SPONSOR: Hinman
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Crime and Public Safety by a vote of 16 to 0. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules-Administrative by a vote of 9 to 0.
This bill modifies the offense of burglary in the second degree to include when a person knowingly enters unlawfully or knowingly remains unlawfully in a restricted area of a commercial business, specified in the bill, which is a class B misdemeanor for a first offense and a class A misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this bill is in response to an increased need to protect store employees during burglaries and this creates clear legal consequences. This closes legal loopholes that allow criminals to enter restricted areas in businesses. To be charged under this section, a person would have to knowingly breach these protected or restricted areas.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Hinman; Missouri Retailers Association; and Missouri Grocers Association.
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: