Show-Me State Times

A comprehensive public safety bill sponsored by Rep. Lane Roberts (R-Joplin) and supported by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry is currently being considered by the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.

During a hearing before the committee, Kara Corches, vice president of governmental affairs for the Missouri Chamber, highlighted the importance of the bill, stating, “There are a number of important provisions in this bill. These include enacting ‘Blair’s Law,’ which addresses the issue of celebratory gunfire, and strengthening criminal penalties for repeat and violent offenders.”

The bill, known as HB 1659, aims to improve public safety in Missouri and has garnered support from businesses throughout the state. Concerns about rising crime rates and their impact on economic competitiveness have been expressed by business leaders. In fact, the Missouri Chamber's annual business leader survey revealed that 90% of respondents are concerned with public safety, and 70% believe that crime is negatively affecting the state's economic prospects.

The Missouri Chamber’s Safer Missouri Stronger Missouri report contains a list of recommendations that are backed by the business community, including deploying evidence-based and hot-spot approaches to crime reduction, increasing tools to support policing, addressing substance misuse and mental health, reducing recidivism, improving training and employment opportunities for incarcerated individuals, increasing public safety staffing, and enhancing prosecutorial consistency and transparency.

The bill is a revised version of similar legislation that was vetoed by the governor last year. Rep. Roberts confirmed that the vetoed elements have been removed in this latest iteration of the bill.

For more information on the legislation and its potential impact on crime prevention and public safety in Missouri, individuals can contact Kara Corches at kcorches@mochamber.com or 573-634-3511.