SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 800
91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR DePASCO.
Pre-filed December 5, 2001, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
2620S.01I
AN ACT
To repeal section 556.036, RSMo, relating to time limitations for criminal prosecutions, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to the same subject, with penalty provisions.
Section A. Section 556.036, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 556.036, to read as follows:
556.036. 1. A prosecution for murder or any class A felony, or a prosecution pursuant to section 566.030, RSMo, section 566.060, RSMo, or section 571.015, RSMo, may be commenced at any time.
2. Except as otherwise provided in this section, prosecutions for other offenses must be commenced within the following periods of limitation:
(1) For any felony, three years;
(2) For any misdemeanor, one year;
(3) For any infraction, six months.
3. If the period prescribed in subsection 2 of this section has expired, a prosecution may nevertheless be commenced for:
(1) Any offense a material element of which is either fraud or a breach of fiduciary obligation within one year after discovery of the offense by an aggrieved party or by a person who has a legal duty to represent an aggrieved party and who is himself or herself not a party to the offense, but in no case shall this provision extend the period of limitation by more than three years. As used in this subdivision, the term "person who has a legal duty to represent an aggrieved party" shall mean the attorney general or the prosecuting or circuit attorney having jurisdiction pursuant to section 407.553, RSMo, for purposes of offenses committed pursuant to sections 407.511 to 407.556, RSMo; and
(2) Any offense based upon misconduct in office by a public officer or employee at any time when the defendant is in public office or employment or within two years thereafter, but in no case shall this provision extend the period of limitation by more than three years; and
(3) Any offense based upon an intentional and willful fraudulent claim of child support arrearage to a public servant in the performance of his or her duties within one year after discovery of the offense, but in no case shall this provision extend the period of limitation by more than three years.
4. An offense is committed either when every element occurs, or, if a legislative purpose to prohibit a continuing course of conduct plainly appears, at the time when the course of conduct or the defendant's complicity therein is terminated. Time starts to run on the day after the offense is committed.
5. A prosecution is commenced either when an indictment is found or an information filed.
6. The period of limitation does not run:
(1) During any time when the accused is absent from the state, but in no case shall this provision extend the period of limitation otherwise applicable by more than three years; or
(2) During any time when the accused is concealing himself from justice either within or without this state; or
(3) During any time when a prosecution against the accused for the offense is pending in this state; or
(4) During any time when the accused is found to lack mental fitness to proceed pursuant to section 552.020, RSMo.