Bill Text: MO HB1169 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Creates the Neighborhood Watch Fund, which provides state funding for political subdivisions and the wards of St. Louis City to establish neighborhood watch organizations
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-20 - HCS Voted Do Pass (H) [HB1169 Detail]
Download: Missouri-2014-HB1169-Introduced.html
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES BUTLER (Sponsor), PETERS AND BURNS (Co-sponsors).
4786L.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 589, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to neighborhood safety.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 589, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 589.685, to read as follows:
589.685. 1. There is hereby created in the state treasury the "Neighborhood Watch Fund", which shall consist of money collected under this section. The general assembly may appropriate moneys to the fund for the purpose of providing funds to counties, cities, towns, other political subdivisions or wards of a city not within a county, as provided in this section. At no time shall the annual amount of funding approved for disbursement from the neighborhood watch fund exceed ten million dollars.
2. Moneys in the fund may be distributed to counties, cities, towns, other political subdivisions or wards of a city not within a county for the creation or establishment of neighborhood watch organizations.
3. The director of the department of public safety shall create an application and establish procedures for counties, cities, towns, other political subdivisions or wards of a city not within a county to follow to receive funds under this section. To qualify, a county, city, town, other political subdivision or ward of a city not within a county shall complete an application to the department of public safety.
4. The department of public safety shall make a determination regarding the application for a disbursement from the neighborhood watch fund based on the application submitted by a county, city, town, other political subdivision or ward of a city not within a county. In determining disbursement of funds from the neighborhood watch fund, priority shall be given to areas with a high crime rate, as defined in this subsection. An area with a high crime rate, for purposes of this section, is defined as a county or a city, town, other political subdivision or ward of a city not within a county that is in the top twenty-five percent of all counties with the highest overall crime rate, according to the most recently available state highway patrol uniform crime reporting program.
5. The director of the department of public safety may promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2014, shall be invalid and void.
6. The director of the department of public safety shall administer the neighborhood watch fund. The state treasurer shall be custodian of the fund. In accordance with sections 30.170 and 30.180 the state treasurer may approve disbursements. The fund shall be a dedicated fund and, upon appropriation, money in the fund shall be used solely for the administration of this section.
7. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 to the contrary, any moneys remaining in the fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the credit of the general revenue fund.
8. The state treasurer shall invest moneys in the fund in the same manner as other funds are invested. Any interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be credited to the fund.
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