SB 72 - This act creates the offense of trespass by an illegal alien which provides that a person shall be guilty of such offense if the person is an illegal alien who knowingly enters this state and remains here and is physically present in the state at the time a licensed bounty hunter or peace officer apprehends the person. Such an offense shall be a felony for a term of imprisonment without eligibility for probation or parole with certain exceptions as provided in the act. Any person who commits the offense of trespass by an illegal alien shall be prohibited from voting in any election, receiving any permit or license to drive, receiving any public benefit, and becoming a legal resident of this state.
Additionally, the Department of Public Safety shall develop an information system for people to report violations of this act which shall include a toll-free telephone hotline, e-mail, and online reporting portal. Any person who makes a report in which an illegal alien is arrested shall receive a reward of $1,000.
The Department of Public Safety shall develop the "Missouri Illegal Alien Certified Bounty Hunter Program" which shall certify applicants to be bounty hunters for the purpose of finding and detaining illegal aliens in this state. Any person with a license as a bail bond agent, general bail bond agent, or surety recovery agent may apply to the program as provided in the act.
Finally, this act creates the "Missouri Illegal Alien Certified Bounty Hunter Program Fund" which shall consist of money appropriated by the General Assembly.
JIM ERTLE
Statutes affected: Introduced (1003S.01):
577.678
Senate Committee Minutes: SENATE COMMITTEE MINUTES Bill No.: SB 72
Sponsor: Gregory (15)
Hearing Date: 1/27/2025
COMMITTEE: Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety
CHAIRMAN: Fitzwater
DATE REFERRED: 1/16/2025 DATE HEARING REQUESTED: 1/16/2025
STAFF:
Bryce Beal
Alyssa Bruemmer
Ben Ridder
Eric Vander Weerd
WITNESSES GIVING INFORMATION:
WITNESSES FOR:
Zeev Smasin - Coalition for Jewish Values-Missouri
COMMITTEE: Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety
CHAIRMAN: Fitzwater
DATE REFERRED: 1/16/2025 DATE HEARING REQUESTED: 1/16/2025
WITNESSES AGAINST:
Manuel Tuvjillo
Ethan Crawford
James Peppler
Marcia Burton
Antonis Unaldonado
Amanda Vega-Mavec - Start at Zero
Guillermo Villa-Trueba - Missouri Catholic Conference
Jessica Trout
German Gonzalez Herrera
Henrio Thelemayae - International Institute of Saint Louis
Gabriella Cepeda
Beto Martinez
Rachel Pozzo - Immigrant English Learning Program
Randy Vasquez
Amiramal Fontenot
Tori Schafer - American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri
Ace Fontenot
Ashley Hicks
Raiza Guevara - Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation
Ross Cleveland
Elizabeth Byrde
Karla Juarez - Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation (AIRR)
Kris Hilgedick
Lance Coleman
Maria Rodriguez
Shelly Saladin
Shawn Cocerum
Eze Pojmann-Ezeountilo
Katelin Nott - Metro ICU BSN
Sunkerth Tummala
Natalia Albanese - KSMODA
Rodrigos Alvarez
Mallory Rusch - Empower Missouri
Maggie DeMeulmeester
Arianna Bunyard
Andrea Long
Lauren Hughes
Jeff Stack - Mid-Missouri Fellowship of Reconcilliation
Ashley Chavarria
Ana B
Littia O'Neil
Esmeralda Morfin
Allison Housewright
Andrew Housewright
Julie Heise
German Gonzalez Herrera
Aura Velasquez
Maria Valdovinos-Arceo
Kristie Hilgedicr
Michael Dunn
Ben Molina - Hispanic Leaders Group
Dani Kahn
Jacqueline Bardgett - City of Saint Louis
COMMITTEE: Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety
CHAIRMAN: Fitzwater
DATE REFERRED: 1/16/2025 DATE HEARING REQUESTED: 1/16/2025
Seth Burlbaw
Laura Kennedy
Randall Quisenberry
Yatmin Bruno
Tynan O'Neil
Laura Green
Amanda Cruz