HCS/SB 1363 - This act amends the sections of law which was declared unconstitutional in Byrd, et al. v. State of Missouri, et al.COMPENSATION FOR COUNTY CORONERS (Sections 50.327, 58.095, & 58.200)
This act provides that the salary of a coroner in a noncharter county may be set as a base schedule as provided by law subject to an increase up to $14,000 upon the majority approval of the salary commission.
These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/SCS/HB 1606 (2022) and SCS/SB 1128 (2022) and similar to HB 2438 (2022).
Additionally, under current law, when the office of the sheriff is vacant, the county coroner is authorized to perform all the duties of the sheriff, until another sheriff is appointed.
This act provides that if the coroner becomes acting sheriff and the sheriff is no longer receiving the sheriff's salary, the coroner may be paid, in addition to the coroner's salary, the difference between the salaries of the sheriff and coroner so that the coroner receives the equivalent of the sheriff's salary while serving as acting sheriff.
These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/SCS/HB 1606 (2022), SB 1085 (2022), and HB 2175 (2022).
BASE SALARY SCHEDULES FOR THIRD CLASS COUNTIES (Section 50.327)
This act provides that the salary commission of any third class county may amend the base salary schedules as provided by law for the computation of salaries for county officials to include assessed valuation factors in excess of $300 million dollars; provided that the percentage of any adjustments shall be equal for all county officials in that county.
These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/SCS/HB 1606 (2022) and SB 704 (2022).
COUNTY AUDITORS (Section 55.160)
This act provides that, upon request, a county auditor in certain counties shall have access to and the ability to audit and examine claims of every kind and character for which a county officer has a fiduciary duty.
These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/SCS/HB 1606 (2022) and substantially similar to SB 889 (2022) and SB 628 (2021).
ST. LOUIS CITY SHERIFF (Section 57.010 & 57.530)
This act modifies provisions relating to the St. Louis City sheriff. This act requires any candidate for the office of sheriff of St. Louis City shall hold a valid peace officer license within two years of being elected sheriff.
This act sets the minimum compensation for the deputy sheriffs of the City of St. Louis to fifty thousand dollars and the sheriff shall set the compensation for deputy assistants.
This act is substantially similar to HB 1784 (2024).
BOONE COUNTY SHERIFF (Section 57.317)
Under current law, first and second class county sheriffs shall receive salaries equal to 80% of the compensation of associate circuit judges of the county.
This act excludes sheriffs in Boone County.
These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/SCS/HB 1606 (2022).
AUCTIONS FOR LAND WITH DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES (Sections 140.170 & 140.190)
This act allows a county collector to hold an auction of lands with delinquent property taxes through electronic media at the same time as said auction is held in-person.
These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/SCS/HB 1606 (2022) and SB 1144 (2022).
ALTERNATIVE COUNTY HIGHWAY COMMISSION (SECTION 230.205)
Currently, counties that have adopted an alternative form of county highway commission may only abolish it by a vote of the people. This act specifies that it may also be abolished by a vote of the county's governing body. If the alternative form of county highway commission is abolished, the act provides that the county shall adopt either the standard form of county highway commission, or a system of road districts and overseers as provided by law.
These provisions are identical to provisions in CCS/HCS/SS/SB 222 (2023), HB 1193 (2023), HCS/SS/SCS/SB 724 (2022), HB 1545 (2022), and HCS/HB 2220 (2022).
SALARIES OF COUNTY PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS (Section 473.742)
Currently, if a public administrator of a second, third, or fourth class county or of the City of St. Louis elects to be placed on salary, the salary is determined by a schedule based on the average number of open letters in the two years preceding the term in which the salary is elected. This act provides that every public administrator who begins his or her term on or after January 1, 2024, shall be deemed to have elected to receive such salary. This act also provides that a letter of guardianship and a letter of conservatorship shall be counted as separate letters. Additionally, it shall be two letters if the public administrator is appointed by the court as both a guardian and a conservator to the same ward or protectee.
Furthermore, this act provides that upon majority approval by the salary commission, a public administrator may be paid according to the assessed valuation schedule set forth in the act. If the salary commission elects to pay a public administrator according to the assessed valuation schedule, the salary commission shall not elect to change at any future time to pay the public administrator according to the average number of open letters in lieu of paying them according to the assessed valuation schedule.
These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/SCS/HB 1606 (2022) and SB 1088 (2022) and substantially similar to HB 2450 (2022) and HB 2450 (2021) and is similar to SB 803 (2020).
ST. CHARLES COUNTY CHIEF OF POLICE (Section 1)
This act provides that St. Charles County shall elect a county chief of police to a 4 year term beginning in 2028.
Additionally, if a court finds this act unconstitutional, then the St. Charles Election Authority shall submit the question of whether to amend the county charter to require the chief of police to be elected on the next available day for an election in the county. If a majority of the voters find in favor of the charter amendment, then the chief of police shall be an elected officer in the same manner as other county officers. If a majority do not find in favor of the charter amendment, the chief of police shall remain an appointed officer.
MARY GRACE PRINGLE