SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
6350H.03C D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal sections 94.902, 287.243, 321.015, 321.130, and 321.210, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof five new sections relating to public safety.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Sections 94.902, 287.243, 321.015, 321.130, and 321.210, RSMo, are repealed and five new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 94.902, 287.243, 321.015, 321.130, and 321.210, to read as follows:
94.902. 1. The governing [body] bodies of the following cities may impose a tax as provided in this section:
(1) Any city of the third classification with more than twenty-six thousand three hundred but less than twenty-six thousand seven hundred inhabitants[, or] ;
(2) Any city of the fourth classification with more than thirty thousand three hundred but fewer than thirty thousand seven hundred inhabitants[, or] ;
(3) Any city of the fourth classification with more than twenty-four thousand eight hundred but fewer than twenty-five thousand inhabitants[,] ;
(4) Any special charter city with more than twenty-nine thousand but fewer than thirty-two thousand inhabitants; or
(5) Any city of the third classification with more than four thousand but fewer than four thousand five hundred inhabitants and located in any county of the first classification with more than two hundred thousand but fewer than two hundred sixty thousand inhabitants.
2. The governing body of any city listed in subsection 1 of this section may impose, by order or ordinance, a sales tax on all retail sales made in the city which are subject to taxation under chapter 144. The tax authorized in this section may be imposed in an amount of up to one-half of one percent, and shall be imposed solely for the purpose of improving the public safety for such city, including but not limited to expenditures on equipment, city employee salaries and benefits, and facilities for police, fire and emergency medical providers. The tax authorized in this section shall be in addition to all other sales taxes imposed by law, and shall be stated separately from all other charges and taxes. The order or ordinance imposing a sales tax under this section shall not become effective unless the governing body of the city submits to the voters residing within the city, at a county or state general, primary, or special election, a proposal to authorize the governing body of the city to impose a tax under this section.
[2.] 3. The ballot of submission for the tax authorized in this section shall be in substantially the following form:
Shall the city of .......................................... (city's name) impose a citywide sales tax at a rate of ......... (insert rate of percent) percent for the purpose of improving the public safety of the city?
☐YES ☐NO
If you are in favor of the question, place an "X" in the box opposite "YES". If you are opposed to the question, place an "X" in the box opposite "NO".
If a majority of the votes cast on the proposal by the qualified voters voting thereon are in favor of the proposal, then the ordinance or order and any amendments to the order or ordinance shall become effective on the first day of the second calendar quarter after the director of revenue receives notice of the adoption of the sales tax. If a majority of the votes cast on the proposal by the qualified voters voting thereon are opposed to the proposal, then the tax shall not become effective unless the proposal is resubmitted under this section to the qualified voters and such proposal is approved by a majority of the qualified voters voting on the proposal. However, in no event shall a proposal under this section be submitted to the voters sooner than twelve months from the date of the last proposal under this section.
[3.] 4. Any sales tax imposed under this section shall be administered, collected, enforced, and operated as required in section 32.087. All sales taxes collected by the director of the department of revenue under this section on behalf of any city, less one percent for cost of collection which shall be deposited in the state's general revenue fund after payment of premiums for surety bonds as provided in section 32.087, shall be deposited in a special trust fund, which is hereby created in the state treasury, to be known as the "City Public Safety Sales Tax Trust Fund". The moneys in the trust fund shall not be deemed to be state funds and shall not be commingled with any funds of the state. The provisions of section 33.080 to the contrary notwithstanding, money in this fund shall not be transferred and placed to the credit of the general revenue fund. The director shall keep accurate records of the amount of money in the trust fund and which was collected in each city imposing a sales tax under this section, and the records shall be open to the inspection of officers of the city and the public. Not later than the tenth day of each month the director shall distribute all moneys deposited in the trust fund during the preceding month to the city which levied the tax. Such funds shall be deposited with the city treasurer of each such city, and all expenditures of funds arising from the trust fund shall be by an appropriation act to be enacted by the governing body of each such city. Expenditures may be made from the fund for any functions authorized in the ordinance or order adopted by the governing body submitting the tax to the voters. If the tax is repealed, all funds remaining in the special trust fund shall continue to be used solely for the designated purposes. Any funds in the special trust fund which are not needed for current expenditures shall be invested in the same manner as other funds are invested. Any interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be credited to the fund.
