SS HCS HB 1550 -- COURTS

This bill expands the jurisdiction of juvenile courts to include
individuals who are 17 years of age for the sole purpose of
status offenses by revising the definition of "child" and
"adult."  "Status offense" is defined as any offense described in
Section 211.031.1(2), RSMo.

Parents are allowed to petition the circuit court to extend the
jurisdiction of the juvenile court over the minor child until the
child reaches 18 years of age and makes the expiration date of
these provisions subject to the effective date of the changes to
Section 211.021.

The provisions of Section 211.021 regarding the definitions of
"child," "adult," and "status offense" become effective when
spending by the state for juvenile officer and deputy juvenile
officer full-time equivalents exceeds by $1.9 million the amount
spent in Fiscal Year 2007 and appropriations by the General
Assembly to single first classification counties for juvenile
court personnel costs exceeds by $1.9 million the amount spent
for the costs in Fiscal Year 2007.

Currently, no person younger than 17 years of age may be detained
in a jail or other adult detention facility, but a municipal
judge may request the juvenile court to order the commitment of a
person younger than 17 years of age to a juvenile detention
facility.  The bill specifies that civil or criminal liability
will not extend to any law enforcement officer, juvenile officer,
school personnel, or court personnel for taking or failing to
take any action involving a minor child who remains under the
jurisdiction of the juvenile court if the action or failure to
act was based on a good faith belief that the minor child is not
under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court.  These provisions
are subject to the effective date of the changes to Section
211.021.

The Office of State Courts Administrator must conduct a study and
report on the impact of changing the definition of "child" to
include any person between 17 and 18 years of age alleged to have
committed a status offense, including the average caseloads of
juvenile officers for each judicial circuit and the number of
children affected.  The report must be submitted to the General
Assembly by June 30, 2009.

The bill removes the requirement that Jackson County must
reimburse the state for moneys received for the salary and
benefits payable to the drug court commissioner in the 16th
Judicial Circuit.

Currently, a jailer has the power to serve an arrest warrant on
any person who is already an inmate in custody of the facility
where the jailer is employed.  The bill expands this power to
include the service of civil process.  The bill also authorizes a
jailer to serve an arrest warrant or civil process on any person
who surrenders himself or herself to the facility under an arrest
warrant; to carry firearms when necessary for the proper
discharge of his or her duties; and to arrest escaped prisoners
and apprehend all persons who may be aiding and abetting an
escapee while in the custody of the sheriff, as granted to any
other law enforcement officer, if the person is authorized to act
as a jailer by the sheriff.

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