HB 270 -- Judicial Personnel

Co-Sponsors:  Hoppe, Smith

This bill changes the law relating to the appointment of
judicial personnel.  In its major provisions, the bill:

(1)  Transfers from the circuit clerk to the county clerk
certain duties relating to the salary commission of nonchartered
counties;

(2)  Eliminates the authorization to combine the offices of
circuit clerk and recorder of deeds after December 30, 2002, and
establishes procedures for separating the offices;

(3)  Establishes an additional fee of $10 to be collected by
recorders of deeds for recording any instrument.  The recorder
must retain $2 of the fee for the purposes expressed in Section
59.319.  The remaining funds must be deposited in a special fund
in the county treasury to be used for the costs of operating the
recorder's office;

(4)  Requires the judges of each judicial circuit to appoint
circuit clerks by December 31, 2002.  Currently, circuit clerks
are elected;

(5)  Authorizes the Missouri Supreme Court to establish
administrative rules concerning circuit court personnel; and

(6)  Requires the circuit clerks of Marion County to maintain
one office in Hannibal and another office in Palmyra.