SPONSOR: Christ
This bill specifies that any litigation costs, including attorneys' fees for representation of the Board of Police Commissioners and individual officers, settlements, or judgments will be excluded from the calculation of expenses for the maintenance of the police force for the purpose of the minimum funding requirements for the St. Louis Police Department. The bill also requires the budget adopted and certified by the Board to be the authorization of expenditures for the purposes specified in the budget and character classifications of budget items cannot be transfered from one classification to another without approval of the Board.
Currently, upon the assumption of control of the St. Louis Police Department by the Board, the State will accept responsibility, ownership, and liability as successor-in-interest. This bill changes this provision to the Board accepting ownership and responsibility as successor-in-interest. Liability for payment of claims, lawsuits, or other actions will remain with St. Louis City without reimbursement from the State Legal Expense Fund other than specific reimbursement to the Board or any offset to the Board's minimum appropriation to fund the police force.
Statutes affected: