HCS SB 186 -- RECORDERS OF DEEDS

SPONSOR:  Cauthorn (Munzlinger)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Local Government by a vote of 17 to 0.

Under current law, the circuit court of Marion County appoints
the circuit clerk ex officio recorder of deeds.  If the office is
separated into district I circuit clerk and recorder of deeds,
the court continues to appoint the district I circuit clerk.
This substitute makes the position of circuit clerk ex officio
recorder of deeds an elected position.  The first election of the
position will take place at the 2006 general election.

The substitute also clarifies that in counties where the clerk of
the circuit court and the recorder of deeds have been separated,
the office of recorder of deeds will be elected at the next
general election.

The substitute also requires that the circuit clerk in any
county, except the City of St. Louis, operating under the
nonpartisan court plan must be appointed by a majority of the
circuit judges and associate circuit judges of the circuit court.
The clerk may be removable for cause by a majority of these
judges.  The substitute becomes effective on January 1, 2004.
Elected circuit clerks in office at that time will continue to
hold their office until the expiration of their elected terms.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the voters want to elect the
position of recorder of deeds.

Testifying for the bill was Senator Cauthorn.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Steve Bauer, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated July 25, 2003 at 10:13 am