SB 44 - This act modifies provisions relating to public safety. SAINT LOUIS CITY POLICE FORCE (Sections 84.012 to 84.347 and Section 105.726) Beginning August 28, 2025, the Board shall assume control of the municipal police department of St. Louis and no later than September 28, 2025, the Governor shall appoint four commissioners to the Board who shall serve together with the president of the board of aldermen. The municipal police department shall transfer title and ownership of all indebtedness and assets and accept liability as successor-in-interest for contractual obligations of the police department. The Board shall initially employ, without reduction in rank, salary, or benefits, all commissioned and civilian personnel of the municipal police department. This act provides that the city of St. Louis may pass ordinances, including ordinances for preserving order and protecting the public; but no ordinances shall, in any manner, conflict or interfere with the powers or the exercise of the powers of the Board of Police Commissioners. Additionally, the mayor or any city officer shall not impede or hinder the Board of Police Commissioners. The mayor or any city officer shall be liable for a penalty of $1,000 for each and every offense to hinder the Board and shall forever be disqualified from holding or exercising any office of the city. The Board is required to appoint and employ a permanent police force consisting of not less than 1,313 members. The Board may continue to employ as many non-commissioned police civilians as it deems necessary in order to perform the duties imposed on them, which shall include city marshals and park rangers. The maximum number of officers of the police force in each rank shall be as follows: • 76 officers at the rank of lieutenant and above; • 200 officers at the rank of sergeant; and • 1,037 officers at the rank of patrolman. The salaries paid as of August 28, 2025, shall not be less than the annual salaries paid to each member before the enactment of this act. No additional compensation shall be given to any officer of the rank of lieutenant or above for overtime, court time, or stand-by court time. Probationary patrolmen, patrolmen, and sergeants shall receive compensation for all hours of service in excess of the established regular working period, for all authorized overtime, and for employees who complete academic work at an accredited college or university up to a certain amount as provided in the act. Additionally, certain officers may receive up to 10% of their salary in additional compensation for hours worked between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. This act provides that until the Board adopts other investigative and disciplinary procedures, the police force shall follow the disciplinary and investigative procedures established by the Police Manual of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department which are consistent with law. The Board shall not adopt any disciplinary procedures that do not include the summary hearing Board procedures provided for currently in the Police Manual. This act provides that reimbursements from the Legal Expense Fund to the Board for liability claims shall be on a equal share basis per claim up to a maximum of one million dollars per fiscal year. This act repeals all provisions relating to the municipal police force established by the city of St. Louis. This act is identical to SCS/SB 808 (2024) and substantially similar to SCS/HCS/HB 1481 (2024), HCS/HB 702 (2023), SCS/SB 78 (2023), SB 280 (2023), and HCS/HB 2432 (2022) and similar to SB 1012 (2022) and to provisions in HB 2432 (2022), HB 2671 (2022), and HB 1476 (2021). STUNT DRIVING (Sections 304.012 & 304.145) This act prohibits stunt driving and participation in street takeovers, as such terms are defined in the act. The act specifies criminal penalties and sentencing requirements, with enhanced penalties and sentencing requirements for repeat offenders. OFFENSE OF ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A CHILD IN THE FIRST DEGREE (Sections 556.061 & 568.045) Under current law, a person commits the offense of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree if he or she unlawfully manufactures or possesses amphetamine, methamphetamine, or any of their analogues. This act adds fentanyl and carfentanil. Additionally, this act provides that if a person is found guilty of the offense of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree involving fentanyl or carfentail then the person shall serve a term of imprisonment of not less than five years and not more than ten years. Such person shall not receive a suspended imposition or execution of sentence from the court and shall not pay a fine in lieu of a term of imprisonment. Finally, such person shall not be eligible for conditional release or parole until he or she has served at least five years of imprisonment. This act also adds the offense of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree to the definition of "dangerous felony." This act is identical to SB 1368 (2024). OFFENSE OF RIOTING (Section 574.050) This act modifies the offense of rioting to provide that a person commits the offense if a person knowingly assembles with six or more people and violates any criminal laws. This offense shall be a class D felony, rather than a class A misdemeanor, for the first offense and a class C felony for subsequent offenses. This act is identical to provisions in SB 684 (2023). OFFENSE OF RESISTING ARREST (Section 575.150) This act provides that any person guilty of a class E felony of resisting or interfering with arrest shall have his or her vehicle impounded and forfeited pursuant to law. COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL SAFETY (Section 590.208) This act establishes the "Committee on School Safety" within the Department of Public Safety with membership as provided in the act. The Committee shall at least quarterly evaluate and establish guidelines for school safety concerns, including plans to prevent school firearm violence. The Committee shall submit a report in writing to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives after every meeting of the committee. KATIE O'BRIEN