The bill proposes the repeal of section 590.653 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri and enacts a new section that establishes guidelines for civilian review boards or divisions of civilian oversight in cities and counties. These entities are authorized to investigate allegations of misconduct by local law enforcement officers, specifically regarding excessive use of force, abuse of authority, discourtesy, or offensive language. Members of these boards will not receive compensation but will be reimbursed for necessary expenses. The findings and recommendations from these boards must be submitted to the chief law enforcement official, and no findings can be based solely on unsworn complaints or prior unsubstantiated allegations. Additionally, the new section includes a provision that exempts cities with populations between 125,000 and 160,000 from the limitations set forth in subsection 2, allowing them to establish their own civilian review boards with the authority to receive and investigate complaints against police officers. This change aims to enhance accountability and oversight of law enforcement practices while ensuring that the powers of these boards are clearly defined and limited to the scope outlined in the legislation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced (5758H.01): 590.653