HCS HB 1179 -- CRIMINAL CASE SURCHARGES

SPONSOR:  Byrd (Corcoran)

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

Under current law, a $2 surcharge is collected in certain
criminal cases to be used to develop biometric verification
systems for identifying and tracking inmates within local jail
systems.  This substitute allows the funds to also be used for
other expenses related to housing prisoners after the
installation of the biometric verification system.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2005, FY 2006, and
FY 2007.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that once the biometric verification
system is installed, the funds from this surcharge just
accumulate because there are no other authorized uses.  The bill
will allow the funds to be used to offset housing and other costs
for prisoners.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Corcoran; Missouri
Police Chiefs' Association; and Missouri Association of Counties.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say that federal grants
are now available for installing biometric verification systems,
so less money is needed for that purpose from this surcharge.

Others testifying on the bill was Third Millennium Biometrics,
LLC.

Julie Jinkens McNitt, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:14 am