To repeal sections 190.327 and 190.329, RSMo Supp. 1995, relating to emergency services, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections relating to the same subject, with an emergency clause.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI,

AS FOLLOWS:

Section A. Sections 190.327 and 190.329, RSMo Supp. 1995, are repealed and two new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 190.327 and 190.329, to read as follows:

190.327. 1. Immediately upon the decision by the commission to utilize a portion of the emergency telephone tax for central dispatching and an affirmative vote of the telephone tax, the commission shall appoint the initial members of a board which shall administer the funds and oversee the provision of central dispatching for emergency services in the county and in municipalities and other political subdivisions which have contracted for such service. Beginning with the general election in 1992, all board members shall be elected according to this section and other applicable laws of this state. At the time of the appointment of the initial members of the board, the commission shall relinquish to the board and no longer exercise the duties prescribed in this chapter with regard to the provision of emergency telephone service and in chapter 321, RSMo, with regard to the provision of central dispatching service, and such duties shall be exercised by the board.

2. Elections for board members may be held on general municipal election day, as defined in subsection 3 of section 115.121, RSMo, after approval by a simple majority of the county commission.

[2.] 3. For the purpose of providing the services described in this section, the board shall have the following powers, authority and privileges:

(1) To have and use a corporate seal;

(2) To sue and be sued, and be a party to suits, actions and proceedings;

(3) To enter into contracts, franchises and agreements with any person, partnership, association or corporation, public or private, affecting the affairs of the board;

(4) To acquire, construct, purchase, maintain, dispose of and encumber real and personal property, including leases and easements;

(5) To have the management, control and supervision of all the business affairs of the board and the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of any improvements;

(6) To hire and retain agents and employees and to provide for their compensation including health and pension benefits;

(7) To adopt and amend bylaws and any other rules and regulations;

(8) To fix, charge and collect the taxes and fees authorized by law for the purpose of implementing and operating the services described in this section;

(9) To pay all expenses connected with the first election and all subsequent elections; and

(10) To have and exercise all rights and powers necessary or incidental to or implied from the specific powers granted in this subsection. Such specific powers shall not be considered as a limitation upon any power necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and intent of sections 190.300 to 190.329.

190.329. 1. The initial board shall consist of seven members appointed without regard for political party who shall be selected from and shall represent the fire protection districts, ambulance districts, sheriff's department, municipalities, any other emergency services and the general public. This initial board shall serve until its successor board is duly elected and installed in office. The commission shall ensure geographic representation of the county by appointing no more than four members from any one commission district of the county.

2. Beginning in 1992, three members shall be elected from each commission district and one member shall be elected at-large, with such at- large member to be a voting member and chairman of the board. Of those first elected, four members from commission districts shall be elected for terms of two years and two members from commission districts and the member at-large shall be elected for terms of four years. In 1994, and thereafter, all terms of office shall be for four years, except as provided in subsection 3 of this section. Any vacancy on the board shall be filled in the same manner as the initial appointment was made. Four members shall constitute a quorum.

3. Upon approval by the county commission for the election of board members to be held on general municipal election day, pursuant to subsection 2 of section 190.327, the terms of those board members then holding office shall be reduced by seven months. After a board member's term has been reduced, all following terms for that position shall be for four years.

Section B. Because immediate action is necessary for the improvement of emergency services, this act is deemed necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, welfare, peace and safety, and is hereby declared to be an emergency act within the meaning of the constitution, and this act shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and approval.