HB 498 -- THIRD CLASS CITIES

CO-SPONSORS:  Wagner, McKenna

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee
on Local Government and Related Matters by a vote of 18 to 0.

This bill changes the requirements for the City of De Soto to
abandon the city manager form of government.  The percentage of
voters' names needed on a petition to place the question of
continuing the city manager form of government on the ballot is
25% of the votes cast in the city in the last gubernatorial
election.  In addition to the printed names and signatures of
each petitioner, the petition is also required to contain: (1)
the address of each petitioner; (2) the age of each petitioner;
and (3) an affidavit that states that the signer of the petition
was at the time of signing a voter of the city and the number of
signers of the petition at the time of the making of the
affidavit.  If approved by the voters, the change of form or
organization would not become effective until the next municipal
election.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will set higher
standards for people trying to make changes in city government.

Testifying for the bill was Representative Wagner.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Steve Bauer, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated November 26, 2001 at 11:44 am