[4.] 5. The director of the department of revenue may authorize the state treasurer to make refunds from the amounts in the trust fund and credited to any city for erroneous payments and overpayments made, and may redeem dishonored checks and drafts deposited to the credit of such cities. If any city abolishes the tax, the city shall notify the director of the action at least ninety days before the effective date of the repeal, and the director may order retention in the trust fund, for a period of one year, of two percent of the amount collected after receipt of such notice to cover possible refunds or overpayment of the tax and to redeem dishonored checks and drafts deposited to the credit of such accounts. After one year has elapsed after the effective date of abolition of the tax in such city, the director shall remit the balance in the account to the city and close the account of that city. The director shall notify each city of each instance of any amount refunded or any check redeemed from receipts due the city.
[5.] 6. The governing body of any city that has adopted the sales tax authorized in this section may submit the question of repeal of the tax to the voters on any date available for elections for the city. The ballot of submission shall be in substantially the following form:
Shall ............................................... (insert the name of the city) repeal the sales tax imposed at a rate of .......... (insert rate of percent) percent for the purpose of improving the public safety of the city?
☐YES ☐NO
If a majority of the votes cast on the proposal are in favor of repeal, that repeal shall become effective on December thirty-first of the calendar year in which such repeal was approved. If a majority of the votes cast on the question by the qualified voters voting thereon are opposed to the repeal, then the sales tax authorized in this section shall remain effective until the question is resubmitted under this section to the qualified voters, and the repeal is approved by a majority of the qualified voters voting on the question.
[6.] 7. Whenever the governing body of any city that has adopted the sales tax authorized in this section receives a petition, signed by ten percent of the registered voters of the city voting in the last gubernatorial election, calling for an election to repeal the sales tax imposed under this section, the governing body shall submit to the voters of the city a proposal to repeal the tax. If a majority of the votes cast on the question by the qualified voters voting thereon are in favor of the repeal, that repeal shall become effective on December thirty-first of the calendar year in which such repeal was approved. If a majority of the votes cast on the question by the qualified voters voting thereon are opposed to the repeal, then the tax shall remain effective until the question is resubmitted under this section to the qualified voters and the repeal is approved by a majority of the qualified voters voting on the question.
[7.] 8. Except as modified in this section, all provisions of sections 32.085 and 32.087 shall apply to the tax imposed under this section.
287.243. 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Line of Duty Compensation Act".
2. As used in this section, unless otherwise provided, the following words shall mean:
(1) "Air ambulance pilot", a person certified as an air ambulance pilot in accordance with sections 190.001 to 190.245 and corresponding regulations applicable to air ambulances adopted by the department of health and senior services, division of regulation and licensure, 19 CSR 30-40.005, et seq.;
(2) "Air ambulance registered professional nurse", a person licensed as a registered professional nurse in accordance with sections 335.011 to 335.096 and corresponding regulations adopted by the state board of nursing, 20 CSR 2200-4, et seq., who provides registered professional nursing services as a flight nurse in conjunction with an air ambulance program that is certified in accordance with sections 190.001 to 190.245 and the corresponding regulations applicable to such programs;
(3) "Emergency medical technician", a person licensed in emergency medical care in accordance with standards prescribed by sections 190.001 to 190.245 and by rules adopted by the department of health and senior services under sections 190.001 to 190.245;
(4) "Firefighter", any person, including a volunteer firefighter, employed by the state or a local governmental entity as an employer defined under subsection 1 of section 287.030, or otherwise serving as a member or officer of a fire department either for the purpose of the prevention or control of fire or the underwater recovery of drowning victims;
(5) "Killed in the line of duty", when [a] any person defined in this section loses [one's] his or her life [as a result of an injury received in the active performance of his or her duties within the ordinary scope of his or her respective profession while the individual is on duty and but for the individual's performance, death would have not occurred] when:
(a) Death is caused by an accident or the willful act of violence of another;
(b) The law enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, air ambulance pilot, air ambulance registered professional nurse, or firefighter is in the active performance of his or her duties in his or her respective profession and there is a relationship between the accident or commission of the act of violence and the performance of the duty, even if the individual is off duty; the law enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, air ambulance pilot, air ambulance registered professional nurse, or firefighter is traveling to or from employment; or the law enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, air ambulance pilot, air ambulance registered professional nurse, or firefighter is taking any meal break or other break which takes place while that individual is on duty;
(c) Death is the natural and probable consequence of the injury; and
(d) Death occurs within three hundred weeks from the date the injury was received.
