Municipal leaders are hoping for another special session to deal with the fall out from the COVID-19 pandemic, including protecting local governments from liability.
The Missouri General Assembly convened Monday for a special session called by Gov. Mike Parson, but it is solely focused on violent crime.
City leaders had hoped a special session would tackle liability protection, but also wanted some movement on an e-commerce tax to offset the severely depleted revenues across the state.
Business leaders had also repeatedly called for a session to deal with liability to protect companies, particularly those that had switched production to help out during the pandemic, including making personal protection equipment.
"We are monitoring the special session on violent crime," Richard Sheets, deputy director of the Missouri Municipal League, told the St. Louis Record.
"There may be another special session on COVID liability protection, (and) we have urged the Governor to include local governments in the liability protection," Sheets said.
"We are disappointed that there is no commitment to include e-commerce legislation in a special session. However, we see no movement on this issue until a compromise can be forged on a state income tax offset."
Missouri is one of the few states that do not tax online shopping sales if the company is based out of state.
Sheets added, "In regard to COVID/CARES funding, we are primarily focusing on Congress and attempting to expand the uses of the CARES funding and extending the date when funds must be used until October of next year."
During the special session, legislators cited homicide figures in St. Louis - 194 iin 2018 - to argue for more stringent measures to deal with violent crime.
“Missouri has the third highest murder rate in the country. We have seen our lives and our property and those of our constituents threatened like never before by an out of control crime epidemic," said Sen. Bob Onder (R-Lake St. Louis.)
According to multiple reports, Parson wants lawmakers to zero in on better protecting witnesses, create stronger punishment for kids who use weapons and those who encourage it, and crack down on illegal gun sales.
"I haven’t seen anything the legislators have introduced. I’m telling you we’re narrowly focused on the points we have in front of us right now.” Parson said at his daily press briefing Monday.
Sen. Brian Williams (D-Ferguson) wants legislators to also focus on how law enforcement agencies interact with communities, and make them more accountable. He has introduced such a bill.
“What my bill would do is one, I think address some of the concerns we all have. Which is, ensuring we have a safe community which also ensures we are enabling the community to feel comfortable coming forward to talk with law enforcement to address things like violent crime,” Williams, D-University City, said, according to a report by KY3 television.