Bill # |
Issue |
Sponsor |
Description |
Position |
HB 1396 |
Criminal Justice |
Dusenberg |
Requires the Department of Revenue to put a unique code or identifier on the driver's license, nondriver's license, or driver's permit of anyone who is required to register as a sex offender. |
Oppose: Legislation unfairly stigmatizes past offenders and is not necessary for public safety. 01/18/08 |
HB 1441 |
Criminal Justice |
Roorda |
Establishes the Law Enforcement Safety Fund and authorizes a surcharge in certain criminal cases to fund a contribution system for certain law enforcement employees. (Companion Bill SB 864) |
Oppose: The state has the right to charge a defendant, but it is not appropriate to impose surcharges on a defendant in order to fund law enforcement retirement pensions. 01/18/08 |
HB 1569 |
Criminal Justice |
Franz |
Allows counties to charge up to five dollars for the county law enforcement restitution fund for certain misdemeanors and infractions. |
Oppose: Creates an inequitable justice system by allowing citizens to pay into a restitution fund in lieu of acquiring a record for their moving violation. 01/18/08 |
SB 784 |
Criminal Justice |
Coleman |
Eliminates mandatory minimum sentencing for certain felons. |
Support: Mandatory sentences take away the ability of a judge to evaluate the particular circumstances and to order a reasonable sentence designed to protect society while encouraging the rehabilitation of the offender. 01/18/08 |
SB 864 |
Criminal Justice |
Rupp |
Establishes a surcharge on criminal cases to fund a defined benefit system for certain law enforcement employees. (Companion Bill HB 1441) |
Oppose: The state has the right to charge a defendant, but it is not appropriate to impose surcharges on a defendant in order to fund law enforcement retirement benefits. 01/18/08 |
SJR 30 |
Criminal Justice |
Coleman |
Creates an exception to the prohibition against laws retrospective in operation by allowing the sexual offender registry laws to be applied retrospectively. |
Oppose: Allowing the retrospective application of laws would overturn basic constitutional rights and create an unjust criminal justice system. 01/18/08 |
SJR 34 |
Criminal Justice |
Crowell |
Creates an exception to the prohibition against laws retrospective in operation by allowing the sexual offender registry laws to be applied retrospectively. |
Oppose: Allowing the retrospective application of laws overturns basic civil rights and creates an unjust criminal justice system. 01/18/08 |
HB 1870 |
Death Penalty |
Deeken |
Establishes the Commission on the Death Penalty and places a moratorium on all executions until January 1, 2012. |
Support: Creation of a commission on the death penalty will permit a careful study of all aspects of capital punishment, including how it contradicts respect for the sanctity and dignity of human life. Part of MCC's longstanding opposition to the death penalty. 01/08/08 |
SB 800 |
Death Penalty |
Days |
Creates a commission to study the death penalty in Missouri and prohibits use of the death penalty for a time period. (Companion Bill HB 1614) |
Support: Creation of a commission on the death penalty will permit a careful study of all aspects of capital punishment, including how it contradicts respect for the sanctity and dignity of human life. Part of MCC's longstanding opposition to the death penalty. 01/18/08 |
SB 835 |
Death Penalty |
Bray |
Eliminates the death penalty. |
Support: We cannot teach that killing is wrong by killing. Incarceration can protect the public. Part of the effort to create a culture that respects the sanctity and dignity of all human life. 01/18/08 |