The term excludes death resulting from the willful misconduct or intoxication of the law enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, air ambulance pilot, air ambulance registered professional nurse, or firefighter. The division of workers' compensation shall have the burden of proving such willful misconduct or intoxication;
(6) "Law enforcement officer", any person employed by the state or a local governmental entity as a police officer, peace officer certified under chapter 590, or serving as an auxiliary police officer or in some like position involving the enforcement of the law and protection of the public interest at the risk of that person's life;
(7) "Local governmental entity", includes counties, municipalities, townships, board or other political subdivision, cities under special charter, or under the commission form of government, fire protection districts, ambulance districts, and municipal corporations;
(8) "State", the state of Missouri and its departments, divisions, boards, bureaus, commissions, authorities, and colleges and universities;
(9) "Volunteer firefighter", a person having principal employment other than as a firefighter, but who is carried on the rolls of a regularly constituted fire department either for the purpose of the prevention or control of fire or the underwater recovery of drowning victims, the members of which are under the jurisdiction of the corporate authorities of a city, village, incorporated town, or fire protection district. Volunteer firefighter shall not mean an individual who volunteers assistance without being regularly enrolled as a firefighter.
3. (1) A claim for compensation under this section shall be filed by the estate of the deceased with the division of workers' compensation not later than one year from the date of death of a law enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, air ambulance pilot, air ambulance registered professional nurse, or firefighter. If a claim is made within one year of the date of death of a law enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, air ambulance pilot, air ambulance registered professional nurse, or firefighter killed in the line of duty, compensation shall be paid, if the division finds that the claimant is entitled to compensation under this section.
(2) The amount of compensation paid to the claimant shall be twenty-five thousand dollars, subject to appropriation, for death occurring on or after June 19, 2009.
4. Notwithstanding subsection 3 of this section, no compensation is payable under this section unless a claim is filed within the time specified under this section setting forth:
(1) The name, address, and title or designation of the position in which the law enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, air ambulance pilot, air ambulance registered professional nurse, or firefighter was serving at the time of his or her death;
(2) The name and address of the claimant;
(3) A full, factual account of the circumstances resulting in or the course of events causing the death at issue; and
(4) Such other information that is reasonably required by the division.
When a claim is filed, the division of workers' compensation shall make an investigation for substantiation of matters set forth in the application.
5. The compensation provided for under this section is in addition to, and not exclusive of, any pension rights, death benefits, or other compensation the claimant may otherwise be entitled to by law.
6. Neither employers nor workers' compensation insurers shall have subrogation rights against any compensation awarded for claims under this section. Such compensation shall not be assignable, shall be exempt from attachment, garnishment, and execution, and shall not be subject to setoff or counterclaim, or be in any way liable for any debt, except that the division or commission may allow as lien on the compensation, reasonable attorney's fees for services in connection with the proceedings for compensation if the services are found to be necessary. Such fees are subject to regulation as set forth in section 287.260.
7. Any person seeking compensation under this section who is aggrieved by the decision of the division of workers' compensation regarding his or her compensation claim, may make application for a hearing as provided in section 287.450. The procedures applicable to the processing of such hearings and determinations shall be those established by this chapter. Decisions of the administrative law judge under this section shall be binding, subject to review by either party under the provisions of section 287.480.
8. Pursuant to section 23.253 of the Missouri sunset act:
(1) The provisions of the new program authorized under this section shall automatically sunset six years after June 19, 2009, unless reauthorized by an act of the general assembly; and
(2) If such program is reauthorized, the program authorized under this section shall automatically sunset twelve years after the effective date of the reauthorization of this section; and
(3) This section shall terminate on September first of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the program authorized under this section is sunset.
