HB 359 Cook, Bennie
HB 359 -- LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
SPONSOR: Cook
The bill provides that the city of St. Louis may pass ordinances but no ordinance can, in any manner, conflict or interfere with the powers or the exercise of the powers of the Board of Police Commissioners. Additionally, the mayor or any city officer shall not impede or hinder the Board of Police Commissioners. If the mayor or any city officer resists or obstructs the execution or enforcement of the provisions of this bill, or fails to disburse money in violation thereof, he or she will be liable for a penalty of $1,000 and will forever be disqualified from holding or exercising any office of the city.
Beginning August 28, 2023, the Board shall assume control of the municipal police department of St. Louis and, no later than September 28, 2024, the Governor must appoint four commissioners to the Board, who shall serve together with the President of the Board of Aldermen. The municipal police department will transfer title and ownership of all indebtedness and assets and accept liability as successor-in-interest for contractual obligation of the police department. The Board shall initially employ, without reduction in rank, salary, or benefits, all commissioned and civilian personnel of the municipal police department.
The Board is required to appoint and employ a permanent police force consisting of not less than 1,142 members. The Board may continue to employ as many non-commissioned police civilians as it deems necessary in order to perform the duties imposed on them, which will include city marshals and park rangers. The Board will grant every member of the police force a certain number of paid vacation days based on how long each member has served, as specified in the bill.
No further appointments to the rank of major will be made, but all members of the force now holding the rank of major shall continue in that rank until their promotion, demotion, removal, resignation, or other separation from the force. The salaries paid as of August 28, 2023, shall not be less than the annual salaries paid to each member before the enactment of this bill and annual salaries shall increase by no less than $4,000 by July 1, 2024. No additional compensation shall be given to any officer of the rank of lieutenant or above for overtime, court time, or stand-by court time.
Probationary patrolmen, patrolmen, and sergeants must receive compensation for all hours of service in excess of the established regular working period, for all authorized overtime, and for employees who complete academic work at an accredited college or university up to a certain amount as provided in the bill. Additionally, certain officers may receive up to 10% of their salary in additional compensation for hours worked between 11 PM and 7 AM.
This bill provides that, until the Board adopts other investigative and disciplinary procedures, the police force shall follow the disciplinary and investigative procedures established by the Police Manual of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. The Board will not adopt any disciplinary procedures that do not include the summary hearing Board procedures provided for currently in the Police Manual. This bill provides that reimbursements from the Legal Expense Fund to the Board for liability claims must be on a 21 equal share basis per claim up to a maximum of $1 million per fiscal year.
This bill repeals all provisions relating to the municipal police force established by the city of St. Louis.
This bill is similar to HB 2671 (2022).