By State Rep. J. Eggleston
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The Special Session on violent crime has taken a major step forward with the Missouri House passing five bills to address the issue. The goal is to confront the notable uptick in violent crime, and make our state safer.
HB2 would allow certain witness statements to be admissible in court that would otherwise not be allowed. During the investigation of a crime, the police take statements from witnesses, but when the trial date comes some witnesses are afraid to testify out of fear for their safety. This bill would ensure witness statements to police would be admissible testimony in situations where the defendant has threatened the witness. HB2 passed 133-11. The Emergency Clause passed 128-16.
HB66 creates the Pretrial Witness Protection Services Fund, which would pay for law enforcement to provide security for witnesses and their families. If the governor signs HB66, the next step is for the legislature to put money in the fund, which could happen as soon as next month. HB66 passed 147-3, and the Emergency Clause passed 102-48.
HB46 would end the residency requirement that St. Louis police officers must live in the City of St. Louis instead of the area’s suburbs. This would make it easier for the St. Louis police force to recruit more officers. St. Louis would be allowed to re-impose the residency requirement in 2023. HB46 passed 117-35, and the Emergency Clause passed 113-38.
HB11 would expand the existing offense of “endangering the welfare of a child” to include a person who helps or causes a minor under 17 to engage in any weapons crime. HB16 would outlaw the lending or sale of a firearm to a person under 18 for the purpose of avoiding criminal arrest or investigation. Both of these bills address the situation where adult criminals recruit minors to do their dirty work for them. HB11 passed 117-33, and the Emergency Clause passed 111-39. HB16 passed 103-45, and the Emergency Clause was defeated 99-49 (109 Yes votes are required for an Emergency Clause).
These five bills now go to the Senate for their consideration. If passed, they would all go into effect immediately upon the governor’s signature since they contained an Emergency Clause, except for HB16, which would go into effect in 90 days.