SPONSOR: Hovis
This bill makes technical changes to the provision of law establishing the Sheriffs' Retirement Fund and repeals the $3 fee that is assessed in criminal cases, held to be unconstitutional by the Missouri Supreme Court, including for violations of any county ordinance or violations of criminal or traffic laws of this state, and which is payable to the Sheriffs' Retirement System.
In Fowler v. Missouri Sheriffs' Retirement System, 623 S.W.3d 578 (2021), the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the $3 surcharge assessed and collected by the counties and municipal courts that goes towards the Missouri sheriffs' retirement fund, is not "reasonably related to the expense of the administration of justice" and violates the Missouri Constitution, Art I, section 14.
This bill is the same as SB 141 (2025).
Statutes affected: