HCS HB 72 -- MILITARY RECORDS

SPONSOR:  Shoemaker, 8 (Luetkemeyer)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Homeland
Security and Veterans Affairs by a vote of 17 to 0.

This substitute requires the county recorder of deeds to accept
original certified military discharge documents for filing.  The
recorder may refuse to accept any document that appears to have
alterations or erasures.  The recorder must maintain a separate
open public index of the documents using only the name of the
subject of the military document.  The substitute sets forth the
parties who may have access to the record, including the
individual, certain relatives, and legal representatives.  A
notarized request for any document must be made to the recorder.
The Recorders' Association of Missouri is required to develop a
request form for the military documents.  A record of all
requests must be kept by the recorder for five years.  The
provision of the substitute also applies to the City of St.
Louis.

The substitute repeals current law requiring the recorder to
maintain a list of all military discharges and requiring the
records to be open to the public.  The substitute also prohibits
any reproduction or use of military discharge documents for any
commercial or speculative purpose.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not available at time of printing.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that military records could be used
by persons trying to create an identity and should be closed.
California has had a problem with identity theft using military
discharge records.  Other states have limited access to these
records.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Luetkemeyer; Missouri
Veterans Commission; Submarine Veterans; Veterans of Foreign
Wars; and Recorders' Association of Missouri.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that all records in the
office of the recorder of deeds should be public.  The recorder
could keep a log of persons accessing records.

Testifying against the bill was Missouri Press Association.

Steve Bauer, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated July 25, 2003 at 10:10 am