9. The provisions of this section, unless specified, shall not be subject to other provisions of this chapter.
10. There is hereby created in the state treasury the "Line of Duty Compensation Fund", which shall consist of moneys appropriated to the fund and any voluntary contributions, gifts, or bequests to the fund. The state treasurer shall be custodian of the fund and shall approve disbursements from the fund in accordance with sections 30.170 and 30.180. Upon appropriation, money in the fund shall be used solely for paying claims under this section. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 to the contrary, any moneys remaining in the fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the credit of the general revenue fund. The state treasurer shall invest moneys in the fund in the same manner as other funds are invested. Any interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be credited to the fund.
11. The division shall promulgate rules to administer this section, including but not limited to the appointment of claims to multiple claimants, record retention, and procedures for information requests. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly under chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after June 19, 2009, shall be invalid and void.
321.015. 1. No person holding any lucrative office or employment under this state, or any political subdivision thereof as defined in section 70.120, shall hold the office of fire protection district director under this chapter. When any fire protection district director accepts any office or employment under this state or any political subdivision thereof, his office shall thereby be vacated and he shall thereafter perform no duty and receive no salary or expenses as fire protection district director.
2. This section shall not apply to:
(1) Members of the organized militia, of the reserve corps, public school employees and notaries public;
(2) Fire protection districts located wholly within counties of the second, third or fourth classification;
(3) Fire protection districts in counties of the first classification with less than eighty-five thousand inhabitants;
(4) Fire protection districts located within counties of the first classification not adjoining any other county of the first classification;
(5) Fire protection districts located within any county of the first or second classification not having more than nine hundred thousand inhabitants which borders any three counties of the first classification;
(6) Fire protection districts located within any county of the first classification which adjoins both a county with a charter form of government with more than nine hundred fifty thousand inhabitants, and adjoins at least four other counties;
(7) Fire protection districts located within any county of the first classification with more than one hundred fifty thousand but fewer than two hundred thousand inhabitants.
3. For the purposes of this section, the term "lucrative office or employment" does not include part-time employment as defined as less than thirty-five hours per week, receiving retirement benefits, compensation for expenses, or [a stipend or per diem, in an amount not to exceed seventy-five dollars for each day of service,] for service rendered to a fire protection district, the state or any political subdivision thereof.
321.130. [1.] A person, to be qualified to serve as a director, shall be a resident and voter of the district for at least one year before the election or appointment and be over the age of twenty-five years[; except as provided in subsections 2 and 3 of this section. The person shall also be a resident of such fire protection district]. In the event the person is no longer a resident of the district, the person's office shall be vacated, and the vacancy shall be filled as provided in section 321.200. Nominations and declarations of candidacy shall be filed at the headquarters of the fire protection district by paying a [ten dollar] filing fee equal to the amount of a candidate for county office as set forth under section 115.357, and filing a statement under oath that such person possesses the required qualifications.
[2. In any fire protection district located in more than one county one of which is a first class county without a charter form of government having a population of more than one hundred ninety-eight thousand and not adjoining any other first class county or located wholly within a first class county as described herein, a resident shall have been a resident of the district for more than one year to be qualified to serve as a director.
3. In any fire protection district located in a county of the third or fourth classification, a person to be qualified to serve as a director shall be over the age of twenty-five years and shall be a voter of the district for more than one year before the election or appointment, except that for the first board of directors in such district, a person need only be a voter of the district for one year before the election or appointment.
4. A person desiring to become a candidate for the first board of directors of the proposed district shall pay the sum of five dollars as a filing fee to the treasurer of the county and shall file with the election authority a statement under oath that such person possesses all of the qualifications set out in this chapter for a director of a fire protection district.] Thereafter, such candidate shall have the candidate's name placed on the ballot as a candidate for director.
321.210. On the first Tuesday in April after the expiration of at least two full calendar years from the date of the election of the first board of directors, and on the first Tuesday in April every two years thereafter, an election for members of the board of directors shall be held in the district. Nominations shall be filed at the headquarters of the fire protection district in which a majority of the district is located by paying a filing fee up to the amount of a candidate for [state representative] county office as set forth under section 115.357 and filing a statement under oath that [he] the candidate possesses the required qualifications. The candidate receiving the most votes shall be elected. Any new member of the board shall qualify in the same manner as the members of the first board qualify.
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