House approves public safety bill

The House this past week sent to the Senate an extensive bill aimed at reducing crime in Missouri. Among its provisions are several proposed changes to how juveniles are treated by the state's legal system; the launch of a collaborative fight against online harassment and stalking; and Blair's Law, which would increase penalties for what has become known as "celebratory gunfire."

Numerous components of HB 1659 had previously been approved by the legislature last year under Senate Bill 189, which was vetoed by Gov. Parson. The reasons for the veto are not part of HB 1659, and the governor expressed support for several provisions that have been retained. Crime prevention is a top priority this session.

The bill proposes changes to determine whether a juvenile should be treated as an adult by the courts. The age range for an optional certification hearing would shift from 12 to 18 to 14 to 18.

Under HB 1659, offenders under 18 in the state's correctional system would be physically segregated from older counterparts, with educational programs providing high school diplomas or equivalents. The bill eliminates parole for offenders under 18 found guilty of second-degree murder involving, knowing or causing another person's death -- a departure from the current eligibility after 15 years, except for first-degree murder convictions.

Another aspect of the bill establishes the "Stop Cyberstalking and Harassment Task Force" in response to victims feeling overlooked by law enforcement. With an estimated 1 million victims of online harassment or stalking in the United States, the task force aims to develop prevention best practices and victim treatment guidelines, recommend training, coordinate law enforcement and victims' rights groups, and create public education plans, starting its activities by October.

Blair's Law is named after Blair Shanahan Lane, who lost her life on July 4, 2011, due to a stray bullet fired carelessly into the air more than half a mile away. HB 1659 outlines Blair's Law, designating firing a gun within or into municipal limits as "unlawful discharge of a firearm." Penalties include a misdemeanor for the first offense, a class E felony for the second, and a class D felony, carrying up to seven years in prison, for subsequent offenses.

Other provisions in HB 1659 would:

(1) Increase penalties for assaulting a law enforcement animal, up to a class D felony, if the assault causes the death of the animal.

(2) Expand the definition of a "persistent offender" to include a person who has been previously found guilty of a dangerous felony as defined by law, which includes crimes like first-degree rape and first-degree arson.

(3) Restore minimum prison terms for offenders with prior felony convictions who are convicted of armed criminal action, and make armed criminal action an unclassified felony.

(4) Add to the offense of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree the knowing, encouraging, aiding or causing of a child younger than 17 to engage in a violation of the law relating to weapons offenses.

(5) Create the class C felony of delivery of a controlled substance causing serious physical injury, and the class A felony of delivery of a controlled substance causing death.

The bill passed out of the House with a vote of 120-26 with an emergency clause and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

• House passes HB 1495 to bolster veteran mental health support: Prioritizing the mental health and well-being of Missouri veterans who have selflessly served our nation, the House passed HB 1495. This legislation would task the Missouri Veterans Commission with expanding its work to prevent veteran suicide by mandating a comprehensive review of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 and its associated regulations by the Missouri Veterans Commission.

Under the provisions of HB 1495, the Missouri Veterans Commission, in collaboration with the Department of Mental Health, is tasked with providing recommendations and implementing measures to curb veteran suicide. This encompasses the adoption of procedures, programs, treatment options, additional aid, and any other necessary assistance, subject to appropriation.

We have a lot more veterans committing suicide than the general public. Our rate of veteran suicides is 45.2 per 100,000, but the national average is 33.9. Missouri's statistics are significantly higher than the national average. Regardless of how Missouri ranks in the nation, we have too many veterans taking their lives. Just one is too many.

• As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, concerns or suggestions you might have. As your representative, I am here to assist you however I can. I can be reached by email at Chris.Dinkins@house.mo.gov or by phone at (573) 751-2112. Please do not contact me via social media. These messages are easy to overlook and may not be responded to in a timely manner.

CHRIS DINKINS represents Missouri's 144th House District. The district includes Bollinger, Iron, Madison, Reynolds, Shannon, Washington and Wayne counties.