Lawmakers propose laws on terrorism-related crimes

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Four months after the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, Missouri lawmakers are responding with an array of proposed laws.

Legislators are considering new terrorism-related crimes, penalties for price gouging during emergencies and provisions allowing secret meetings to discuss the security of water supplies.

Other measures are less grave. One would allow Missourians on active military duty to receive "Operation Enduring Freedom" license plates. Another would change Emergency Services Day from Nov. 28 to Sept. 11.

A 32-member Missouri Security Panel appointed by Gov. Bob Holden in October has held meetings across the state. Later this month, the panel is to make recommendations that likely will be part of an anti-terrorism package. Holden has already outlined some priorities.

"I think by the end of session we will have a revamping of how we address terrorism in our state and in our nation," said Holden, who is to deliver his State of the State and Budget Address on Jan. 23. "States will be much more prepared than they were prior to Sept. 11."

A "Terrorism Prevention Act" sponsored by Sen. Chuck Gross, R-St. Charles, would create felonies for possessing, using or threatening to use weapons of mass destruction. The proposal also creates the felonies of biological terrorism, possession of biological agents and destruction of public resources.

A bill with similar provisions is being proposed by Rep. Sam Gaskill, R-Washburn.

Gross' measure creates a government committee to update the state's disaster plan and requires chief executives of hospitals to develop a written disaster plan.

"I hope this bill would never have to be used," Gross said. "It's a sign of the times and, unfortunately, this is where we're at now."

Another initiative was prompted by the sharp rise in gasoline prices by some vendors in the hours after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Sen. Pat Dougherty, D-St. Louis, has filed a measure to penalize those who charge high prices for necessities during an emergency. Anyone found to be price-gouging would be liable for three times the amount received in the transaction.

Missouri service stations that significantly raised prices after the Sept. 11 attacks have paid fines and fees of about $60,000 following an investigation by Attorney General Jay Nixon.

The fines were paid by 48 service stations that raised prices above $2.49 a gallon immediately following the attacks. Nixon had threatened to sue the stations under Missouri's consumer protection laws.

"In looking at the statute, it was drafted to address the floods of 1993 and specifically addresses only in-state situations," Dougherty said. "We've got to clarify the authority the governor and attorney general have to go after these people."

Emergency response

Sen. Marvin Singleton, R-Seneca, wants to expand Missouri's ability to respond to disasters such as a chemical or biological attack.

Under his bill, the declaration of an emergency would activate disaster response and recovery plans, as well as the deployment of state personnel and supplies.

Singleton, who is a physician, also backs a bill that would allow health care professionals licensed in other states to work in Missouri during emergencies.

In the House, Rep. Randall Relford has proposed legislation that would allow closed meetings when water supply protections are discussed. The intent is to prevent the release of information that could be used by a terrorist to contaminate water, said Relford, D-Cameron.

"It's an outcropping on what took place on September 11th. There is a concern among some of our municipalities that they don't want everyone to know what their plans are," Relford said.

Holden said the price-gouging and felony charges will be part of his anti-terrorist package, along with financial support for a new state health laboratory.

Holden used $25 million in tobacco settlement funds that had been earmarked for the health lab to instead help cover a budget shortfall. The governor now says that he will request approval for the Board of Public Buildings to issue bonds for the lab. A construction contract for the lab is scheduled to be awarded in 2003.

"The new state health lab will be built as planned and on schedule," Holden said. "Planning and design of the lab has been continuing since the beginning of this fiscal year. Progress in building the lab never slowed down for a second."