SPONSOR: Schroer
This bill prohibits local governmental units as defined in the bill from requiring that, as a condition of employment, law enforcement officers must reside within any jurisdiction. If a local governmental unit already has a residency requirement in effect prior to August 28, 2020, it will be invalid and must not be enforced.
A local governmental unit may impose a residency requirement that is no more restrictive than requiring a law enforcement officer to reside within a one-hour response time.
The bill does not apply to the State Highway Patrol.
Commissioned and civilian personnel of a municipal police force are not subject to a residency requirement of retaining a primary residence in any city not within a county but may be required to maintain a primary residence located within a one-hour response time.
The bill also prohibits any city not within a county and any homerule city with more than four hundred thousand inhabitants and located in more than one county from requiring that anyone employed as or being considered for employment as a first responder as defined in the fill reside within any jurisdiction. A first responder may be required to have a primary residence within a one- hour response time. Upon enactment, this provision would apply to the City of St. Louis and Kansas City.
This bill has an emergency clause.
Statutes affected: