CCS HS HCS SCS SB 199 -- COUNTY GOVERNMENT; WATER POLLUTION
BONDS; RECREATIONAL FACILITY DISTRICTS

COUNTY GOVERNMENT

This bill:

(1)  Increases the required assessed valuation necessary to
qualify as a county of the first classification from $450 million
to $600 million and as a county of the second classification from
$300 million to $450 million.  Any county that has the requisite
assessed valuation to become a county of the first classification
may choose to do so upon an affirmative vote of the county's
governing body, even though the county has not had this valuation
for five successive years as required under current law;

(2)  Authorizes the Boone County Commission to impose a civil
fine of not more than $250 for misdemeanor county ordinance
violations and requires the county counselor, rather than the
county prosecuting attorney, to prosecute these violations.
Fines collected pursuant to the bill will be paid into the county
general fund and used to pay for the cost of enforcement of the
ordinances;

(3)  Authorizes county treasurers in counties of the third and
fourth classification to issue payroll checks before the filing
of the county budget estimates;

(4)  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;

(5)  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;

(6)  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 is vacant, 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;

(7)  Clarifies that a municipality in Christian County may
continue to operate an emergency telephone service in the event
the county also establishes a service or has been reclassified
into a higher classification;

(8)  Authorizes the Department of Economic Development to
designate an area within Jackson County as a satellite zone.  The
governing body of the county must submit a plan describing how
the zone corresponds to the county's overall enterprise zone
strategy.  The department is also required to designate an
enterprise zone in Laclede County.  The zones must be approved by
the department director and meet all statutory requirements;

(9)  Authorizes counties of the second, third, or fourth
classification to set, by ordinance, countywide speed limits on
county-maintained roads; and

(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.

WATER POLLUTION BONDS

In addition to amounts authorized prior to August 28, 2004, the
bill authorizes the Board of Fund Commissioners to issue bonds
for grants and loans pursuant to several sections of Article III
of the Missouri Constitution.  The authorizations are for:

(1)  $10 million of bonds for waste water pollution control,
drinking water system improvements, and storm water control
pursuant to Section 37(e);

(2)  $10 million of bonds for rural water and sewer projects
pursuant to Section 37(g); and

(3)  $20 million of bonds for storm water control plans, studies,
and projects in first classification counties and the City of St.
Louis pursuant to Section 37(h).

EXHIBITION CENTER AND RECREATIONAL FACILITY DISTRICTS

The bill creates the Exhibition Center and Recreation Facility
District Act.  It enables citizens of Boone, Buchanan, Camden,
Jasper, Jefferson, Miller, Morgan, and Newton counties to
petition to create an exhibition center and recreational facility
district.  At least 50 property owners in a county must sign the
petition.

Once the petition is filed, the governing body may approve a
resolution to create the district.  Following a public hearing,
the governing body may adopt an order establishing the proposed
district.

A board of trustees will administer any district created.  The
governing body of each county within the district will appoint
four residents from the portion of the county within the district
to serve on the board.  The board will have the power to enter
into contracts or other agreements affecting the affairs of the
district, borrow money, issue bonds, acquire and dispose of real
and personal property, refund bonds without an election, manage
the affairs of the district, hire agents, and amend and adopt
bylaws.

The district may submit to its voters a sales tax of up to 0.5%.
The tax will be reduced automatically to a rate of 0.1% after 25
years unless an extension is voted upon by the voters in the
district.

COUNTY CRIME REDUCTION FUND

The bill allows county commissions to create county crime
reduction funds and specifies the purposes for which the money in
the funds can be spent.

The bill allows the court to order restorative justice methods in
cases where there is a suspended imposition or execution of
sentence and to order individuals who have a suspended imposition
or execution of sentence for a misdemeanor to make a payment of
up to $250 to the county crime reduction fund.

The bill also allows the court to order a payment of up to $250
to the county crime reduction fund as a condition of probation.
A judge can only order this condition of probation if the fund
was established prior to sentencing.  A judge cannot have any
direct supervisory or administrative control over the fund to
which he or she orders probationers to make payments.  A
defendant can refuse probation that includes, as a condition,
payments to the fund, but probation cannot be revoked solely for
failure to make payments, except under certain circumstances.

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