SECOND REGULAR SESSION
92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES MAYER (Sponsor), BEAN, KINGERY, LIPKE, DETHROW,
WILSON (130), RUESTMAN, BLACK AND CROWELL (Co-sponsors).
Read 1st time January 21, 2004, and copies ordered printed.
STEPHEN S. DAVIS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal section 48.020, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to classification of counties, with an emergency clause.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 48.020, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 48.020, to read as follows:
48.020. All counties of this state are hereby classified, for the purpose of establishing organization and powers in accordance with the provisions of section 8, article VI, Constitution of Missouri, into four classifications determined as follows:
Classification 1. All counties having an assessed valuation of [four hundred fifty] six hundred million dollars and over shall automatically be in the first classification after that county has maintained such valuation for the time period required by section 48.030; however, any county of the second classification which, on August 13, 1988, has had an assessed valuation of at least four hundred million dollars for at least one year may, by resolution of the governing body of the county, elect to be classified as a county of the first classification after it has maintained such valuation for the period of time required by the provisions of section 48.030.
Classification 2. All counties having an assessed valuation of [three] four hundred fifty million dollars and less than the assessed valuation necessary for that county to be in the first classification shall automatically be in the second classification after that county has maintained such valuation for the time period required by section 48.030.
Classification 3. All counties having an assessed valuation of less than the assessed valuation necessary for that county to be in the second classification shall automatically be in the third classification.
Classification 4. All counties which have attained the second classification prior to August 13, 1988, and which would otherwise return to the third classification after August 13, 1988, because of changes in assessed valuation shall remain a county in the second classification and shall operate under the laws of this state applying to the second classification.
Section B. Because immediate action is necessary to provide fiscal relief for counties that are eligible to automatically move to a different classification of counties, section A of this act is deemed necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, welfare, peace, and safety, and is hereby declared to be an emergency act within the meaning of the constitution, and section A of this act shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and approval.