Establishes an office of special investigations within the department of health and senior services to assist in abuse and neglect investigations

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 3038
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBL Y
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENT A TIVE COOK.
6480H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
T o amend chapter 192, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the investigation
of abuse or neglect of certain adults.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 192, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be
2 known as section 192.2515, to read as follows:
192.2515. 1. There is her eby established in the department of health and senior
2 services a special office, to be known as the "Office of Special Investigations", to assist in
3 the investigation of rep orts of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of "eligible adults",
4 defined in this section as having the same meaning given to the term in section 192.2400.
5 The office of special investigations shall:
6 (1) Upon the request of a local, county , state, or federal law enfor cement agency;
7 a county , state, or federal pro secutor; or division of senior and disability services staff,
8 investigate or assist in the investigation of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an eligible
9 adult. Befor e initiating an investigation or execution of any sear ch warrant, the office of
10 special investigations shall notify the chief law enforce ment officer of the appr opriate
11 jurisdiction; and
12 (2) Upon r equest of law enfor cement, coordinate with and pr ovide assistance,
13 expertise, or training to law enfor cement agencies and multidisciplinary teams for the
14 investigation and prosecution of eligible adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
15 2. Investigators for the office of special investigations who are licensed as peace
16 officers by the director of the department of public safety under chapter 590 shall be
17 deemed peace officers within the state of Missouri while acting in an investigation or on
EXPLANA TION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law . Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
18 behalf of an eligible adult. The power of arr est of an investigator for the office of special
19 investigations acting as a peace officer shall be limited to offenses involving eligible adult
20 abuse, neglect, or exploitation and to situations of imminent danger to the investigator
21 or another person.
22 3. The direc tor of the department of health and senior services or his or her
23 designee shall have the power to subpoena the prod uction of books, papers, or r ecords
24 when necessary to investigate the potential abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an eligible
25 adult.
26 4. All r eports and r ecords made and maintained by the office of special
27 investigations or local law enforcem ent relat ing to criminal investigations conducted
28 under this section, including arr ests, shall be available in the same manner as law
29 enfor cement r ecords as set forth in sections 610.100 to 610.210. All other reco rds shall
30 be available in the same manner as pr ovided for in sections 192.2435, 192.2500, and
31 192.2505.
✔
HB 3038 2