SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 972
92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR STOLL.
Pre-filed December 23, 2003, and ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
2579S.03I
AN ACT
To amend chapter 27, RSMo, by adding thereto five new sections relating to the creation of a public safety officer medal of valor.
Section A. Chapter 27, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto five new sections, to be known as sections 27.150, 27.153, 27.156, 27.159, and 27.160, to read as follows:
27.150. Sections 27.150 to 27.160 of this act may be cited as the "Missouri Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act".
27.153. As they appear in sections 27.150 to 27.160, the following words and terms shall mean:
(1) "Act", the Missouri public safety officer medal of valor act;
(2) "Board", the medal of valor review board as established by section 27.159;
(3) "Medal", a Missouri public safety medal of valor, which shall be of suitable design as may be determined by the governor;
(4) "Public safety officer", a person serving a public agency, with or without compensation, as a firefighter, law enforcement officer, or emergency services officer, as determined by the attorney general. For the purposes of this definition, the term "law enforcement officer" shall include, but not be limited to, highway patrol officers, police officers, and persons who are corrections or court officers or civil defense officers.
27.156. 1. The governor is hereby authorized to award and present, in the name of the state of Missouri, a medal to a public safety officer who is cited by the attorney general, upon the recommendation of the board, for extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty. The medal shall be Missouri's highest award for valor by a public safety officer.
2. In the event of the death of any person who would be entitled to a medal pursuant to the provisions of this act, the same may be presented to a surviving relative on behalf of the deceased in the following order: widow, if not remarried; eldest living son; eldest living daughter; father; mother; eldest living brother; eldest living sister; and eldest living grandchild.
27.159. 1. There is established a "Missouri Medal of Valor Review Board", the members of which shall be individuals with knowledge or expertise, whether by experience or training, in the field of public safety, which shall conduct its business in accordance with sections 27.150 to 27.160, and be composed of eight members appointed in the following manner:
(1) Two members, one from each major political party, shall be appointed by the president pro tem of the Missouri senate;
(2) Two members, one from each major political party, shall be appointed by the speaker of the Missouri house of representatives; and
(3) Four members shall be appointed by the governor, including one with experience in firefighting, one with experience in law enforcement, and one with experience in emergency services.
2. The term of a board member shall be four years.
3. Any vacancy in the membership of the board shall not affect the powers of the board and shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
4. (1) The chairman of the board shall be elected by the members of the board from among the members of the board.
(2) The board shall conduct its first meeting not later than ninety days after the appointment of the last member appointed of the initial group of members appointed to the board. Thereafter, the board shall meet at the call of the chairman of the board. The board shall meet not less often than twice each year.
(3) A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum to conduct business, but the board may establish a lesser quorum for conducting hearings scheduled by the board. The board may establish by majority vote any other rules for the conduct of the board's business, if such rules are not inconsistent with this act or other applicable law.
(4) The board shall select candidates as recipients of the medal from among those applications received by the board. Not more often than once each year, the board shall present to the attorney general the name or names of those it recommends as medal recipients. In a given year, the board shall not be required to select any recipients but may not select more than five recipients. The attorney general may in extraordinary cases increase the number of recipients in a given year. The board shall set an annual timetable for fulfilling its duties under this act.
(5) The board may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, administer such oaths, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the board considers advisable to carry out its duties.
(6) The members shall not receive compensation for their services but may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses.
27.160. 1. There is hereby established in the state treasury a fund to be known as the "Missouri Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Fund", which shall consist of all moneys that may be appropriated to it by the general assembly, and in addition may include any gifts, contributions, grants, or bequests received from federal, state, private, or other sources. The fund shall be administered by the office of administration. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080, RSMo, to the contrary, moneys in the Missouri public safety officer medal of valor fund shall not be transferred to the credit of the general revenue fund at the end of the biennium. Interest and moneys earned on the fund shall be credited to the fund.
2. Moneys in the fund shall be used solely for the purpose of reimbursing members of the medal of valor review board for their actual and necessary travel expenses and to promote the solicitation for designs for, aid in the manufacture of, and aid in the distribution of the Missouri public safety medal of valor.