SPONSOR: Toalson Reisch
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Special Committee on Criminal Justice by a vote of 10 to 0. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules- Administrative Oversight by a vote of 9 to 0.
This bill provides that the Supervisor of Liquor Control shall not prohibit a person from participating in the sale of alcohol solely on the basis of being found guilty of a felony offense. The bill also repeals language requiring an employer that has a liquor license to report to the Division of Liquor Control within the Department of Public Safety, the identity of any employee that has been convicted of a felony.
The bill specifies that the Missouri Gaming Commission will not prohibit a person from participating in the sale of lottery tickets solely on the basis of being found guilty of a criminal offense, but the person is not eligible to be a licensed lottery game retailer.
This bill is the same as HB 1468 (2020).
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that, currently, when an offender is released from prison, he or she cannot work at an establishment that sells alcohol or lottery tickets. Employers need employees, and this would really open up the pool of potential employees, and this would be a great way to have additional hiring options without additional mandates.
Testifying for the bill were Representative Toalson Reisch; Jewish Community Relations Council - St. Louis; Christine Woody, Empower Missouri; Matthew Rosene; Maureen Flynn-Hart; Olivia Depaul; Sr. Mary Ann McGivern; Empower Missouri; and Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: