HCS/SS/SB 654 - A police commissioner must be a city resident for two years in order to be appointed. This act allows the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners to delegate portions of its jurisdiction to hearing officers. At the discretion of the board, a hearing officer may preside over disciplinary matters, prepare reports to the board, and make recommendations to the board as to the allegations made during a disciplinary matter and the appropriateness of the recommended discipline. This act outlines the process for selecting hearing officers. After a hearing officer is chosen and presides over a matter, such hearing officer shall become ineligible until all hearing officers listed have been utilized, at which time the list shall renew. The St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners shall retain authority to render a final decision after a review of the evidence and reports of the hearing officer. Under this act, persons serving as a reserve officer on August 27, 2001, within a county of the first classification or St. Louis County, having previously completed a minimum of 160 hours of training, shall be granted a license necessary to function as a reserve peace officer within such county. This act states that St. Louis police officers shall not be considered agents of the city. Such officers are and shall remain employees of their board of police commissioners. No cause of action shall lie against such cities for any tort or alleged breach of the law committee by such officers. This act is similar to HB 923 (2007), SB 1097 (2006), & SCS/SB 477 (2007), SCS/HB 41 (2007) & SS/SCS/HB 69 (2007). SUSAN HENDERSON MOORE