Missouri Legislature passes final municipal court reform bill
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Missouri Legislature passes final municipal court reform bill

Date: May 7, 2015
By: Chris Mathews
State Capitol Bureau
Links: SB 5 and the House roll call

Intro: 
A bill that would reform the ways municipal courts operate and generate revenue passed through both chambers and now awaits Gov. Nixon's final decision.
RunTime:  0:42
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The Missouri House passed a measure lowering limits on how much of a city's budget can come from court fees, one day after the Senate passed the same bill.  

The measure would lower the percentage of revenue cities can collect from traffic fines from 30 to 20 percent. The same revenue in St. Louis County would be capped at 12.5 percent.

Democratic Representative Mike Colona of St. Louis County supported the restrictions.

Actuality:  COLONA1.WAV
Run Time:  00:09
Description: "It's going to be a little bit painful for some of our municipal courts. But, it's not going to be that difficult for municipal courts that are doing business the right way to make the adjustments."

The bill will now move to the governor's desk to either be vetoed or signed into law.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Chris Mathews.

Intro: 
The Missouri House passed a municipal court bill Thursday that will now move onto the governor's desk
RunTime:  0:40
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The amount of money a municipality could generate from traffic stops would decrease under a measure passed by both chambers of the Missouri Legislature.

The bill would cap traffic revenue at 12.5 percent in St. Louis County and 20 percent across the rest of the state.

House Speaker John Diehl of St. Louis County favored the restrictions, criticizing the way St. Louis municipal courts have operated.

Actuality:  DIEHL2.WAV
Run Time:  00:08
Description: "Government ought not to exist and fund itself by fining and imprisoning its citizens to collect money."

With the House's passage by a vote of 134-25, the bill will now move onto the governor's desk.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Chris Mathews.