POLITICAL PROHIBITIONS ON FIRST RESPONDERS - 67.145 & 84.830

Under this act, political subdivisions cannot prohibit first responders from engaging in political activity while off duty and not in uniform or being a candidate for or holding a public office unless the activity or candidacy is otherwise prohibited by law.

This act repeals provisions of law which currently prohibit any employee or officer of the Kansas City Police Department from belonging to a political party committee, being a ward committeeman or committeewoman, or making contributions of any kind for political activity. Also repealed is a provision that prohibits any person from soliciting a police employee, officer, or a member of the police board for any political purpose.

Current law prohibits a Kansas City officer or employee from soliciting any person to vote for or against a candidate for public office, "poll precincts", or be connected with similar political work for a political organization, party, or candidate. Under this act, those activities are only prohibited while the officer or employee is on duty or in uniform.

These provisions are identical to the truly agreed to and finally passed SB 216 (2013) and the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/SCS/HB 307 (2013) and similar to SB 419 (2011), SB 18 (2007), SB 189 (2009), and SB 579 (2010).

KANSAS CITY POLICE SALARIES - Sections 84.480 & 84.510

This act increases the maximum salaries that may be paid to the chief of police and officers of the Kansas City Police Department.

This provision is identical to a provision of SCS/SB 224 (2013).

ST. LOUIS POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM - Sections 86.200, 86.257, & 86.263

Currently, a member of the Police Retirement System of St. Louis who becomes disabled from causes occurring within the performance of duties shall be retired upon certification by the medical director of the police retirement system and approved by the board of trustees of the system. This act replaces this certification process by requiring that one or more physicians of the medical board certify that the member is unable to perform the full and unrestricted duties of a police officer. The act defines both medical board and full and unrestricted duties of a police officer.

Under current law, a member who is disabled in an incident unrelated to the performance of official duties and who has ten or more years of service shall be retired by the board of trustees of the police retirement system. The act provides that a member with a non-duty disability may retire after five years of creditable service provided that the system's actuarial valuation is at least eighty percent. The act also provides that the retirement application shall be certified by a medical board, rather than the medical director.

These provisions are identical to SCS/HB 722 (2013), provisions of the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/HB 116 (2013), the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SCS/SB 224 (2013), and are similar to provisions in HB 897 (2013).

TAXES EXEMPT FROM TIF - Section 99.845

Currently, fifty percent of additional revenue generate by taxes and attributable to economic activities in a redevelopment area utilizing tax increment financing are to be deposited into the special allocation fund for the TIF project. Certain taxes are exempt from this deposit requirement.

This act adds to the list of exemptions, for projects approved after August 28, 2013, taxes imposed to pay for emergency communications systems.

CERTIFICATION OF COMMUNITY PARAMEDICS - Sections 190.098 & 190.100

This act allows the Department of Health and Senior Services to certify community paramedics. A community paramedic must be currently certified as a paramedic, have successfully completed an approved community paramedic certification program, and completed an application. No person may hold himself or herself out as a community paramedic or provide community paramedic services unless the person is certified.

An ambulance service must enter into a written contract to provide community paramedic services in another ambulance service area. The contract may be for an indefinite period of time as long as it includes at least a 60-day cancellation notice by either ambulance service.

This provision is identical to a provision of the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/SCS/HB 307 (2013) and HCS/HB 335 (2013).

FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT DIRECTORS - Section 321.015

Under current law, many officers and employees of the state or a political subdivision may not also hold office as the director of a fire protection district in certain counties. This act exempts fire protection districts in the counties of Boone, Callaway, and Cole from this prohibition on district directors.

This provision is identical to a provision of the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/SCS/HB 307 (2013) and a provision of HCS/HB 335 (2013).

FILING FEES FOR FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT CANDIDATES - Section 321.210

Under current law, candidates for a fire protection district board of directors must pay a $10 filing fee. This act provides that the filing fee shall be up to $50, which is the amount provided under statute for a candidate for state representative.

This provision is identical to a provision of HCS/HB 335 (2013) and CCS/SS/SCS/HB 307 (2013).

ANNEXATION OF FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT PROPERTY - Section 321.322

Under current law, when certain cities annex property located within the boundaries of a fire protection district, the city takes over fire protection service for that property and the fire protection district can no longer collect taxes upon such property. This act provides that when the City of De Soto annexes property located within a fire protection district, the district and not the city continues to provide fire and emergency medical services to the annexed property.

The fire protection district may not tax the annexed area except for any bonded indebtedness that existed prior to the annexation. The annexing city must pay the district an amount equal to that which the fire protection district would have levied on all taxable property within the annexed area.

This provision is identical to a provision of the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/SCS/HB 307 (2013).

MEGHAN LUECKE