FIRST REGULAR SESSION
92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES SMITH (118), WILSON (119), SCHLOTTACH, PURGASON,
LIPKE (157), BEARDEN AND RUESTMAN (Co-sponsors).
Read 1st time January 23, 2003, and copies ordered printed.
STEPHEN S. DAVIS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 49, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to county commissions.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 49, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 49.650, to read as follows:
49.650. 1. The governing authority of each county without a charter form of government shall have the power to adopt reasonable ordinances, resolutions, or regulations relating to its property, affairs, and local government for which no provision has been made in the constitution of this state or state statute. All ordinances adopted pursuant to this section shall remain effective until repealed or amended by the governing authority, except that the general assembly shall have the power to further define, broaden, limit, or otherwise regulate the power of each such county to adopt ordinances, resolutions, or regulations.
2. The governing body of each county without a charter form of government may submit to the qualified voters of the county any ordinance, resolution, or regulation proposed pursuant to this section for the approval of the qualified voters of the county. Any ordinance, resolution, or regulation submitted to the qualified voters pursuant to this section shall become effective if a majority of the qualified voters voting on the ordinance, resolution, or regulation are in favor of its adoption, but no ordinance, resolution, or regulation shall become effective if a majority of the qualified voters voting on the ordinance, resolution, or regulation are opposed to its adoption.
3. Any qualified voter in each county without a charter form of government may circulate a petition to propose, enact, or reject, by initiative or referendum, any ordinance, resolution, or regulation that the county would have authority to adopt pursuant to this section. The petition shall be signed by the number of registered voters in the county equal to at least fifteen percent of the total votes cast in the county for governor at the last gubernatorial election, and shall be filed with the governing body of the county. Upon the filing of a valid petition, the governing authority of the county shall place the question on the ballot at the next general election for the approval of or rejection by the qualified voters of the county. Any proposed ordinance, resolution, or regulation shall be printed clearly at the top of each petition before the signatures on the petition are acquired.