SECOND REGULAR SESSION
94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE COOPER (120).
Read 1st time January 30, 2008 and copies ordered printed.
D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal sections 58.095 and 58.160, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof three new sections relating to coroners.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Sections 58.095 and 58.160, RSMo, are repealed and three new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 58.095, 58.160, and 58.165, to read as follows:
58.095. 1. Beginning January 1, 2009, the county coroner in any county, other than in a [first classification chartered] county with a charter form of government, shall receive an annual salary computed on a basis as set forth in the following schedule. The provisions of this section shall not permit or require a reduction in the amount of compensation being paid for the office of coroner on January 1, [1997] 2009:
Assessed Valuation Salary
$ 18,000,000 to 40,999,999 [$8,000] $11,200
41,000,000 to 53,999,999 [ 8,500] 11,900
54,000,000 to 65,999,999 [ 9,000] 12,600
66,000,000 to 85,999,999 [ 9,500] 13,300
86,000,000 to 99,999,999 [10,000] 14,000
100,000,000 to 130,999,999 [11,000] 15,400
131,000,000 to 159,999,999 [12,000] 16,800
160,000,000 to 189,999,999 [13,000] 18,200
190,000,000 to 249,999,999 [14,000] 19,600
250,000,000 to 299,999,999 [15,000] 21,000
300,000,000 or more [16,000] 22,400
2. [One] Two thousand dollars of the salary authorized in this section shall be payable to the coroner only if the coroner has completed at least twenty hours of classroom instruction each calendar year relating to the operations of the coroner's office when approved by a professional association of the county coroners of Missouri unless exempted from the training by the professional association. The professional association approving the program shall provide a certificate of completion to each coroner who completes the training program and shall send a list of certified coroners to the treasurer of each county. Expenses incurred for attending the training session [may] shall be reimbursed to the county coroner in the same manner as other expenses as may be appropriated for that purpose.
3. The county coroner in any county, other than a [first classification charter] county with a charter form of government, shall not, except upon two-thirds vote of all the members of the salary commission, receive an annual compensation in an amount less than the total compensation being received for the office of county coroner in the particular county for services rendered or performed on the date the salary commission votes.
4. For the term beginning in 1997, the compensation of the coroner, in counties in which the salary commission has not voted to pay one hundred percent of the maximum allowable salary, shall be a percentage of the maximum allowable salary established by this section. The percentage applied shall be the same percentage of the maximum allowable salary received or allowed, whichever is greater, to the presiding commissioner or sheriff, whichever is greater, of that county for the year beginning January 1, 1997. In those counties in which the salary commission has voted to pay one hundred percent of the maximum allowable salary, the compensation of the coroner shall be based on the maximum allowable salary in effect at each time a coroner's term of office commences following the vote to pay one hundred percent of the maximum allowable compensation. Subsequent compensation shall be determined as provided in section 50.333, RSMo.
5. Effective January 1, [1997] 2009, the county coroner in any county[, other than a county of the first classification with a charter form of government, may, upon the approval of the county commission,] shall receive additional compensation for any month during which investigations or other services are performed for three or more decedents in the same incident during such month. The additional compensation shall be an amount that when added to the regular compensation the sum shall equal the monthly compensation of the county sheriff.
58.160. 1. The coroner, in all counties in this state in which a coroner is required by section 58.010 may have a deputy. In such counties which now contain or may hereafter contain a city of seventy-five thousand inhabitants and less than two hundred thousand inhabitants, may have such a number of deputies and assistants, to be recommended by the coroner and appointed by the county commission as deemed necessary for the prompt and proper discharge of the duties of his office, and such deputies and assistants shall be divided into classes as follows: Class "A", assistants or deputies; class "B", assistants or deputies; class "C", office clerks and copyists. Class "A" assistants or deputies shall be paid a minimum of sixteen hundred and eighty dollars per year. Class "B" assistants or deputies shall be paid a minimum of fifteen hundred dollars per year. Class "C" office clerks and copyists shall be paid a minimum of twelve hundred dollars per year.
2. All other counties shall appoint a deputy coroner, at the request of and upon the recommendation of the coroner, who may discharge all duties and exercise all powers of the coroner, and shall receive the compensation of the coroner while serving in the coroner's absence, be compensated as provided by the county commission [or serve without compensation] with an annual minimum compensation of two thousand dollars.
58.165. 1. All coroners, deputy coroners, and assistants to the coroner in all counties of this state shall be registered with the executive director of the Missouri Coroners' and Medical Examiners' Association immediately after election by the people of their county or appointment by the governor, county commission, county coroner, or any other official having authorization to appoint such position but prior to discharging or exercising any duties or powers of that position.
2. All elected or appointed coroners, deputy coroners, and assistants to the coroner shall fulfill the obligations and requirements of that office within six months after election or appointment.
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