HCSHB532--POLITICALSUBDIVISIONS
SPONSOR: Kelley
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPasswithHCS"bytheStanding
CommitteeonLocalGovernmentbyavoteof13to1.
ThefollowingisasummaryoftheHouseCommitteeSubstituteforHB
532.
BASESALARYSCHEDULESFORTHIRDCLASSCOUNTIES
Thisbillprovidesthatthesalarycommissionofanythirdclass
countycanamendthebasesalaryschedulesasprovidedbylawfor
thecomputationofsalariesforcountyofficialstoinclude
assessedvaluationfactorsinexcessof$300milliondollars;
providedthatthepercentageofanyadjustmentisequalforall
countyofficialsinthatcounty(Section50.327,RSMo).
PUBLISHINGOFCOUNTYFINANCIALSTATEMENTS
Thisbillchangesthedatecountiesmustprepareandpublishtheir
financialstatementsfromthefirstMondayinMarchtoJune30thof
eachyear.Additionally,thecountytreasurerwillnotpaythe
countycommissionuntilnoticeisreceivedfromtheStateAuditor
thatthecounty'sfinancialstatementhasbeenpublishedina
newspaperafterthefirstdayofJuly.
Thebillalsorequiressecond,third,andfourthclasscountiesto
produceandpublishacountyannualfinancialstatementinthesame
mannerascountiesofthefirstclassification. Thefinancial
statementmustincludethename,office,andcurrentgrossannual
salaryofeachelectedorappointedcountyofficial.
Thecountyclerkorothercountyofficerpreparingthefinancial
statementmustprovideanelectroniccopyofthedatausedto
createthefinancialstatementwithoutchargetothenewspaper
requestingthedata.
Finally,thenewspaperpublishingthefinancialstatementcannot
chargemorethanitsregularlocalclassifiedadvertisingrateas
published30daysbeforethepublicationofthefinancialstatement
(Sections50.815,50.820,50.800,&50.810).
COUNTYAUDITORS
Thisbillprovidesthat,uponrequest,acountyauditorincertain
countiesmusthaveaccesstoandtheabilitytoauditandexamine claimsofeverykindandcharacterforwhichacountyofficerhasa
fiduciaryduty(Section55.160).
BOONECOUNTYSHERIFF
Undercurrentlaw,firstandsecondclasscountysheriffsmust
receivesalariesequalto80%ofthecompensationofassociate
circuitjudgesofthecounty.ThisbillexcludessheriffsinBoone
County(Section57.317).
COUNTYCORONERS
Thebillprovidesthatthesalaryofacoronerinanoncharter
countycanbesetatabasescheduleasprovidedbylawsubjectto
anincreaseupto$14,000uponthemajorityapprovalofthesalary
commission.
Additionally,undercurrentlaw,whentheofficeofthesheriffis
vacant,thecountycoronerisauthorizedtoperformalltheduties
ofthesheriff,untilanothersheriffisappointed.
Thisbillprovidesthatifthecoronerbecomesactingsheriffand
thesheriffisnolongerreceivingthesheriff'ssalary,the
coronercanbepaid,inadditiontothecoroner'ssalary,the
differencebetweenthesalariesofthesheriffandcoronersothat
thecoronerreceivestheequivalentofthesheriff'ssalarywhile
servingasactingsheriff.(Sections50.327,58.095,&58.200)
COUNTYPLANNINGBOARDHEARINGNOTICES
Currentlawrequirescountyplanningboardstopostnoticeofa
hearingpriortotheadoptionofamasterplan,withthenotice
beingpostedinatleasttwoconspicuousplacesineachtownship.
Thisbillmodifiestherequirementtorequirethepostingonthe
county'swebsite(Section64.231).
HOSPITALSALESTAX
ThisbillauthorizesBatesCountytoimposeasalestaxnotto
exceedonepercentforthepurposesofsupportingtheoperationsof
hospitalservicesinthecounty(Section67.597).
RECREATIONSALESTAX
CurrentlawauthorizesthecountiesofBollingerandCapeGirardeau
tojointlyimposeasalestaxforthepurposeofthefinancing,
acquisition,construction,operation,andmaintenanceof
recreationalprojectsandprograms. Thisbillallowsthese countiestoseparatelylevythetax(Section67.782,67.783,and
67.785).
TRANSIENTGUESTTAXES
ThebilladdsthecitiesofWeldonSpringandCottlevilletothe
listofcitiesauthorizedtoimposeatransientguesttaxatarate
nottoexceedfivepercentforthepurposeofthepromotionof
tourism(Section67.1003).
ThisbillauthorizesthecityofKnobNostertoimposeatransient
guesttaxataratenottoexceedsixpercentforthepurposeof
promotingtourism,promotingeconomicdevelopment,andpromoting
theretentionandgrowthofanymilitarybasenearthecity
(Section67.1009).
ThebillauthorizesthecitiesofHarrisonvilleandJacksonto
imposeatransientguesttaxataratenottoexceedsixpercent
forthepurposeofthepromotionoftourism(Section67.1013).
ThisbilladdsthecountyofNewMadridtothelistofcounties
authorizedtoimposeatransientguesttaxataratenottoexceed
fivepercentforthepurposeofthepromotionoftourism(Section
67.1018).
ThebilladdsthecitiesofRichmond,Farmington,LakeOzark,and
Lexingtontothelistofcitiesauthorizedtoimposeatransient
guesttaxataratenottoexceedfivepercentforthepurposeof
thepromotionoftourism(Section67.1360).
Currentlawauthorizescertaincitiestoimposeatransientguest
taxforthepurposeoffundingthepromotion,operation,and
developmentoftourism. Thisbillalsoallowstheproceedsfrom
suchtaxtobeusedfortheoperatingcostsofacommunitycenter
(Section67.1366).
ThebilladdsthecountiesofPerryandSte.Genevievetothelist
ofcountiesauthorizedtoimposeatransientguesttaxatarate
nottoexceedsixpercentforthepurposeofthepromotionof
tourism(Section67.1367).
ThisbillauthorizesthecityofWentzvilletoimposeatransient
guesttaxataratenottoexceedfivepercentforgeneralrevenue
purposes(Section94.961).
ThebillauthorizestheVillageofArrowrocktoimpose,uponvoter
approval,atransientguesttaxofnotmorethansixpercentper
occupiedlodgingestablishmentroompernightormorethansix
percentperrentaltermofsuchlodgingfacilityforeconomic developmentpurposesandtheconstructionandmaintenanceof
infrastructure improvements(Section94.1016).
THEATER,CULTURALARTS,ANDENTERTAINMENTDISTRICTS
Undercurrentlaw,certaincountiescanestablishatheater,
culturalarts,andentertainmentdistrict. Thisbilladdscounties
thatbordertheLakeoftheOzarkstothelistofcounties
authorizedtoestablishsuchdistricts(Section67.2500).
MISSOURILAGERS
ThisbillrepealstheprovisionprohibitingmembershipinLAGERS
foremployeeswherecontinuousemploymenttothetimeofretirement
eligibilitywillleavetheemployeewithlessthantheminimum
requirednumberofyearsofcreditedservice.
ThebillprovidesthatthecostoflivingadjustmentforLAGERS
mustbeameasureoftheConsumerPriceIndexasdeterminedbythe
U.S.DepartmentofLaborandadoptedbytheBoardofLAGERS,
insteadoftheConsumerPriceIndexforUrbanWageEarnersand
ClericalWorkers. Inaddition,thebillrepealsreferencesto
obsoletestatutoryprovisions.
Ifamember'smembershipterminates,anyaccumulatedcontributions
unclaimedbythememberwithin10years,insteadofthreeyears,
mustbetransferredtotheinvestmentincome-expensefund.
ThebillprovidesthattheBoardofLAGERScandeliberateormake
decisionsoninvestmentsorotherfinancialmattersinaclosed
meetingifthedisclosureofsuchdeliberationsordecisionswould
jeopardizetheabilitytoimplementadecisionortoachieve
investmentobjectives.
Inaddition,thisbillrepealstheprovisionprovidingthatthe
investmentcounseloroftheBoardberegisteredasaninvestment
advisorwiththeU.S.SecuritiesandExchangeCommission.
Further,thisbillrepealsthelimitationthatnomorethanone-
tenthofthefundsandmoneysofthesystembeinvestedinreal
estate.
TheBoardcanestablishandmaintainalocalgovernmentemployee
retirementsystemsofMissouriinvestmentfundaccountinwhich
investmentsandreinvestmentsofLAGERScanbeplacedandbe
availableforinvestmentpurposes. Thefundscanbecombinedwith
fundsofanyretirementplanadministeredbyLAGERSandany
retirementplanestablishedforprovidingbenefitstoemployeesof
LAGERS,butthefundsmustbeaccountedforseparately(Sections 70.630,70.655,70.680,70.690,70.745,70.746,70.747,and
70.748).
RESIDENCYREQUIREMENTSFORCERTAINBOARDS
Thisbillauthorizesthemayorofanycityofthefourth
classification withfewerthan3,000inhabitantsto,ifauthorized,
appointamemberofanonelectedboardorcommission,andif
membersoftheboardorcommissionarerequiredtoberesidentsof
thecity,satisfytheresidencyrequirementifthepersonappointed
ownsrealpropertyorabusinessinthecity.
Thisbillauthorizesthemayorofanycityofthefourth
classification withfewerthan3,000inhabitantsto,ifauthorized
toappointamemberofanonelectedboardthatmanagesamunicipal
utility,andifmembersoftheboardarerequiredtoberesidents
ofthecity,satisfytheresidencyrequirementifthe:
(1)Boardcannotsetutilityratesorissuebonds;
(2)Appointeeresideswithinfivemilesofthecitylimits;
(3)Appointeeownsrealpropertyorabusinessinthecity;
(4)Appointeeisacustomeroftheutilitymanagedbytheboard;
and
(5)Appointeehasnopecuniaryinterestinanyutility.
TheprovisionsofthissectiondonotapplytoanycitywithinSt.
LouisCounty(Section79.235).
ST.LOUISPOLICERETIREMENTSYSTEM
Thisbillmodifiesthecurrentdefinitionof"earnable
compensation"fortheSt.LouisPoliceRetirementSystem.The
compensationmustnotincludeanyfundsreceivedbyamember
throughajudgmentorsettlementofalegalactionifthefundsare
intendedtoretroactivelycompensateforasalarydifferential
betweenthemember'sactualrankandtherankthememberclaimshe
orsheshouldhavereceived(Section86.200).
ST.LOUISCITYFIREFIGHTERS'RETIREMENTSYSTEM
ThisbillspecifiesthattheBoardofTrusteesoftheFirefighter's
RetirementSystemofSt.Louiswillnotbepreventedfrom
simultaneously actingasthetrusteesofanyotherpensionplan
thatprovidesretirement,disability,anddeathbenefitsfor
firefightersemployedbySt.LouisCity. TheBoardcanestablishrulesandregulationsforthe
administration ofthefundsandforthetransactionofsuchother
pensionplan'sbusiness.
TheBoardmustmaintainseparaterecordsofallproceedingsofsuch
otherpensionplan.
Furthermore,thisbillspecifiesthattheBoardofTrusteeswill
havetheauthorityanddiscretiontoinvestandreinvestfundsof
theotherpensionplaninpropertyofanykind,realorpersonal.
TheBoardcanchoosetoinvestthefundsoftheFirefighter's
RetirementSystemofSt.Louisandthefundsoftheotherpension
planinthesameinvestmentsiftheamountsinvestedandthegains,
profits,orlossesareaccountedforseparately.
Nobenefitsduefromtheotherpensionplanwillbepaidfromthe
fundsoftheFirefighter'sRetirementSystem.
Additionally,thisbillprovidesthatnoexpensesincurredbythe
Boardintheadministration ofanyotherpensionplanorinthe
investmentofanyotherpensionplan'sfundswillbepaidbythe
fundsoftheFirefighter'sRetirementSystem(Sections87.140,
87.145,87.155,87.260,and87.350).
CAPITALIMPROVEMENTSSALESTAX
CurrentlawauthorizesthecityofLamarHeightstoimposea
transientguesttaxataratenottoexceedsixpercentandafood
salestaxataratenottoexceedtwopercentforthepurposeof
fundingtheconstruction,maintenance,andoperationofcapital
improvements. Thisbillallowsthesetaxestobeusedfor
emergencyservicesandpublicsafetyaswell(Section94.838).
