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SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 3272
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBL Y
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENT A TIVE THOMAS.
6471H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
T o amend chapter 221, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to visitors to county
or municipal detention facilities.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 221, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be
2 known as section 221.358, to read as follows:
221.358. 1. Except as prov ided under subsections 2 and 3 of this section, no
2 person shall be permitted to enter any county or municipal jail, detention center , or
3 holding facility except by special permission of the sheriff, chief of police, jail
4 administrator , or other chief administrative officer of the facility , or under such
5 r egulations as such persons shall pr escribe.
6 2. The following persons shall be authorized to visit any county or municipal jail,
7 detention center , or holding facility at any r easonable time, subject to such rules as may
8 be deemed necessary for maintaining security and safety:
9 (1) The governor; lieutenant governor; members of the general assembly; judges
10 of the supr eme court, courts of appeal, and cir cuit courts; attorney general; state
11 auditor; state tr easur er; and secr etary of state;
12 (2) Members of any county commission or township board within the county ,
13 county judges, county prosecu tors, and sheriffs;
14 (3) Mayors, city council members, aldermen, municipal judges, and city
15 attorneys of any city that operates or contracts for the operation of a jail or detention
16 facility within the jurisdiction; and
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.
17 (4) Duly authorized employees, assistants, or agents of the officers listed under
18 subdivisions (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection, when acting under specific authorization
19 of their superiors and in accordance with established re gulations.
20 3. All clergy or re ligious leaders of any r ecognized faith or denomination shall
21 have access to such county and municipal facilities and may visit any person confined
22 ther ein, subject to such rules as may be necessary to maintain order and security . Such
23 clergy may administer the rites, sacraments, or cerem onies of their faith to any person
24 confined in such facility who requ ests it, in accordance with the facility's rules.
25 4. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of any facility
26 to reg ulate visitation for the purpose of maintaining the safety , security , and good order
27 of the institution or to deny access to any individual for cause.
✔
HB 3272 2