SCS/HCS/HB 1777 This act contains provisions relating to terrorism.

JOINT COMMITTEE ON TERRORISM, BIOTERRORISM AND HOMELAND SECURITY (Section 38.050) - The Joint Committee on Terrorism, Bioterrorism and Homeland Security is created. The Joint Committee will consist of seven members each from the House and Senate. Duties of the Committee are provided. The Committee must file a report annually, beginning on January 15, 2003, with the General Assembly. The Joint Committee will expire on December 31, 2007.

EMERGENCY VOLUNTEER PROGRAM (Section 44.023, RSMo) This allows the Emergency Management Agency to activate the State Emergency Volunteer Program in the event of a disaster. Current language required an "earthquake or other natural disaster" to occur before this program could be activated.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS LICENSE (Section 302.720, RSMo) - This act requires applicants for a hazardous materials endorsement must also meet the requirements of the United States Patriot Act of 2001.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS (Section 304.370, RSMo) This section prohibits the transportation of hazardous materials through a tunnel. Violation of this section is a Class B misdemeanor. Second and subsequent violations will be a Class A misdemeanor.

CLOSING WATERWAYS (Section 306.124, RSMo) This section grants authority to the Missouri State Water Patrol, with the consent of the Director of the Department of Public Safety to close waterways in the event of any "actual or imminent man-made or natural disaster".

SOLICITATION OF FUNDS (Section 407.472 RSMo) - The act prohibits organizations from soliciting funds for unlawful purposes and creates the crime of supporting terrorism if a person knowingly provides or solicits material support for any organization designated as a foreign terrorist organization.

WATER CONTAMINATION (Section 569.072, RSMo) - This act also creates the crime of water contamination. Criminal water contamination occurs if a person knowingly introduces any dangerous agent or substance into any public or private waters of the state or any water supply with the purpose of causing death or serious injury.

THEFT (Section 570.030, RSMo) This section is amended to include ammonium nitrate to the list of property in this statute. This section also provides that any amount of ammonium nitrate stolen is a Class C felony.

IDENTITY THEFT (Section 570.135, 570.223, RSMo) - This section identity theft and fraudulent procuring the issuance of a credit card a crime. The act makes identity theft a class D felony.

BOMB AND BOMB MAKING MATERIALS (Section 571.020, RSMo) This section expands the list of Class C felony offenses to include an "explosive, incendiary or poison substance or material with the purpose to possess, manufacture or sell an explosive weapon.

MONEY LAUNDERING (Section 574.105, RSMo) - The crime of money laundering is revised to remove the requirement that the currency transaction involve the proceeds of criminal activity. The crime is also expanded to include conducting or attempting to conduct a currency transaction to promote or aid the furthering or making of a terrorist threat or act. The penalty for money laundering is a class B felony.

TERRORIST THREAT (Section 574.115, RSMo) A terrorist threat is made if a person communicates a threat to "cause an incident or condition involving a danger to life" which disturbs ten or more people and for the purpose of creating an evacuation. This is treated as a Class C felony, unless an evacuation of a building is caused by a reckless disregard, then it becomes a Class D felony. Criminal negligence has been added for a standards and carries a Class A misdemeanor penalty.

MAKING A FALSE REPORT (Section 575.080, RSMo) - This section expands the crime of making a false report to making a false report to any person calling for an emergency response has occurred or is about to occur. Making a false report is a class B misdemeanor.

SUPPORTING TERRORISM (Section 576.080, RSMo) This section creates the crime of supporting terrorism if a person knowingly provides or solicits material support for any organization designated as a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to 8 U.S.C. 1189. This is a Class C felony.

AGROTERRORISM (Section 578.008, RSMo) Agroterrorism is committed if a person purposely spreads any type of disease among crops, livestock and poultry. This is a Class D felony, unless damage exceeds ten million dollars, then it becomes a Class B felony. There is an exemption for scientific research.

SUNSHINE LAW (Section 610.021, RSMo) - This act adds exemptions to Sunshine Law, allowing closure of existing or proposed security systems and structural plans and certain computer information, which would threaten public safety. However, information regarding procurement or expenditures shall not be considered closed. The public governmental body must affirmatively state in writing that the disclosure would impair the ability to protect the public. The exemption relating to security of public buildings sunsets on December 31, 2006. An exemption is also added to close records regarding certain numerical information and security codes to protect electronic transactions between the public governmental body and persons doing business with the body. These provisions are similar to SCS/HS/HCS/HB 1650 and SCS/SBs 1112 & 854 (2002).

This act contains and emergency clause.

This act is similar to portions of SCS/SBs 1112 & 874 (2002).
CINDY KADLEC