitteeon
CrimePreventionandPublicSafetybyavoteof14to2.
ThisresolutionproposestoamendtheConstitutionbyaddingthe
offenseofassaultagainstafirstresponder,whichaperson
commitsifheorsheattemptstokillorknowinglycausesor
attemptstocauseseriousphysicalinjurytoafirstresponder.
"Firstresponder"isdefinedintheresolution. Theoffenseisa
classAfelony.
TheresolutionalsoproposestoaddtotheMissouriConstitution
provisionsrelatedtolineofdutydeathsforfirstresponders. As
specifiedintheresolution,aclaimforcompensationforafirst
responderkilledinthelineofdutymustbefiledbysurvivorsof
thedeceasedwiththeDivisionofWorkers'Compensationnolater
thanoneyearfromthedateofthefirstresponder'sdeath.Ifthe
claimismadewithintheone-yeartimeperiod,compensationwillbe
paidiftheDivisionfindstheclaimanttobeentitledto
compensation. Theamountofcompensationwillbe$250,000forany
suchdeathoccurringafterDecember31,2024.A$20surchargewill
beassessedascostsineachcourtproceedingfiledinanycourtin
theStateinallcriminalcases,butthesurchargewillnotbe
collectedinanyproceedinginanycourtwhentheproceedingorthe
defendanthasbeendismissedbythecourtorwhencostsaretobe
paidbytheState,county,ormunicipality. Thesurchargewillbe
depositedintothe"LineofDutyCompensationFund"oranyother
fundusedsolelyforpayingclaimsoffirstresponderskilledin
thelineofduty.
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthishastodowithfirst
respondersanditproposestoamendtheConstitutiontoaddthatit
isaclassAfelonyifapersonattemptstokillorinjureafirst
responder. Italsoproposestoaddlanguagerelatedtothelineof
dutycompensationfund.TheyareputtingthisintheConstitution
becauseitisthebestfundingmechanismevenifthepolitical
windschange.
TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative Burger;and
theAmbulanceDistrictAssociationofMissouri.
OPPONENTS: Therewasnooppositionvoicedtothecommittee. Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonyandwitnessestestifyingonlinecanbefound
underTestimonyonthebillpageontheHousewebsite.