SB 1008 revises Missouri law governing the Attorney General’s office by repealing and replacing section 27.020, RSMo. The bill keeps the existing authority for the Attorney General to appoint assistant attorneys general and other staff, but it more clearly authorizes the appointment of both commissioned and noncommissioned investigators as needed to carry out the office’s duties.
Under the bill, commissioned investigators would receive a certificate of appointment and, for matters in which the Attorney General is appointed or assigned by law, would be granted the same powers of arrest held by peace officers to maintain order and preserve the peace. These investigators could also assist law enforcement agencies when requested, would serve at the pleasure of the Attorney General, and would be required to meet chapter 590 peace officer standards. The bill also restates the Attorney General’s authority to set compensation for employees within appropriated limits and to use state or federal funds appropriated for those purposes.
Impact
The bill would amend section 27.020, RSMo, to expand and clarify the Attorney General’s staffing authority, specifically by adding express statutory authority for commissioned investigators and defining their appointment, oath, filing, and arrest powers. It would affect the Attorney General’s office, its employees, and any law enforcement or state agency matters in which the office is involved, while leaving the broader structure of assistant attorney general appointments intact.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be presented as an administrative and law-enforcement capacity expansion for the Attorney General’s office, with no recorded committee debate or votes indicating opposition or support. The caption and language suggest a generally practical purpose: giving the office clearer authority to hire investigators and use them in support of official duties and interagency assistance.
Contention
The main substantive issue raised by the bill’s language is the grant of peace-officer arrest powers to commissioned investigators, which could draw attention from those concerned about expanding enforcement authority within the Attorney General’s office. Potential points of concern include the scope of those powers, when they may be exercised, and the requirement that investigators comply with chapter 590 standards. No specific objections, amendments, or recorded debate are available in the provided materials.
Urging The House Of Representatives To Establish An Investigative Committee Pursuant To Chapter 21, Hawaii Revised Statutes, To Investigate Allegations Of A January 20, 2022 Payment From An Unknown Individual To An influential State Legislator For The Purported Use In An Existing Campaign At The Time, And To Examine Possible Violations Of State Law, The State Ethics Code, And Campaign Finance Provisions.