PUBLICSAFETYSALESTAX
ThebilladdsthecitiesofJoplin,Hannibal,Moberly,Richmond,
Warrensburg,Lexington,andLakeLotawanatothelistofcities
authorizedtoimposeasalestaxatarateofupto0.5%forthe
purposesofimprovingpublicsafety(Section94.900).
COUNTYFINANCIALSTATEMENTS
Undercurrentlaw,anytransportation developmentdistricthaving
grossrevenuesoflessthan$5,000inafiscalyearforwhichan
annualfinancialstatementwasnottimelyfiledtotheState
Auditorisnotsubjecttoafine. Thisbillprovidesthatanypoliticalsubdivisionthathasgross
revenuesoflessthan$5,000orthathasnotleviedorcollected
salesorusetaxesinthefiscalyearforwhichtheannual
financialstatementwasnottimelyfiledisnotbesubjecttoa
fine.
Additionally,iffailuretotimelysubmittheannualfinancial
statementistheresultoffraudorotherillegalconductbyan
employeeorofficerofthepoliticalsubdivision,thepolitical
subdivisionwillnotbesubjecttoafineifthestatementisfiled
within30daysofdiscoveryofthefraudorillegalconduct.
Ifthepoliticalsubdivisionhasanoutstandingbalanceforfines
atthetimeitfilesitsfirstannualfinancialstatementafter
August28,2025,theDirectorofRevenuemustmakeaone-time
downwardadjustmenttotheoutstandingbalanceinanamountthat
reducestheoutstandingbalancebynolessthan90%.Ifthe
DirectorofRevenuedeterminesafineisuncollectable, the
Directorwillhavetheauthoritytomakeaone-timedownward
adjustmenttoanyoutstandingpenalty(Section105.145).
FILINGDATESFORDECLARATIONSOFCANDIDACY
Currently,thefilingtimefordeclarationsofcandidacyfor
officesinpoliticalsubdivisionsorspecialdistrictsnot
otherwisespecifiedinlaworcharterisfromthe17thTuesday
priortotheelectionthroughthe14thTuesdaypriortothe
election.
Thisbillmovesthefilingtimebyoneweek,fromthe16thTuesday
priortotheelectiontothe13thTuesdaypriortotheelection.
Thebillalsoprovidesthatifthe13thTuesdaypriortothe
electionisaStateorFederalholiday,theclosingfilingdate
mustbethenextdaythatisnotaStateorFederalholiday
(Section115.127).
AUCTIONSFORLANDWITHDELINQUENTPROPERTYTAXES
Thisbillallowsacountycollectortoholdanauctionoflands
withdelinquentpropertytaxesthroughelectronicmediaatthesame
timeassaidauctionisheldin-person(Sections140.170and
140.190).
RETIREMENTBENEFITSFORCERTAINTEACHERRETIREMENTSYSTEMS
Currently,forcalendaryearsafter2018,thepercentagerateof
employercontributionpayablebytheSt.LouisPublicSchool
Districtthathasestablishedaretirementsystemforproviding
retirementbenefitstotheemployees,decreasestoone-halfofone percentannuallyuntilcalendaryear2032,whentherateof
contributionpayableequalsninepercentofthetotalcompensation
ofallmembersemployedbythatemployer. Forcalendaryearsafter
2032,therateofcontributionpayablebyeachemployerequalsnine
percent.
Underthisbill,thepercentagerateofcontributiondecreasesone-
halfofonepercentannuallyuntilcalendaryear2025,whenthe
rateofcontributionpayablebyeachemployerequals12.5%ofthe
totalcompensationofallmembersemployedbythatemployerwithan
exceptionthatontheeffectivedateofthebill,therateof
contributionpayablebyeachemployerincreasesfromninepercent
to14%ofthetotalcompensationofallmembersemployedbythat
employer(Section169.490).
REGIONALJAILDISTRICTS
Undercurrentlaw,anytwoormorecontiguouscountiescan
establisharegionaljaildistrict.
Thisbillprovidesthatifanexistingregionaljaildistrict
alreadyleviesasalestaxandanothercountyjoinsthedistrict,
thecountyjoiningwiththedistrictwillnotbeeffectiveuntil
thevotersofthecountyhaveapprovedthesalestax.Ifthe
votersdonotapprovethesalestax,thecountyattemptingtojoin
thedistrictwillnotbepermittedtojoin.
Thebillalsoaddsthatadistrictcanequipandmaintainjail
facilities,aswellasleaseitsproperties. Theregionaljail
commissionwillhavethepowertoacquire,construct,repair,
alter,improve,andextendaregionaljailanditcancontractwith
governmentalorprivateentities. Commissionersmustserveuntil
theirsuccessorshaveassumedoffice.
Undercurrentlaw,anyregionaljaildistrictcanimposeaone-
eighth,one-fourth,three-eighths,orone-halfofonepercentsales
tax.Thisbillchangestheamounttouptoonepercent. Thebill
alsorepealstheprovisionthatthesalestaxcanbeusedforcourt
facilitiesintheregionaljaildistrict.
Thisbillalsoprovidesthatexpenditurespaidforbytheregional
jaildistrictsalestaxtrustfundcanbemadeforanyofthe
district'sauthorizedpurposes.
Theseprovisionsrepealthesunsetprovision(Section221.400,
221.402,221.405,221.407,&221.410).
REGIONALPLANNINGCOMMISSIONS Undercurrentlaw,StatefundsfortheEast-WestGateway
CoordinatingCouncilandfortheMid-AmericaRegionalCouncilare
nottoexceed$65,000andStatefundsforotherregionalplanning
commissionsarenottoexceed$25,000. Thisbillchangesthesums
to$130,000and$50,000.
ThebillremovestheregionalplanningcommissionsofShow-Me,
MissouriValley,OzarkGateway,ABCD,andLakesCountryandadds
HarryS.Truman,MO-Kan,PioneerTrails,andSouthwestMissouri.
ThisbillprovidesthatbeginningJuly1,2027,themaximumgrant
amountforeachregionalplanningcommissionwillbeadjustedwith
theconsumerpriceindex(Section251.034).
ENTERTAINMENTDISTRICTALCOHOLLICENSES
ThebillprovidesthattheSupervisorofAlcoholandTobacco
Controlcanissueanentertainmentdistrictspeciallicensetosell
intoxicatingliquorbythedrinkforretailconsumptiondispensed
fromoneormoreportablebarswithinthecommonareasofthe
entertainmentdistrict,assuchtermsaredefinedinthebill,
until3:00a.m.onMondaysthroughSaturdays,andfrom6:00a.m.on
Sundaysuntil1:30a.m.onMondays.
Thebilldefinesanentertainmentdistrictasanyarealocatedin
anycountythatbordersonorthatcontainspartofalakewithnot
lessthan1,000milesofshorelineandthatislocatedinthecity
ofLakeOzarkandcontainsacombinationofentertainmentvenues,
bars,nightclubs,andrestaurants(Section311.094).
Thefollowingisasummaryofthepublictestimonyfromthe
committeehearing. Thetestimonywasbasedontheintroduced
versionofthebill.
PROPONENTS: Supportersofthebilltestifiedthatthelocal
governmentsorassociationstheyrepresentwouldbenefitfromthe
provisionsdraftedspecificallytoapplytothoseareasorgroups.
TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative Kelley;
MissouriPressAssociation;MissouriAssociationofMunicipal
Utilities;MissouriAssociationofPublicAdministrators; Missouri
AssociationofCountyClerksandElectionAuthorities;Municipal
LeagueofMetroSt.Louis;MissouriCountyCollectorsAssociation;
DouglasLawson,CityofJoplin;LJHartandCompany.
OPPONENTS: Thosewhoopposethebillsayithastoomanysubjects
towithstandConstitutional scrutinyandhasalargefiscalnote. TestifyinginpersonagainstthebillwereMissouriAssociationof
ConventionandVisitors'Bureaus;ArnieDienoff.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonyandwitnessestestifyingonlinecanbefound
underTestimonyonthebillpageontheHousewebsite.