JEFFERSON CITY — This week, legislation prefiled by Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, will receive numbers in order to prepare for the First Regular Session of the 98th General Assembly.

“The last few weeks have seen a modification to previous priorities,” said Sen. Nasheed. “We need to act swiftly on bills like these in order to move forward on improving citizens’ safety.”

One piece of legislation will amend two versions of current statutes regarding deadly force, one that is in effect now, and another set to take effect in 2017. The bill states that deadly force can be used by a law enforcement officer only when, and if, all other methods of apprehension or restraint have been attempted, the officer has warned the subject, and the officer has reasonable belief that the suspect is attempting to escape and possesses a deadly weapon. It also places a more stringent requirement on the use of deadly force against an unarmed person, stating that if the unarmed person is 20 or more feet away from the officer in question, the officer will be suspended from duty without pay immediately until an investigation is complete.

The second bill will require law enforcement agencies to create and put into permanent record policies regarding the investigation of deaths involving any commissioned officer. This measure also allows the attorney general to investigate any officer-involved death at his or her discretion, with the ability to give or withhold prosecution. This legislation would only apply to officer-involved deaths occurring after Aug. 28, 2015.

“It is time to address issues that have long-since been in need of updating,” Sen. Nasheed said. “These measures will provide a more cut-and-dried basis for certain instances that have been the fuse for recent issues.”

Prefiled bills begin receiving numbers beginning on Dec. 1. The legislative session will begin on Jan. 7, 2015.

Learn about these bills and more measures filed by Sen. Nasheed on her Senate website, www.senate.mo.gov/Nasheed.