HB 2417 -- State Water Patrol

Sponsor:  Roorda

This bill transfers all powers, duties, and functions of the
State Water Patrol within the Department of Public Safety to the
newly established Division of Water Patrol within the State
Highway Patrol.  In its main provisions, the bill:

(1)  Increases from five to six the number of majors the
Superintendent of the State Water Patrol must appoint from its
membership;

(2)  Increases from 25 to 34 the number of captains, from 60 to
68 the number of lieutenants, and from not to exceed 965 to not
to exceed 1,064 the total number of patrol officers, patrolmen,
and radio personnel that the superintendent may appoint;

(3)  Specifies that the amount of patrol staff necessary to
protect the public on any excursion gambling boat will include
any staff the superintendent assigns under an agreement with the
Missouri Gaming Commission and any patrol staff assigned to
protect the public on the waterways where the boat is permitted
to operate.  The full cost of the designated staff must be
reimbursed by the excursion boat licensee;

(4)  Requires the Superintendent of the State Highway Patrol to
appoint a director of the division and allows him or her to
assign highway patrol members to serve in the division on a
permanent or temporary basis.  All salaries and expenses relating
to the assignment of highway patrol members to the division must
be paid within the limits of appropriations from general revenue,
the Missouri State Water Patrol Fund, or from other funding
authorized by the General Assembly;

(5)  Specifies that an employee of the water patrol who is
earning creditable service in the Closed Plan of the Missouri
State Employees' Retirement System (MOSERS) and who is
transferred to the highway patrol will not become a member of the
Closed Plan of the Missouri Department of Transportation and
Highway Patrol Employees' Retirement System (MPERS) unless he or
she elects in writing within 90 days of January 1, 2011, to
transfer membership.  Any employee of the water patrol who is
earning credited service in the Year 2000 Plan of MOSERS and who
is transferred to the highway patrol will remain in the Year 2000
Plan unless he or she elects in writing and within 90 days of
January 1, 2011, to transfer membership to the Year 2000 Plan of
MPERS.  In no event can an employee receive service credit for
the same period of service under more than one retirement system;
and

(6)  Repeals provisions related to the water patrol regarding
employment of members; the commissioner; appointment of officers;
salaries; rules and instruction of members; and the removal,
reduction in rank, or suspension of members based on charges and
complaints.

The bill becomes effective January 1, 2011.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:13 pm