SCS/SB 542 - This act establishes "The Missouri Restoration of Voting Rights Act".

Under current law, persons who are on probation or parole after conviction of any felony are prohibited from voting until finally discharged from such probation or parole. This act limits the application of this provision to only persons on probation or parole after conviction of a dangerous felony. Additionally, persons convicted of a felony connected with the right of suffrage or a misdemeanor connected with the right of suffrage are prohibited from voting.

This act repeals certain requirements incumbent upon the Secretary of State and local authorities to update the voter registration lists according to felony status. The act also modifies the voter registration forms such that only persons convicted of a felony connected with the right of suffrage or a misdemeanor connected with the right of suffrage must affirm that the conviction has been removed.

This act is similar to HB 1780 (2020), HB 1951 (2020), HB 2268 (2020), HB 2362 (2020), HB 2410 (2020), SB 167 (2017), and SB 924 (2016).

SCOTT SVAGERA

Statutes affected:
Introduced (3446S.01): 115.133, 115.155, 115.158, 115.195, 115.283
Committee (3446S.02): 115.133, 115.155, 115.158, 115.195, 115.283


Senate Committee Minutes:
SENATE COMMITTEE MINUTES Bill No.: SB 542
Sponsor: Nasheed
Hearing Date: 2/24/2020


COMMITTEE: Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence

CHAIRMAN: Luetkemeyer

DATE REFERRED: 1/9/2020 DATE HEARING REQUESTED: 1/9/2020



STAFF:
Mary Grace Bruntrager
Bradley Green
Katie O'Brien


WITNESSES GIVING INFORMATION:



WITNESSES FOR:
Bradley Cobb - Save our Sons and Urban League
Jamie Dennis - Save our Sons and Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis
Wayne Taft Harris, Jr. - Expo Missouri - Ex-incarcerated People Organizing
Giles Chapman - Expo Missouri - Ex-incarcerated People Organizing
Sarah Paulsrud - Empower Missouri
Rita Lindhardt - Missouri Catholic Conference
Sharon Jones - NAACP State Conference
Sara Baker - American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri


WITNESSES AGAINST: