COUNTY COMMISSION VACANCIES

This act requires the Governor to fill vacancies in the office of county commission by and with the advice and consent of the Senate within 31 after the certification of such vacancy. This provision does not apply to charter counties.

This provision is similar to SB 701 (2016) and SCS/SB 289 (2015).

DISINCORPORATION PROCEDURES

This act also establishes disincorporation procedures for third class cities, charter cities, or home rule cities in St. Louis County which are substantially similar to the disincorporation procedure for a city of the fourth class or a village in St. Louis County.

The act also decreases the number of signatures required on a petition to disincorporate a fourth class city or a village in St. Louis County from 50% to 25% of voters, and further decreases the voter approval percentage for disincorporation from 60% to 50% plus one voter.

These provisions are identical to HB 1686 (2016) and HB 741 (2015) and are similar to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS#2/HCS/SS/SCS/SB 572 (2016).

COUNTY HEALTH RULES

Currently, both county commissions and county health center boards may make and establish orders, ordinances, rules or regulations under certain circumstances, but cannot conflict with any rules or regulations of the Department of Health and Senior Services or the Department of Social Services. This act requires the county commission to make and promulgate orders, ordinances, rules or regulations with the concurrence of the county health center board. In the case of an emergency, either the commission or the board may make any order, ordinance, rule, or regulation to protect the public health, safety, or welfare, so long as they are not in conflict with any rules or regulations made by the Department of Health and Senior Services.

This provision is identical to provisions in HCS/SB 676 (2016), HCS/SS/SB 937 (2016), SCS/HCS/HB 1912 (2016), HCS/HBs 2188, 1533, 1393, 2114 & 2113, HB 1823 (2016).

PEACE DISTURBANCE

Finally, the act modifies the offense of peace disturbance. A person does not commit the offense of peace disturbance by creating a loud noise or a noxious or offensive odor if the noise or odor comes from raising, maintaining, or keeping livestock, or from planting, caring, maintaining, or harvesting crops or hay.

This provision is substantially similar to provisions in HCS/SS/SCS/SB 663 (2016) and HB 2368 (2016).

MEGHAN LUECKE