HB 80 -- MULTIJURISDICTIONAL ANTIFRAUD ENFORCEMENT GROUPS

SPONSOR:  Ross

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Public
Safety, Law Enforcement and Veteran Affairs by a vote of 19 to 0.

This bill allows political subdivisions to form groups for the
purpose of investigating fraudulent activities.  The bill:

(1)  Defines a "multijurisdictional antifraud enforcement group"
(MAEG) as a combination of political subdivisions that are
formed, by ordinance, to investigate fraud (Sections 70.827 and
70.829, RSMo);

(2)  Grants officers authorized as MAEG members the power of
arrest, which can be exercised anywhere in the state if
notification is given to the authorities of the venue (Section
70.829);

(3)  Permits the formation of a MAEG across state lines, if
permitted by the bordering state.  Law enforcement officers from
the bordering states may be deputized locally (Section 70.831);
and

(4)  Makes MAEG units eligible for state grants for operating
costs if certain conditions are met (Sections 70.831 and 70.833).

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Effect on General Revenue of $0 to
Unknown in FY 2002, FY 2003, and FY 2004.  Costs are subject to
appropriations which could exceed $100,000 in any given year.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill gives police an
opportunity to go outside of their jurisdictions and to use the
resources of other police stations when investigating fraud.
Officers must be investigating a particular crime and be a
member of an investigating group to use their arrest power.
Fraud is a serious problem in the United States.  A
multijurisdictional approach is required to combat it.  These
investigation groups are patterned after the Metro Squad in
Kansas City.

Testifying for the bill was Representative Ross.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Amy Woods, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated November 26, 2001 at 11:42 am