SCS/SB 612 - Currently, the impeachments of certain public officials are tried before the Missouri Supreme Court, except that the impeachment of a Governor or member of the Missouri Supreme Court is tried before a special commission. This act provides that all impeachments shall be tried by the Missouri Senate. When the Governor or Lieutenant Governor is impeached, the Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court shall preside over the trial before the Senate. At least two-thirds of the Senators elected must concur in the judgement or sentence of conviction. The act modifies the grounds for impeachment found in current provisions of the Missouri Constitution and Missouri statute by repealing the current grounds of crime, misconduct, habitual drunkenness, and offenses involving oppression and adding bribery, mental incompetency, and corrupt or criminal conduct in office.
The provisions of this act are contingent upon the passage of a constitutional amendment that provides for the same changes to impeachment trials.
This act is similar to SS/SCS/SB 9 (2019) and similar to SB 566 (2018), SB 143 (2017), SB 718 (2016), SB 66 (2015) and SB 976 (2014).
JIM ERTLE