HB 461 -- State Water Patrol

Sponsor:  Cooper (155)

This bill exempts the State Water Patrol from the merit system
and specifies certain duties for the Commissioner of the State
Water Patrol including:

(1)  Establishing a pay plan, rules for instruction and
discipline, and duty hours;

(2)  Dividing the state into districts and assigning patrol
members to the districts; and

(3)  Establishing, by general order, promotional procedures and
increasing, by promotion, the rank of officers after at least one
year of service.

The Lieutenant Colonel of the State Water Patrol will assume the
duties of the commissioner in his or her absence or upon
disability.  If the commissioner and the lieutenant colonel are
disabled, the Governor may designate a major as the acting
commissioner.

All patrol officers and radio personnel are required to be 21
years of age or older, be United States and Missouri citizens,
have certain educational and physical requirements, and never
been convicted of a felony.

The bill also establishes a disciplinary procedure for members of
the patrol who have completed one year of probationary service.
After a formal charge has been filed by or before the
commissioner and a hearing before a six-member patrol board, a
member may be disciplined.  The hearing must be held within 30
days after the filing of the charge, and the board must report
its findings, vote result, and recommendation of any disciplinary
action.  The commissioner makes the final decision on the
disciplinary action to be taken.

Any complaint filed against a member will be provided to him or
her unless the commissioner decides to postpone the notification
because disclosure would compromise an investigation of the
complaint.  Unless waived in writing by the member, he or she
will not be interrogated until 48 hours after receiving a
complaint and is entitled to have counsel present during
questioning.  The member is entitled to a copy of the
investigation report and to present a written response prior to
an initial recommendation of discipline.  The commissioner may
withhold the investigation report if disclosure endangers any
person.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:19 am