Summary of the Truly Agreed Version of the Bill

SS SCS HS HB 267 -- COUNTY GOVERNMENT

This bill makes several changes related to county government.
The bill:

(1)  Changes the months in which county commissioners are
required to meet;

(2)  Authorizes the governing body of all counties to provide
workers' compensation, health insurance, life insurance, and
retirement plans for county employees;

(3)  Allows any county to acquire, own, erect, operate, manage,
and maintain buildings and property outside the limits of the
established seat of justice;

(4)  Authorizes any county of the first, second, or fourth
classification without a charter form of government to adopt
ordinances or resolutions related to its property, affairs, and
local government.  The bill limits the types of ordinances that
may be passed.  Ordinances may be submitted to the voters for
approval.  No county may pass an ordinance which will submit a
tax to the voters without authorization by the General Assembly;

(5)  Establishes qualifications for a candidate for the office of
county surveyor in counties of the second, third, and fourth
classification.  In counties of the third and fourth
classification, a surveyor may be appointed if no qualified
candidate seeks the office;

(6)  Authorizes any county subject to Environmental Protection
Agency rules concerning storm water discharge to adopt ordinances
that are necessary to comply with federal regulations.  These
counties may, upon voter approval, impose a storm water utility
tax in an amount necessary to fund public storm water control
projects;

(7)  Authorizes St. Louis County to impose, by ordinance, a
semiannual fee of up to $200 on owners of residential property or
commercial housing property if that property, has been vacant for
six months and is in violation of the housing code.  A municipal
officer must make the initial determination, and the owner may
appeal or improve the property within 30 days.  If improved, the
owner may ask for reinspection.  If the fee is still imposed, the
owner may still appeal.  Delinquent fees become a lien upon the
property.  Currently, only municipalities may impose the fee;

(8)  Authorizes all counties to impose, upon voter approval, a
sales tax of up to 0.025% for community services for children up
to the age 19.  Current law allows St. Charles, St. Louis,
Jefferson, Franklin, Warren, and Lincoln counties to enact this
sales tax.  The moneys collected from the tax will be deposited
into the county's community children's fund and administered by
the board of directors;

(9)  Increases the fee that a county collector may charge in
charter counties and the City of St. Louis for a merchants
license from $5 up to $25.  The fee may be adjusted annually
based on the Consumer Price Index, but the fee may not exceed
$100.  Current law sets the fee at $5, except in Jackson County,
where the governing body sets the fee, not to exceed $100.  The
bill repeals a statute that was enacted twice, clarifying that
the fee in all other counties is $25;

(10)  Establishes requirements for candidates for the office of
public administrator.  Candidates must be 21 years of age, be a
resident of the county for at least one year, be a registered
voter, and be current in the payment of all personal and business
taxes;

(11)  Requires county collectors in all counties, except charter
counties, to establish an adequate system of bookkeeping,
authorize and prescribe the method and manner of collection of
taxes, and specify the format of the tax books and the form and
manner of preparation of tax bills.  All computer changes must
interface with equipment and software in use; and

(12)  Deletes certain current sections of law related to county
government.


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Last Updated July 25, 2003 at 10:11 am