Public Safety Committee advances Board Bill 14 to fund night watch, problem-property and homicide analyst programs

At a St. Louis City Public Safety Committee meeting, members advanced Board Bill 14 out of committee with a due-pass recommendation. The bill would appropriate grant funding, recommended by ENA, to the Department of Public Safety for the night watch program, the problem-property program and a St. Louis Police Department homicide analyst program and includes an emergency clause.

The committee moved the bill forward after Alderwoman Keyes, who was not present, asked the committee to proceed. Chair Narayan initiated the motion and members voted in favor; the clerk recorded the committee’s support. A committee member cautioned that the bill “hasn’t been through ENA,” and the committee noted that the ENA process should still be completed as the measure advances.

Board Bill 14 was described in committee as a grant recommended by ENA that would provide funding assistance for three public-safety initiatives and would appropriate those funds to the Department of Public Safety. Committee members recorded a due-pass recommendation and asked the clerk to add members to the bill record. The committee reported a quorum of five members present when it took the action.

Alderwoman Keyes’s absence was noted; she had requested the committee move the bill forward. Committee members discussed the ENA process and emphasized that any further steps should reflect that process before final implementation. The bill contains an emergency clause, as stated during the discussion.

No public testimony was offered on Board Bill 14 during the meeting. The committee advanced the bill out of committee with a due-pass recommendation for further legislative processing.