FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 560

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES GUEST (Sponsor) AND FUNDERBURK (Co-sponsor).

1064L.01I                                                                                                                                                  D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To amend chapter 565, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the responsibility of whistleblowers, with penalty provisions.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

            Section A. Chapter 565, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 565.088, to read as follows:

            565.088. 1. Any person who reports any violation or suspected violation of laws, ordinances, or regulations against any individual or business entity shall verify the identity of the person making such report using a mechanism determined by the governmental or law enforcement agency receiving such report, which may include gathering the person's name, address, phone number, or other identifying information.

            2. The individual or business entity receiving such report shall inform the person making such report that giving false information may be a class C misdemeanor.

            3. Once an investigation into the report is complete, the individual or business entity shall inform the person reporting such information if the information was unfounded and state that if he or she makes another report on the same individual or business entity the person may be charged with a class C misdemeanor if such report is unfounded.

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