HB 1565 -- Fire Protection District Boards

Sponsor:  Gray

This bill changes the laws regarding the board of directors of
fire protection districts located in whole or in part in St.
Louis County.  The bill decreases the term of office of board
members from six years to three years, specifies the details
regarding the transition in term length for various boards, and
allows voters to approve the increase of board members from three
to five in the event of the consolidation of existing fire
protection districts.

For fire protection districts located in St. Louis County that
contain, in whole or in part, certain street light maintenance
districts, the county board of election commissioners must
establish wards equal to the number of fire protection district
board members for the purpose of electing the directors.  Each
ward must contain approximately the same number of inhabitants
and be of contiguous property as compact as may be.  The ward
boundaries must be drawn, after notice and hearing, within 60
days after August 28, 2010; after the establishment of a new fire
protection district; or after the consolidation of districts and
must be redrawn within six months after each decennial census.
If the board of election commissioners cannot reach agreement on
the ward boundaries by these deadlines, the county governing body
must establish the boundaries within 60 days of the board's
failure.

Employees of fire protection districts, municipal fire
departments, and other public employers of firefighters are
prohibited from engaging in electioneering or other political
activity while on duty or while wearing a uniform or other
official insignia identifying the employee as an employee of a
fire protection district, municipal fire department, or other
public employer of firefighters.  Fire protection equipment
cannot be used while engaging in electioneering or other
political activity.  Anyone violating these provisions will be
guilty of a class four election offense and subject to forfeiture
of employment.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:11 pm