SURPLUS WATERCRAFT (Section 43.260)

This act allows the Missouri State Highway Patrol to sell surplus watercraft and watercraft motors and trailers in the same manner that the Highway Patrol may currently sell surplus Highway Patrol vehicles.

Proceeds from the sales will be directed to the "Highway Patrol's Motor Vehicle, Aircraft, and Watercraft Revolving Fund", which is administered by the superintendent of the highway patrol. Proceeds from the fund are used to purchase highway patrol motor vehicles, and may be used under this act to also purchase watercraft, and watercraft motors and trailers.

This provision is similar to SB 353 (2011).

FIREFIGHTERS' DISABILITY AND DEATH BENEFITS (Sections 87.005 & 87.006)

This act modifies provisions that affect claims by firefighters for disability or death benefits. If after five years of service a firefighter's health is impaired due to certain infectious diseases, it will be presumed that this infectious disease was suffered in the line of duty, unless there is evidence to the contrary.

This provision is similar to SS SCS HCS HB 664 (2011), SB 238 (2011), and HB 295 (2011).

TEXTING WHILE DRIVING (Section 304.820)

Under current law, drivers who are 21 years of age or younger are prohibited from text messaging while operating a motor vehicle. Under this act, the text messaging ban is applied universally so that all drivers, regardless of age, unless it is voice-recognition hands-free texting.

This provision is similar to SB 11 (2011) and HB 93 (2011).

ASSAULT OF A UTILITY WORKER (Sections 565.081, 565.082, 565.083)

This act expands the crime of assault of a law enforcement officer, corrections officer, emergency personnel, highway worker in a construction or work zone, or probation and parole officer to include assault of a utility worker and repeals a duplicate provision currently in statute.

RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY (Section 570.080)

This act specifies in the section defining the crime of receiving stolen property that any offense in which the value of property or services is an element of the crime is a Class C felony if the value of the property or services exceeds $500, the property is physically taken from the person of the victim, or if the property is of a certain description. It is a Class B felony if the value of the property or services equals or exceeds $25,000.

The receipt of any item, property, or services which exceeds $500 may be considered a separate felony and be charged in separate counts.

A person who commits the crime of receiving stolen property who has a prior conviction involving livestock or captive wildlife, when the value of the stolen property exceeds $3,000, is guilty of a Class B felony. Such a person must serve a minimum prison term of not less than 80 percent of his or her sentence before being eligible for probation, parole, conditional release, or other early release.

This provision is identical to SS/SCS/HCS/HB 111 (2011), SB 425 (2011), and HB 693 (2011).

MEGHAN LUECKE