HB495--PUBLICSAFETY
SPONSOR: Christ
BeginningAugust28,2025,theBoardofPoliceCommissionerswill
assumecontrolofthemunicipalpolicedepartmentofSt.Louisand,
nolaterthanSeptember28,2025,fourcitizencommissionerswill
beappointedtotheBoard,asprovidedinthebill,toservewith
themayorasthegoverningbodyofthepoliceforce.TheBoard
willhavethepowertoappointthechiefofpolice,determine
appealsfromthedecisionsofthechiefofpolice,andto
promulgaterulesforthedepartment.
Additionally,untiltheBoardadoptsotherinvestigativeand
disciplinaryprocedures,thepoliceforcewillfollowthe
disciplinaryandinvestigativeproceduresestablishedbythePolice
ManualoftheSt.LouisMetropolitanPoliceDepartmentthatare
consistentwithlaw.
ThisbillprovidesthatthecityofSt.Louismaypassordinances,
includingordinancesforpreservingorderandprotectingthe
public,butnoordinance,charterprovision,orinitiativepetition
canconflictorinterferewiththepowersortheexerciseofthe
powersoftheBoardofPoliceCommissioners. Additionally,the
mayororanycityofficermustnotimpedeorhindertheBoardof
PoliceCommissioners. Themayororanycityofficerwillbeliable
forapenaltyof$1,000foreachoffensetohindertheBoardand
willforeverbedisqualifiedfromholdingorexercisinganyoffice
ofthecity.
ThesalariespaidasofAugust28,2025,willnotbelessthanthe
annualsalariespaidtoeachmemberbeforetheenactmentofthis
bill.Noadditionalcompensationwillbegiventoanyofficerof
therankoflieutenantoraboveforovertime,courttime,orstand-
bycourttime.Thebillspecifiesprovisionsrelatedto
compensationandotheremploymentbenefitsforallpositionsonthe
policeforce.
Thisbillprovidesthatreimbursements fromtheLegalExpenseFund
totheBoardforliabilityclaimswillbeonaequalsharebasis
perclaimuptoamaximumof$1millionperfiscalyear.
Thisbillrepealsprovisionsrelatingtothemunicipalpoliceforce
establishedbythecityofSt.Louisandotherprovisionsrelating
toproceduresoftheBoard.
Thebillprohibitsstuntdriving,asdefinedinthebill,onthe
roadsandhighwaysofthisstate.Aviolationofthisprovisionis
aclassBmisdemeanorunlessanaccidentisinvolved,inwhichcase itisaclassAmisdemeanor. Thebillalsoprohibitsstuntdriving
inconnectionwithastreettakeoverorperformingorparticipating
inastreettakeover,asdefinedinthebill.Aviolationofthis
provisionisaclassAmisdemeanorforafirstoffense,aclassE
felonyforasecondoffense,andaclassDfelonyforathirdor
subsequentoffense. Thebillalsoprohibitsasuspendedimposition
ofsentenceorafineinlieuofimprisonmentforadefendantwho
isproventobeaprior,persistent,aggravated,chronic,or
habitualoffender. Thebillalsospecifiesminimumprisonterms
forsuchadefendant. Thebillprovidesexceptionsforevents
sanctionedbyapoliticalsubdivisionorprivateentitywith
responsibility formaintenanceandcontroloftheportionof
highwayorprivatepropertyonwhichthemotorvehicleoperation
occurs.
Thebilladdstheoffenseofendangeringthewelfareofachildin
thefirstdegreetothedefinitionof"dangerousfelony"inthe
criminalcode.Thebillalsoamendstheoffenseofendangeringthe
welfareofachildtoincludewhenaperson,inthepresenceofa
childorinaresidencewhereachildresides,unlawfully
manufacturesorattemptstomanufacture,compounds,possesses,
produces,prepares,sells,transports,tests,oranalyzesfentanyl
orcarfentanil. Theoffenseinsuchcircumstancescarriesa
sentenceoffiveto10yearsimprisonmentandisnoteligiblefor
suspendedexecutionofsentence,forafineinlieuof
imprisonment,orforconditionalreleaseorparoleuntiltheperson
servesatleastfiveyearsimprisonment.
Currently,theoffenseofriotingiscommittedwhenaperson
knowinglyassemblesandconspireswithsixormoreindividualsto
violatethecriminallawsofthisstateoroftheUnitedStates,
andtheoffenseisaclassAmisdemeanor. Thisbillremovesthe
requirementforaconspiracyanditinvolvesapersonassembling
withsixormorepersonsandthereafterviolatinganyofthe
criminallawsofthisstateortheUnitedStates.Italso
increasesthepenaltytoaclassDfelonyforafirstoffenseanda
classCfelonyforasecondorsubsequentoffense.
Thebillspecifiesthatanyvehicleinvolvedinthecommissionof
theoffenseofresistinganarrest,detention,orstopwhenthe
offenseisaclassEfelonywillbeimpoundedandforfeited.
Thisbillestablishesthe"CommitteeonSchoolSafety"withinthe
DepartmentofPublicSafetywithmembershipasprovidedinthe
bill.TheCommitteewillatleastquarterlyevaluateandestablish
guidelinesforschoolsafetyconcerns,includingplanstoprevent
schoolfirearmviolence. TheCommitteemustsubmitareporttothe
Governor,thePresidentProTemoftheSenate,andtheSpeakerof
theHouseofRepresentatives aftereverymeetingofthecommittee. ThisbillissimilartoSB44(2025).