CCS HS HCS SS SCS SB 267 -- COURT PROCEDURES

This bill revises various court procedures.  In its main
provisions, the bill:

(1)  Excludes mentally retarded individuals convicted of first
degree murder from receiving the death penalty and establishes
the hearing procedure to determine mental retardation if alleged;

(2)  Allows convicted persons in the custody of the Department
of Corrections to file motions to seek DNA testing in cases
where testing might reveal the person's innocence, if certain
procedural qualifications are met, and provides a procedure for
obtaining release if the tests vindicate the convicted person;

(3)  Requires official court reporters to be certified by the
Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners, as provided in
Supreme Court Rule 14;

(4)  Allows automated court records to be accepted as evidence;

(5)  Requires counties where cases are originally filed, when
change of venue is taken in either a civil or criminal case, to
pay trial costs and/or costs of confining defendants to the
receiving counties, unless the case was transferred for improper
venue;

(6)  Allows circuit clerks to issue summonses in landlord-tenant
cases;

(7)  Removes the requirement that $50 be deducted from most
crime victims compensation awards; raises the cap on these
awards from $15,000 to $25,000; and removes the requirement that
these awards must be reduced by the amount of any life insurance
proceeds;

(8)  Creates the Office for Victims of Crime and authorizes the
creation of a statewide automated crime victim notification
system and allows moneys from the Crime Victims' Compensation
Fund to be used to finance the cost of operation of the office
and system;

(9)  Allows information regarding adult abuse orders to be
entered in the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System (MULES)
using computer links between the court automation system and
MULES;

(10)  Allows courts to provide handbooks to petitioners filing
for dissolution and to direct that respondents be served a
handbook along with the summons;

(11)  Requires bail bond agents to notify and submit copies of
all pertinent paperwork to local law enforcement agencies prior
to making or attempting an apprehension.  Local law enforcement
officials may accompany the agent.  Violations are a class A
misdemeanor for first offenses and a class D felony for
subsequent offenses; and

(12)  Increases, establishes, or otherwise revises numerous
court costs and surcharge provisions.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated November 26, 2001 at 11:47 am