HCS HB 1468 -- CHILD ENDANGERMENT

SPONSOR:  Bruns (Pratt)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Crime
Prevention and Public Safety by a vote of 8 to 0.

This substitute establishes Hope's Law which changes the laws
regarding the crime of endangering the welfare of a child in the
first degree.  Any person who violates the provisions of
Chapter 195, RSMo, regarding the possession or control of a
controlled substance, except 35 grams or less of marijuana, in
the presence or in a residence where a person younger than 17
years of age resides will be guilty of a class B felony.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of Less than
$100,000 in FY 2009, FY 2010, and FY 2011.  No impact on Other
State Funds in FY 2009, FY 2010, and FY 2011.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill increases the penalty
for individuals who use or produce methamphetamine in the
presence of a minor child.  This is becoming a serious problem
because anyone in the same vicinity of a person using meth will
ingest about one-third of what the person using the drug ingests.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Pratt; Dennine
Turner; and Nancy Burkhart.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:10 pm