To repeal sections 141.530 and 141.550, RSMo 1994, relating to delinquent real estate taxes, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections relating to the same subject.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, AS FOLLOWS:

     Section A. Sections 141.530 and 141.550, RSMo 1994, are repealed and two new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 141.530 and 141.550, to read as follows:

     141.530. 1. Except as otherwise provided in section 141.520, during such waiting period and at any time prior to the time of foreclosure sale by the sheriff, any interested party may redeem any parcel of real estate as provided by this chapter[; provided, however, that]. During such [time] waiting period and at any time prior to the time of foreclosure sale by the sheriff, the collector may, at the option of the party entitled to redeem, enter into a written redemption contract with any such party interested in any parcel of real estate, other than a residential property which has been vacant for at least six months, providing for payment in installments, monthly or bimonthly, of the delinquent tax bills, including interest, penalties, attorney's fees and costs charged against such parcel of real estate, provided, however, that in no instance shall such installments exceed twelve in number or extend more than twenty-four months next after any agreement for such installment payments shall have been entered into; provided further, that upon good cause being shown by the owner of any parcel of real estate occupied as a homestead, or in the case of improved real estate with an assessed valuation of not more than three thousand five hundred dollars, owned by an individual, the income from such property being a major factor in the total income of such individual, or by anyone on his behalf, the court may, in its discretion, fix the time and terms of payment in such contract to permit all of such installments to be paid within not longer than forty-eight months after any order or agreement as to installment payments shall have been made.

     2. So long as such installments be paid according to the terms of the contract, the said six months waiting period shall be extended, but if any installment be not paid when due, the extension of said waiting period shall be ended without notice, and the real estate shall forthwith be advertised for sale or included in the next notice of sheriff's foreclosure sale.

     141.550. 1. The sale shall be conducted, the sheriff's return thereof made, and the sheriff's deed pursuant to the sale executed, all as provided in the case of sales of real estate taken under execution except as otherwise provided in sections 141.210 to 141.810, and provided that such sale need not occur during the term of court or while the court is in session.

     2. The sale shall be held on the day for which it is advertised, between the hours of nine o'clock a.m. and five o'clock p.m. and continued day to day thereafter to satisfy the judgment as to each respective parcel of real estate sold.

     3. The sale shall be conducted publicly, by auction, for ready money. The highest bidder shall be the purchaser unless the highest bid is less than the full amount of all tax bills included in the judgment, interest, penalties, attorney's fees and costs then due thereon. No person shall be eligible to bid at the time of the sale if that person is the owner of any parcel of real estate in the county which is affected by a tax bill which has been delinquent for more than six months.

     [2.] 4. Such sale shall convey the whole interest of every person having or claiming any right, title or interest in or lien upon such real estate, whether such person has answered or not, subject to rights-of-way thereon of public utilities upon which tax has been otherwise paid, and subject to the lien thereon, if any, of the United States of America.

     [3.] 5. The collector shall advance the sums necessary to pay for the publication of all advertisements required by sections 141.210 to 141.810 and shall be allowed credit therefor in his accounts with the county. He shall give credit in such accounts for all such advances recovered by him. Such expenses of publication shall be apportioned pro rata among and taxed as costs against the respective parcels of real estate described in the judgment; provided, however, that none of the costs herein enumerated, including the costs of publication, shall constitute any lien upon the real estate after such sale.