FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 709

92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES BROWN, DUSENBERG, ERVIN, YATES, PHILLIPS,

REINHART, DOUGHERTY (Co-sponsors), PRATT, BAKER, GUEST, SAGER, SCHAAF, AVERY,

SKAGGS, BISHOP, MEINERS, BURNETT, YOUNG, LeVOTA, QUINN, HUNTER, VIEBROCK,

JACKSON, KELLY (144), RUPP, RECTOR, WILSON (130), WILDBERGER, LAWSON, JOHNSON (90),

 CARNAHAN, KELLY (36), WARD AND GRAHAM.

         Read 1^st time March 31, 2003, and copies ordered printed.

STEPHEN S. DAVIS, Chief Clerk

2147L.01I

AN ACT

To repeal section 84.570, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to police officers.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

            Section A. Section 84.570, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 84.570, to read as follows:

            84.570. 1. No person shall be appointed policeman or officer of police who shall have been convicted of any offense, the punishment of which may be confinement in the state penitentiary; nor shall any person be appointed who is not proven to be of good character, or who is not proven to be a bona fide citizen [and resident of such city for a period of at least one year and a citizen] of the United States, or who cannot read and write the English language and who does not possess ordinary physical strength and courage, nor shall any person be originally appointed to said police force who is less than twenty-one years of age[; provided, however, that the board of police commissioners may, upon recommendation of the chief, waive the requirement of residency in the appointment of any policeman or officer of police for the period during which such appointee shall be on probationary status; provided, however, that on completion of the probationary period such policeman or officer of police becomes a bona fide resident of such city]. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board shall have the sole authority to determine conditions of employment for police officers pursuant to section 84.460.

            2. The board shall from time to time require open competitive examinations or tests for determining the qualifications and fitness of all applicants for appointment to positions on the police force. Such examinations and tests shall be practical and shall relate to matters which fairly measure the relative fitness of the candidates to discharge the duties of the positions to which they seek to be appointed. Notice of such examinations and tests shall be given not less than ten days in advance thereof by public advertisement in at least one newspaper of general circulation in such city, and by posting notice in the police headquarters building. A list of those qualifying in such examinations shall be established, listing those qualified in order of rank. When an appointment is to be made, the appointment shall be made from such eligible list.

            3. The board shall also establish rules for:

            (1) Temporary employment for not exceeding sixty days in the absence of any eligible list;

            (2) Hours of work of police employees and officers subject to the provisions of section 84.510; and

            (3) Attendance regulations and leaves of absence.