SPONSOR: Dolan
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass with HCS" by the Standing Committee on Judiciary by a vote of 9 to 0.
The following is a summary of the House Committee Substitute for HBs 2163 & 2574.
This bill specifies that an offender can petition the sentencing Court for limited driving privileges upon successful completion of a Department of Corrections substance abuse treatment program or a 120-day institutional treatment program recommended by the Court.
This bill is similar to HCS HB 1531 (2025).
The following is a summary of the public testimony from the committee hearing. The testimony was based on the introduced version of the bill.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this bill allows a defendant to go to drug court and get limited driving privileges; this option does not currently exist. This helps people who don’t have access to DWI court to still receive limited driving privileges. This also allows someone who gets 120-day treatment through the Department of Corrections to apply for limited driving privileges. The bill adds a provision related to long-term treatment, which is usually handled by the sentencing court. Upon completion of the program, the court usually puts a person on probation but this adds that a person can apply for a limited license at the same time. Normally, the person has to go back to the county of residence, but if the sentencing court puts the person on probation, the conditions might be different than the conditions of a hardship license for limited driving. This will help prevent a person from being in violation of the terms of his or her probation. The state has an interest in preventing intoxicated drivers from driving on the state's highways, so the goal is to ensure those over whom the state has control have their licenses and are insured, and have all the necessary documents and conditions in order. Courts need to have this option available, and it has the same mechanisms and safeguards we use now for DWI court. Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Dolan; Eric D. Jennings, Judicial Conference of Missouri; and Arnie C. Dienoff.
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: