HCS HB 945 -- CRIMES AGAINST CRIMINAL JUSTICE OFFICIALS,
CORRECTIONS PERSONNEL, AND EMERGENCY SERVICES PERSONNEL

SPONSOR:  Kelly (Parson)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Corrections and Public Institutions by a vote of 7 to 0.

This substitute creates the crime of murder of a criminal justice
official in the first degree when a person knowingly causes the
death of a criminal justice official while the official was
performing lawful duties or when the person knowingly causes the
death of the criminal justice official because of his or her
status as a criminal justice official.  Any person who commits
this crime will be guilty of a felony punishable by death unless
other mitigating factors are present.

The crime of assault of a law enforcement officer, emergency
personnel, or probation or parole officer in the first degree is
expanded to include corrections officers, and the definition of
"dangerous felony" is revised to include the crime of assault of
emergency or corrections personnel in the first degree.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2008, FY 2009, and
FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will help deter acts of
violence against our law enforcement officers, corrections
personnel, and emergency services personnel if people know the
penalty will be death.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Parson; State Highway
Patrol; Department of Corrections; Missouri State Troopers
Association; and Gary Gross, Missouri Corrections Officers
Association.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:20 am