SB 1366 revises Missouri law governing county treasurers and county depositary accounts. The bill keeps the existing rule that county money may be paid out only on checks issued by the county treasurer and only when sufficient funds are available in the relevant county fund. It also preserves the exception allowing county commissions to place money at another location when county bonds, coupons, or other debt instruments are payable somewhere other than the county treasury.
The main change in the bill is to clarify and tighten signature authority for county accounts. It states that, for county funds under the treasurer’s custody, the county treasurer’s signature is the only signature allowed on bank signature cards, deposit agreements, or similar authorization documents. No other county official or employee may be listed as a signer on those accounts, and county depositaries must enforce that rule. The bill also makes clear that other county officers may still maintain separate accounts if another statute specifically authorizes those accounts for their official duties.
Impact
If enacted, SB 1366 would amend section 110.240, RSMo, and affect how counties and their banks handle custody and authorization of county funds. It would limit signatory authority on county treasury accounts to the county treasurer alone, reducing the ability of other county officials or employees to be added as authorized signers on those accounts. The bill would not eliminate separate statutory accounts for other county officers, but it would reinforce a more centralized control structure for county funds held in depositaries.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the bill appears to be a technical or administrative measure rather than a controversial policy change. Its tone suggests an effort to clarify existing county treasury procedures and prevent unauthorized access or confusion over account signatories. No recorded opposition or support is available in the supplied context, so the overall sentiment cannot be measured from debate history, but the measure reads as procedural and likely aimed at administrative consistency.
Contention
The most likely point of contention is the bill’s restriction that only the county treasurer may be listed as a signer on county treasury accounts. County officials who currently share account access, or counties that prefer broader administrative flexibility, could view this as limiting local control or creating operational burdens. On the other hand, supporters would likely argue that the change improves accountability, reduces risk of misuse, and aligns bank authorization documents with statutory custody of county funds. The bill also preserves separate statutory accounts for other officers, which may reduce but not eliminate concerns about overreach.