Missouri Senate

Senate Committee Substitute

FELONY CLASSIFICATIONS - 192.2260, 301.559, 339.100, 400.9-501, 571.020 - 571.072, & 632.520

During the 2014 session, the General Assembly passed a large-scale revision of the Missouri Criminal Code, which included the addition of a Class E felony and a modification of the terms of imprisonment for Class C, D, and E felonies.

Under current law, the maximum term for a Class C felony is seven years and the maximum term for a Class D felony is four years. Beginning January 1, 2017, when SB 491 (2014) takes effect, the term of imprisonment for a Class C felony will be three to 10 years, the maximum term for a Class D felony will be seven years, and the maximum term for a Class E felony will be four years.

To reflect the change in the authorized terms of imprisonment, this act modifies several crimes once classified as Class C felonies to make them Class D felonies and crimes once classified as Class D felonies have become Class E felonies.

These provisions are identical to SS/SCS/SBs 112, 212, 143, & 234 (2015).

ELDER ABUSE REPORTING - 192.2405, 192.2410, 192.2475 & 565.188

Under current law, certain types of people must report to the Department of Health and Senior Services if the person has reasonable cause to suspect that a person 60 years of age or older or an eligible adult has been subject to abuse or neglect. This act provides that reports only need to be made if the victim is an eligible adult. The act further adds emergency medical technicians, firefighters, and first responder to the list of mandated reporters. A provision regarding an investigation of abuse by a in-home services client manager and local area agency on aging training is repealed.

These provisions are similar to SS/SCS/SBs 112, 212, 143, & 234 (2015).

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES - 198.070

This act amends the provision relating to reporting of suspected abuse and neglect of a resident of a long-term care facility who is sixty years of age or older or an eligible adult. Current law requires a report to be made to the Department of Health and Senior Services in the event of suspected abuse and neglect. Under this act, in the event of a suspected sexual assault of the resident, specified mandated reporters shall also report to local law enforcement under the procedures of the federal Elder Justice Act of 2009.

This provision is substantially similar to SS/SCS/SBs 112, 212, 143, & 234 (2015) and SB 971 (2014).

TWO-WAY TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICES IN PRISONS AND JAILS - 217.360 & 221.111

Under current law, it is a crime to possess, deliver, deposit, or conceal certain items in a prison or jail. This act adds two-way telecommunications devices and their component parts to the list of prohibited items.

This act provides that the prohibition on telecommunications devices does not apply to law enforcement officers lawfully engaged in their duties or any person who is authorized to use such a device in the facility.

This provision is identical to SS/SCS/SBs 112, 212, 143, & 234 (2015) and is substantially similar to SB 252 (2015).

PROBATION AND PAROLE HEARINGS - 217.670 & 217.690

This act removes the statutory provision allowing an offender to object to the use of videoconferencing at probation and parole hearings, and requires the Board of Probation and Parole to conduct an interview, rather than a personal interview, of the offender before ordering parole.

These provisions are identical to SB 1006 (2016).

FELONY CLASSIFICATIONS FOR OFFENSES OUTSIDE THE CODE - 557.021

Currently, for offenses outside the criminal code, if the felony is for a maximum term of imprisonment of less than ten years, it shall be considered a Class D felony and if the maximum term is four years, it shall be considered a Class E felony. This act provides that to be considered a Class D felony, the maximum term shall exceed four years but be less than years and maximum term to be considered a Class E felony shall four years or less.

OFFENSE OF CONSPIRACY - 562.014

This act modifies the offense of conspiracy by providing that if a person conspires to commit a number of offenses, such person can be found guilty of only one offense of conspiracy if the multiple offenses are the object of the same agreement.

FIRST DEGREE MURDER - 565.030 - 565.040

This act repeals obsolete provisions stating that certain trials are to proceed in a single stage. Other technical changes were made in this act to make the provisions align with amendments in SB 491 (2014).

The provisions modifying penalties and section references to align with changes made in SB 491 (2014) take effect January 1, 2017.

