SECOND REGULAR SESSION

SENATE BILL NO. 1070

91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY


INTRODUCED BY SENATOR GIBBONS.

Read 1st time January 30, 2002, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.



TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.

2396S.02I


AN ACT

To repeal sections 43.540 and 589.410, RSMo, relating to protection of children, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections relating to the same subject, with penalty provisions.


Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:

Section A. Sections 43.540 and 589.410, RSMo, are repealed and two new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 43.540 and 589.410, to read as follows:

43.540. 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean:

(1) "Criminal record review", a request to the highway patrol for information concerning any criminal history record for a felony or misdemeanor and any offense for which the person has registered pursuant to sections 589.400 to 589.425, RSMo;

(2) "Patient or resident", a person who by reason of aging, illness, disease or physical or mental infirmity receives or requires care or services furnished by a provider, as defined in this section, or who resides or boards in, or is otherwise kept, cared for, treated or accommodated in a facility as defined in section 198.006, RSMo, for a period exceeding twenty-four consecutive hours;

(3) "Patrol", the Missouri state highway patrol;

(4) "Provider", any licensed day care home, licensed day care center, licensed child placing agency, licensed residential care facility for children, licensed group home, licensed foster family group home, licensed foster family home or any operator licensed pursuant to chapter 198, RSMo, any employer of nurses or nursing assistants for temporary or intermittent placement in health care facilities or any entity licensed pursuant to chapter 197, RSMo;

(5) "Youth services agency", any public or private agency, school, or association which provides programs, care or treatment for or which exercises supervision over minors.

2. Upon receipt of a written request from a private investigatory agency, a youth service agency or a provider, with the written consent of the applicant, the highway patrol shall conduct a criminal record review of an applicant for a paid or voluntary position with the agency or provider if such position would place the applicant in contact with minors, patients or residents.

3. Any request for information made pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be on a form provided by the highway patrol and shall be signed by the person who is the subject of the request.

4. The patrol shall respond in writing to the youth service agency or provider making a request for information pursuant to this section and shall inform such youth service agency or provider of the address and offense for which the offender registered pursuant to sections 589.400 to 589.425, RSMo, and the nature of the offense, and the date, place and court for any other offenses contained in the criminal record review. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the youth service agency or provider making such request shall have access to all records of arrests resulting in an adjudication where the applicant was found guilty or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere in a prosecution pursuant to chapter 565, RSMo, sections 566.010 to 566.141, RSMo, or under the laws of any state or the United States for offenses described in sections 566.010 to 566.141, RSMo, or chapter 565, RSMo, during the period of any probation imposed by the sentencing court.

5. Any information received by a provider or a youth services agency pursuant to this section shall be used solely for the provider's or youth service agency's internal purposes in determining the suitability of an applicant or volunteer. The information shall be confidential and any person who discloses the information beyond the scope allowed in this section is guilty of a class A misdemeanor. The patrol shall inform, in writing, the provider or youth services agency of the requirements of this subsection and the penalties provided in this subsection at the time it releases any information pursuant to this section.

589.410. 1. The chief law enforcement official shall forward the completed offender registration form to the Missouri state highway patrol within three days. The patrol shall enter the information into the Missouri uniform law enforcement system (MULES) where it is available to members of the criminal justice system, and other entities as provided by law, upon inquiry.

2. The Missouri state highway patrol and other members of the criminal justice system shall make information available from the Missouri uniform law enforcement system to other entities as provided by law.




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