HCS HB 1777 -- PUBLIC ORDER (Johnson, 61)

This substitute:

(1)  Makes it unlawful to use unfair leverage in the sale of
essential consumer merchandise during an emergency.  Persons who
exercise unfair leverage are liable for restitution to consumers
and a civil penalty to the State of Missouri and may be subject
to civil action.  The substitute also authorizes the Governor to
declare a consumer emergency by executive order if an actual or
threatened consumer market disruption exists and specifies what
the order must include;

(2)  Prohibits the transport of hazardous materials through
highway tunnels and includes penalties for violations;

(3)  Allows the State Water Patrol to close any waters in the
state to navigation or use in the event of a disaster;

(4)  Creates the crime of criminal water contamination, a class B
felony;

(5)  Allows the Attorney General to investigate the suspected use
of funds by charitable organizations to support terrorism;

(6)  Revises the current crime of making a terrorist threat by
removing existing language that defines making a terrorist threat
as threatening to commit a felony or making a false report about
the commission of a felony and replacing it with threatening to
commit or making a false report about an incident or condition
involving danger to life;

(7)  Allows public governmental bodies, until December 31, 2006,
to close records of security and structural plans of real
property owned or leased by that entity if disclosure would
threaten public safety;

(8)  Allows public governmental bodies to close records of
configuration or operation of computer and telecommunication
systems of a public governmental body; and credit card numbers,
personal identification numbers, and other authorization or
access codes that are used to protect the security of electronic
transactions between a public governmental body and a person or
entity doing business with that body;

(9)  Prohibits misleading, unsolicited electronic mail;

(10)  Adds facsimile transmissions and electronic mail to
communications covered by no-call list protections; and

(11)  Establishes a Joint Committee on Terrorism, Bioterrorism,
and Homeland Security consisting of seven members each of the
House and Senate and outlines its responsibilities.

The substitute contains an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Cost to General Revenue Fund of Less
than $100,000 in FY 2003, FY 2004, and FY 2005.  Estimated Net
Cost to Road Fund of $500 in FY 2003, $0 in FY 2004, and $0 in FY
2005.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:02 am