Under current law, the juvenile officer may consult with the prosecuting attorney concerning any offense for which the child could be certified as an adult. This act requires the juvenile officer to consult with the prosecuting or circuit attorney. Additionally, the prosecuting or circuit attorney shall be provided with a copy of the completed Missouri Juvenile Detention Assessment Form (JDTA) that was used in determining detention. Use of the JDTA or any other assessment system to determine that a child may be held shall be used as a guideline and shall not be mandatory.

Under this act, the juvenile officer shall consider all charges submitted by law enforcement when utilizing the JDTA form and shall provide a copy of the form to the law enforcement agency once a determination has been made. Juvenile officers shall share criminal history data with the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System and the Regional Justice Information System to create a juvenile criminal history database that shall be accessible by criminal justice and law enforcement agencies.

TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

The operation and support of a juvenile detention facility authorized pursuant to this act shall be regulated in accordance with the rules and standards of the Supreme Court of Missouri under the governance of the circuit judge. If two or more counties of adjoining judicial circuits have authorized a place of detention, the circuit judges shall jointly govern the affairs of the place of detention. Furthermore, the counties authorizing a place of detention pursuant to this section may impose, by order, a sales tax up to one percent on all retail sales.

This act is identical to SB 809 (2025).

TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

(1) Have a substantial criminal history of serious offenses;

(2) Be under supervised or unsupervised probation and parole;

(3) Be under a court order requiring or prohibiting a specific act;

(4) Be required to register as a sex offender;

(5) Have a likelihood of serious harm to himself, herself, or others or is likely to commit an offense or violate any term or condition of probation, parole, or court order;

(6) Have a substance use disorder resulting in total or partial incapacity or a significant incapacitation from alcohol or drugs; or

(7) Have significant interaction with law enforcement officers.

The Division shall have the same rights and duties as a public administrator appointed to serve as a guardian and shall operate in accordance with the powers and duties of guardians as currently provided in law. Additionally, the Division shall not be required to submit background checks of employees or consents to act to the court before the appointment of the Division as a guardian under this act. The Division shall be notified of the proceedings and shall receive a copy of the petition and any accompanying documents when it is being nominated or considered to serve as a guardian. During such proceedings, the Division shall have an opportunity to attend and be heard.

A person under a forensic guardianship shall not be committed or incarcerated nor denied participation in or benefits from government or privately operated institutions, programs, or housing solely on the basis of being under a forensic guardian.

KATIE O'BRIEN

(1) A law enforcement stop, search, or seizure;

(2) A warrant, arrest, or citation;

(3) Participation in a pre-arrest or post-arrest diversion, specialty court, or other alternative resolution program;

(4) A criminal charge, disposition, or sentence;

(5) Pretrial or posttrial release from custody, or any terms or conditions of release;

(6) A grant, order, change in the terms of, or termination of pretrial supervised release, probation, parole, or participation in correctional or rehabilitative programs; or

(7) Formal discipline, reclassification, or relocation any person under criminal sentence or correctional control.

A criminal justice agency may assess reasonable fees, not to exceed actual costs, for the data and records.

Before February 28, 2027, the Attorney General shall issue guidance to assist criminal justice agencies in complying with the requirements of this act.

TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

District attorneys shall prosecute all criminal actions for the counties. If a change of venue is granted, the district attorney shall continue to prosecute the case in the other venue. If a district attorney is unable to prosecute because of a conflict of interest, the presiding judge shall appoint another district attorney from an adjoining circuit to serve on that particular matter.

The district attorneys may appoint assistants, investigators, and clerical staff, and may set their salaries within the limits set by the county commissions. Such salaries shall be paid by the counties and the salary of the district attorney shall be paid by the state, except if a charter county chooses to provide the district attorney with additional compensation over the statutory amount, the county shall pay such amount.

The salaries, excluding that of the district attorney, and expenses of the district attorney offices shall be funded by the respective counties. However, the state shall provide increasing reimbursement of the costs over the course of several years. This act contains the schedule for reimbursement by the state to the counties, ranging from 5 or 10 percent in the first year of implementation of a district attorney and up to 50 percent in the fifth or tenth year depending on the circuit court. In circuits where more than one county contributes to the expenses, each county shall be reimbursed in the same proportion as the contribution.

This act requires the district attorney to be employed full-time and not practice law elsewhere. For counties without a charter form of government, the county commissions shall adopt, by majority vote, a resolution, which shall be given to the Secretary of State at least by November 7, 2027. For counties with a charter form of government, the governing body shall adopt a charter amendment to join the system and eliminate the office of prosecuting attorney.

The office of the county prosecuting attorney shall cease to exist upon the election and qualification of a district attorney for such county and circuit. However, county prosecuting attorneys may be retained by the district attorney.

This act is substantially similar to SB 742 (2025) and is similar to SB 79 (2015), SB 797 (2010), and SB 1256 (2004).

TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

This act is similar to HB 2377 (2026).

TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

Additionally, this act provides that if a public administrator is nominated as a fiduciary or at any stage of the proceeding is being considered for nomination as a fiduciary, the public administrator shall receive a copy of the application or petition along with any accompanying documents and shall receive written notice indicating the date and time of the proceeding. The public administrator shall also have an opportunity to attend and be heard at such proceedings.

Additionally, this act provides that nominated fiduciaries shall receive notice of hearings on petitions to determine the application for letters testamentary or of administration of an estate of a decedent by interested persons.

KATIE O'BRIEN

This act requires the Children's Division or the Division of Youth Services, in cases where guardianship of a child is deemed the permanency plan or is being considered by the court, to include any proposed or nominated guardian for a child leaving foster care or state custody in the development of the plan at least six months prior to the child leaving foster care or state custody. The proposed or nominated guardian shall receive a copy of the proposed plan.

SARAH HASKINS