SPONSOR: Costlow
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Emerging Issues by a vote of 11 to 0, with 1 voting present. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules-Administrative by a vote of 8 to 0.
This bill establishes the "Missouri Task Force on Nonprofit Safety and Security" within the Department of Public Safety.
The Task Force is tasked with studying and making recommendations on the security needs of nonprofit organizations at elevated risk of terrorist attacks in Missouri. Members of the Task Force will be appointed by the Director of Public Safety, as specified in the bill. The Task Force must report at least annually to the Office of Homeland Security of its findings and recommendations with respect to terrorist attacks in Missouri.
The bill establishes the "Supplemental Nonprofit Safety and Security Fund". The Fund can be used to defray costs of security enhancements or measures, as specified in the bill, for eligible nonprofit organizations. Eligible nonprofit organizations are those organizations whose applications for funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Nonprofit Security Grant Program have been approved by the Department of Public Safety Office of Homeland Security. An eligible organization may receive a grant from the Fund of up to 5% of the available grant pool.
This bill has an emergency clause.
This bill is the same as HB 1557 (2024) and HB 1063(2023).
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that Missouri is currently competing with other states to secure funding and grants, and as a result, metropolitan areas with Kansas City and St Louis have had their applications for federal funding denied. This bill will make it easier to secure the funds that are necessary to protect Missouri's citizens.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Costlow; and Jewish Federation of St. Louis.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee. Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: