Committee advances committee substitute for House Bill 30 66 after heated debate over St. Louis oversight

The Missouri House Committee on Crime and Public Safety voted to advance a committee substitute for House Bill 30 66, recording 11 yes and 5 no on a motion to give the substitute a "due pass." The substitute was adopted after the committee agreed to an amendment restoring the ability for lieutenants to be compensated for overtime under certain operational circumstances.

Representative Bosley objected to advancing the bill in its current form, saying it amounted to an overreach that would sidestep local officials. "We didn't ask for our local police department to be taken over by the state," Bosley said, arguing the bill would remove locally elected officials' ability to participate in decisions over city tax dollars and oversight. Bosley urged the committee to hold the bill instead of advancing it.

The chair and the bill sponsor said the adopted amendment (1-01H) clarified that lieutenants may be compensated for overtime when operational needs and budget allow, restoring pay practices that existed under city control. Supporters described the amendment as remedial language to address an unintended restriction in earlier statutory changes.

The committee recorded the roll-call result in executive session: by a vote of 11 yes and 5 no, the committee substitute for House Bill 30 66 was voted due pass.

What happens next: The committee has forwarded the committee substitute for further consideration by the House. The committee did not take additional votes on other amendments beyond adopting the substitute and the lieutenant-overtime amendment during the session.