SPONSOR: Hovis
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Public Safety by a vote of 8 to 0. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules- Legislative Oversight by a vote of 10 to 0.
This bill adds any nature or education center controlled by the Missouri Department of Conservation to the locations registered sexual offenders must stay away from by at least 500 feet. Except, any person who has been found guilty of an offense specified in the section who is the parent, legal guardian, or custodian of a child under 18 visiting the property of a nature or education center controlled by the Department may request permission from the nature or education center manager to be present on the property with the child during the child's visit.
This bill is the same as HCS HB 2142 (2020).
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this would line us up with other parts of the statute. There have been issues in the past where off-duty agents or conservation agents recognize registered individuals. Eleven facilities in the state attract over 600,000 visitors a year and many of those are students with school groups.
Testifying for the bill were Representative Hovis; Conservation Federation of Missouri; Arnie C. Dienoff; and the Missouri Department of Conservation.
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: