SCS/HCS/HB 1564 - This act modifies provisions relating to political subdivisions.COMPENSATION FOR COUNTY CORONERS
This act provides that the salary of a coroner in a noncharter county may be set as a base schedule as provided by law subject to an increase up to $14,000 upon the majority approval of the salary commission.
Additionally, under current law, when the office of the sheriff is vacant, the county coroner is authorized to perform all the duties of the sheriff, until another sheriff is appointed.
This act provides that if the coroner becomes acting sheriff and the sheriff is no longer receiving the sheriff's salary, the coroner may be paid, in addition to the coroner's salary, the difference between the salaries of the sheriff and coroner so that the coroner receives the equivalent of the sheriff's salary while serving as acting sheriff. (Sections 50.327, 58.095, & 58.200)
These provisions are identical to provisions in HS/HCS/SB 1363 (2024), HCS/HB 2348 (2024), HB 2588 (2024), the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/SCS/HB 1606 (2022), SB 1085 (2022), and HB 2175 (2022).
BASE SALARY SCHEDULES FOR THIRD CLASS COUNTIES
This act provides that the salary commission of any third class county may amend the base salary schedules as provided by law for the computation of salaries for county officials to include assessed valuation factors in excess of $300 million dollars; provided that the percentage of any adjustments shall be equal for all county officials in that county. (Section 50.327)
This provision is identical to a provision in HS/HCS/SB 1363 (2024), HCS/HB 2348 (2024), HB 2588 (2024), the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/SCS/HB 1606 (2022), and SB 704 (2022).
PUBLISHING OF COUNTY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
This act changes the date counties shall prepare and publish their financial statements from the first Monday in March to June 30th of each year. Additionally, the county treasurer shall not pay the county commission until notice is received from the state auditor that the county's financial statement has been published in a newspaper after the first day of July.
This act also requires second, third, and fourth class counties to produce and publish a county annual financial statement in the same manner as counties of the first classification. The financial statement shall include the name, office, and current gross annual salary of each elected or appointed county official.
The county clerk or other county officer preparing the financial statement shall provide an electronic copy of the data used to create the financial statement without charge to the newspaper requesting the data.
Finally, the newspaper publishing the financial statement shall charge and receive no more than its regular local classified advertising rate as published 30 days before the publication of the financial statement. (Sections 50.815, 50.820, 50.800, & 50.810)
These provisions are identical to provisions in SB 1362 (2024), HS/HCS/SB 1363 (2024), HB 2571 (2024), the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/SCS/HB 1606 (2022), SB 845 (2022), and SB 1191 (2022) and substantially similar to SB 1541 (2022) and HB 381 (2021).
COUNTY AUDITORS
This act provides that, upon request, a county auditor in certain counties shall have access to and the ability to audit and examine claims of every kind and character for which a county officer has a fiduciary duty. (Section 55.160)
This provision is identical to a provision in HS/HCS/SB 1363 (2024) and the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/SCS/HB 1606 (2022), and is substantially similar to SB 889 (2022) and SB 628 (2021).
BOONE COUNTY SHERIFF
Under current law, first and second class county sheriffs shall receive salaries equal to 80% of the compensation of associate circuit judges of the county. This act excludes sheriffs in Boone County. (Section 57.317)
This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/SB 1363 (2024), HCS/HB 2348 (2024), HB 2588 (2024), and the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/SCS/HB 1606 (2022).
COUNTY PLANNING BOARD HEARING NOTICES
Current law requires county planning boards to post notice of a hearing prior to the adoption of a master plan, with such notice being posted in at least two conspicuous places in each township. This act modifies such requirement to require the posting on the county's website. (Section 64.231)
This provision is identical to HB 1992 (2024).
HOSPITAL SALES TAX
This act authorizes Bates County to impose a sales tax not to exceed 1% for the purposes of supporting the operations of hospital services in the county. (Section 67.597)
This provision is identical to SB 1484 (2024) and HB 2731 (2024), and to a provision in SCS/SB 1091 (2024).
RECREATION SALES TAX
Current law authorizes the counties of Bollinger and Cape Girardeau to jointly impose a sales tax for the purpose of the financing, acquisition, construction, operation, and maintenance of recreational projects and programs. This act allows such counties to separately levy such tax. (Section 67.782, 67.783, and 67.785)
These provisions are identical to provisions in HCS/HB 2348 (2024).
