Missouri Senate gives preliminary approval to bill that creates new protections for police, increases penalties for protesters – By Maria Benevento (St Louis Post Dispatch) / Feb 23 2021
JEFFERSON CITY — After hours of debate and negotiation, the Missouri Senate on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to legislation that creates protections for police and increases penalties for protesters who break the law.
Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring, sponsored the proposal, which combined a pared-down version of his original bill with parts of a bill sponsored by Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville.
Eigel described five provisions in the bill:
• A “law enforcement bill of rights” for officers under investigation.
• Increased penalties for protesters who block traffic.
• Increased penalties for protesters who vandalize monuments.
• The right for taxpayers to obtain court orders against municipalities that cut police budgets much more steeply than those of other departments.
• A prohibition on granting probation or conditional release to people who have committed dangerous felonies against on-duty law enforcement officers or first responders.