These provisions are identical to provisions of SS/SCS/SBs 112, 212, 143, & 234 (2015) and are similar to provisions of SB 790 (2014), SB 491 (2014), SB 377 (2013), SB 253 (2013), and SB 872 (2012).

STALKING - 565.225

This act adds the act of knowingly accessing, or attempting to access, the address of a participant of the address confidentiality program administered by the Secretary of State to the elements of aggravated stalking.

Beginning in 2017, as a result of SB 491 (2014), aggravated stalking will be known as stalking in the first degree. This act also adds the act of knowingly accessing, or attempting to access, the address of a participant of the address confidentiality program to the elements of first degree stalking.

This provision is identical to a provision of SS/SCS/SBs 112, 212, 143, & 234 (2015) and is similar to SB 710 (2014).

OFFENSE OF PEACE DISTURBANCE - 574.010

A person does not commit the offense of peace disturbance if the loud noise or noxious odor arises from the raising and keeping of livestock or the planting, care and harvesting of crops and hay.

INTOXICATION-RELATED BOATING AND TRAFFIC OFFENSES - 577.001, 577.010, 577.012

This act provides that a person is an "aggravated boating offender" if he or she has been found guilty of two or more intoxication-related boating offenses committed on separate occasions when at least one of the incidents involved the defendant injuring or killing another person while operating a vessel while intoxicated.

In addition, this act reinserts county and municipal ordinance violations of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs into the definition of "intoxication-related traffic offense". Such municipal and county ordinance violations are included in the definition under current law, but not in the Revised Code.

The definition of "persistent offender" was also modified under the act to include a person who has been found guilty of one intoxication-related traffic offense in which the defendant was operating a vehicle while intoxicated and another person was injured or killed. Similar changes were made to the definition of "persistent boating offender".

These provisions are similar to provisions of SS/SCS/SBs 112, 212, 143, & 234 (2015).

CHEMICAL TEST EVIDENCE - 577.037

Under the Revised Code, if a chemical test demonstrates a blood alcohol content of less than .08, any criminal charge related to the operating of a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft while intoxicated or with excessive blood alcohol content must be dismissed unless certain other evidence exists. This act removes the reference to offenses of operating a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft with an excessive blood alcohol content from this provision, so it only applies to operating a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft while intoxicated.

This provision is identical to a provision of SS/SCS/SBs 112, 212, 143, & 234 (2015).

OFFENSE OF LEAVING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT - 577.060

This act provides that the offense of leaving the scene of an accident is a class E felony if the defendant has previously been found guilty of the same offense.

ANIMAL OR LIVESTOCK TRESPASS - 578.005 - 578.040

Currently, the crime of animal trespass is defined as a person having ownership of an animal who fails to provide adequate control of the animal for a period of 12 hours or more.

Under this act, a person commits the offense of animal or livestock trespass by either failing to provide adequate control of any animal except livestock when the animal trespasses on another person's property or failing to provide adequate control of livestock for a period of 12 hours or more when the livestock trespasses on another person's property.

In addition, this act removes the maximum fines that may be charged for animal or livestock trespass, which potentially conflict with another provision of law setting the maximum fines for infractions and Class C misdemeanors. This act repeals a provision stating that reasonable costs for the care and maintenance of trespassing animals may not be waived.

These provisions are identical to provisions of SS/SCS/SBs 112, 212, 143, & 234 (2015).

LAW ENFORCEMENT DOGS - 578.007 & 578.022

Under current law, the killing of an animal that is not on its owner's property when the animal is injuring a person or farm animal is exempt from the animal abuse statute. The exemption specifies that it does not apply to police or guard dogs while working. This act replaces the reference to "police or guard dogs" with a reference to "law enforcement officer dog" and provides that the exemption does not include the killing or injuring of such dogs.

In addition, current law exempts law enforcement dogs that bite in the course of their official duties from certain criminal and civil liabilities. This act specifies that injuries caused by such dogs are also exempt from liability and adds a reference to the offense of animal abuse to the list of liabilities that do not apply to police dogs.

MEGHAN LUECKE