TRANSIENT GUEST TAXES
This act adds the cities of Weldon Spring and Cottleville to the list of cities authorized to impose a transient guest tax at a rate not to exceed 5% for the purpose of the promotion of tourism. (Section 67.1003)
This provision is substantially similar to HB 2496 (2024) and HB 2687 (2024).
This act authorizes the city of Knob Noster to impose a transient guest tax at a rate not to exceed 6% for the purpose of promoting tourism, promoting economic development, and promoting the retention and growth of any military base near the city. (Section 67.1009)
This provision is identical to HB 1689 (2024).
This act authorizes the cities of Harrisonville and Jackson to impose a transient guest tax at a rate not to exceed 6% for the purpose of the promotion of tourism. (Section 67.1013)
This provision is substantially similar to HB 1439 (2024).
This act adds the county of New Madrid to the list of counties authorized to impose a transient guest tax at a rate not to exceed 5% for the purpose of the promotion of tourism. (Section 67.1018)
This provision is identical to HB 2246 (2024).
This act adds the city of Richmond to the list of cities authorized to impose a transient guest tax at a rate not to exceed 5% for the purpose of the promotion of tourism. (Section 67.1360)
This provision is identical to HB 1984 (2024).
Current law authorizes certain cities to impose a transient guest tax for the purpose of funding the promotion, operation, and development of tourism. This act also allows the proceeds from such tax to be used for the operating costs of a community center. (Section 67.1366)
This provision is identical to SB 1488 (2024).
This act adds the county of Ste. Genevieve to the list of counties authorized to impose a transient guest tax at a rate not to exceed 6% for the purpose of the promotion of tourism. (Section 67.1367)
This provision is substantially similar to HB 2784 (2024).
This act authorizes the city of Wentzville to impose a transient guest tax at a rate not to exceed 5% for general revenue purposes. (Section 94.961)
This provision is identical to HB 2695 (2024).
THEATER, CULTURAL ARTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS
Under current law, certain counties may establish a theater, cultural arts, and entertainment district. This act adds counties that border the Lake of the Ozarks to the list of counties authorized to establish such districts. (Section 67.2500)
This provision is identical to SB 1431 (2024) and HB 2068 (2024), and to a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 1483 (2024) and HCS/HB 2348 (2024).
MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
This act provides that, for fourth class cities with two thousand or fewer inhabitants, if the mayor of such city is authorized to appoint a member of a board or commission, any requirements that such appointed person be a resident of the city shall be satisfied under conditions described in the act. (Section 79.235)
This provision is identical to HB 2237 (2024) and HCS/HB 2286 (2024), and to a provision in HCS/HB 2206 (2024) and HCS/HB 2348 (2024).
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS SALES TAX
Current law authorizes the city of Lamar Heights to impose a transient guest tax at a rate not to exceed 6% and a food sales tax at a rate not to exceed 2% for the purpose of funding the construction, maintenance, and operation of capital improvements. This act allows such taxes to be used for emergency services and public safety. (Section 94.838)
PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX
This act adds the cities of Joplin, Hannibal, Moberly, Richmond, and Warrensburg to the list of cities authorized to impose a sales tax at a rate of up to 0.5% for the purposes of improving public safety. (Section 94.900)
These provisions are identical to HB 1985 (2024), HB 2290 (2024), and HB 2590 (2024), and to provisions in SCS/SB 1091 (2024).
COUNTY FINANCIAL STATEMENT PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO FILE
Under current law, any transportation development district having gross revenues of less than $5,000 in a fiscal year for which an annual financial statement was not timely filed to the State Auditor is not subject to a fine.
This act provides that any political subdivision that has gross revenues of less than $5,000 or that has not levied or collected sales or use taxes in the fiscal year for which the annual financial statement was not timely filed shall not be subject to a fine.
Additionally, if failure to timely submit the annual financial statement is the result of fraud or other illegal conduct by an employee or officer of the political subdivision, the political subdivision shall not be subject to a fine if the statement is filed within 30 days of discovery of the fraud or illegal conduct.
If the political subdivision has an outstanding balance for fines at the time it files its first annual financial statement after August 28, 2022, the Director of Revenue shall make a one-time downward adjustment to such outstanding balance in an amount that reduces the outstanding balance by no less than 90%. If the Director of Revenue determines a fine is uncollectable, the Director shall have the authority to make a one-time downward adjustment to any outstanding penalty. (Section 105.145)
This provision is identical to a provision in SB 1362 (2024), HS/HCS/SB 1363 (2024), HB 2571 (2024), the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/SCS/HB 1606 (2022), and the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/SB 724 (2022), and is substantially similar to HB 441 (2021), HB 826 (2021), and to provisions in SCS/SB 527 (2021).
AUCTIONS FOR LAND WITH DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES
This act allows a county collector to hold an auction of lands with delinquent property taxes through electronic media at the same time as said auction is held in-person. (Sections 140.170 and 140.190)
These provisions are identical to provisions in HS/HCS/SB 1363 (2024), HCS/HB 2348 (2024), HB 2588 (2024), the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/SCS/HB 1606 (2022), and SB 1144 (2022).
REGIONAL JAIL DISTRICTS
Under current law, any two or more contiguous counties may establish a regional jail district.
This act provides that if an existing regional jail district already levies a sales tax and another county joins the district, such joining with the district will not be effective until the voters of the county have approved the sales tax. If the voters do not approve the sales tax, the county attempting to join the district shall not be permitted to join.
This act also adds that a district may equip and maintain jail facilities, as well as lease its properties. The regional jail commission shall have the power to acquire, construct, repair, alter, improve, and extend a regional jail and it may contract with governmental or private entities. Commissioners shall also serve until their successors have assumed office.
Under current law, any regional jail district may impose a one-eighth, one-fourth, three-eighths, or one-half of one percent sales tax. This act changes the amount to up to one percent. This act also repeals the provision that such sales tax may be used for court facilities in the regional jail district.
This act also provides that expenditures paid for by the regional jail district sales tax trust fund may be made for any of the district's authorized purposes.
These provisions repeal the sunset provision. (Section 221.400, 221.402, 221.405, 221.407, & 221.410)
These provisions are identical to provisions in HB 1612 (2024) and HCS/HB 2348 (2024), and are substantially similar to provisions in HCS/SS/SB 900 (2024).
REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSIONS
Under current law, state funds for the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council and for the Mid-America Regional Council are not to exceed $65,000 and state funds for other regional planning commissions shall not exceed $25,000. This act changes the sums to $130,000 and $50,000.
Additionally, this act removes the regional planning commissions of Show-Me, Missouri Valley, Ozark Gateway, ABCD, and Lakes County and adds Harry S. Truman, MO-Kan, Pioneer Trails, and Southwest Mo.
Finally, this act provides that beginning July 1, 2025, the maximum grant amount for each regional planning commission shall be adjusted with the consumer price index. (Section 251.034)
This provision is identical to HCS/HB 1986 (2024) and SB 634 (2023), and to a provision in HCS/SB 155 (2023), and is substantially similar to SB 939 (2024), SB 1112 (2024), HB 1779 (2024), HB 2069 (2024), HB 2074 (2024), and HB 2151 (2024), and to a provision in HCS/HB 2348 (2024).
ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT ALCOHOL LICENSES
This act provides that the Supervisor of Alcohol and Tobacco Control may issue an entertainment district special license to sell intoxicating liquor by the drink for retail consumption dispensed from one or more portable bars within the common areas of the entertainment district, as such terms are defined in the act, until 3:00am on Mondays-Saturdays, and from 6:00am on Sundays until 1:30am on Mondays.
The act defines an entertainment district as any area located in any county that borders on or that contains part of a lake with not less than one thousand miles of shoreline and that is located in the city of Lake Ozark and contains a combination of entertainment venues, bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. (Section 311.094)
SALARIES OF COUNTY PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS
Currently, if a public administrator of a second, third, or fourth class county or of the City of St. Louis elects to be placed on salary, the salary is determined by a schedule based on the average number of open letters in the two years preceding the term in which the salary is elected. This act provides that every public administrator who begins his or her term on or after January 1, 2024, shall be deemed to have elected to receive such salary. This act also provides that a letter of guardianship and a letter of conservatorship shall be counted as separate letters. Additionally, it shall be two letters if the public administrator is appointed by the court as both a guardian and a conservator to the same ward or protectee.
Furthermore, this act provides that upon majority approval by the salary commission, a public administrator may be paid according to the assessed valuation schedule set forth in the act. If the salary commission elects to pay a public administrator according to the assessed valuation schedule, the salary commission shall not elect to change at any future time to pay the public administrator according to the average number of open letters in lieu of paying them according to the assessed valuation schedule. (Section 473.742)
This provision is identical to a provision in HS/HCS/SB 1363 (2024), HCS/HB 2348 (2024), HB 2588 (2024), the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/SCS/HB 1606 (2022), and SB 1088 (2022), is substantially similar to HB 2450 (2022) and HB 2450 (2021), and is similar to SB 803 (2020).
JOSH NORBERG