Lawmakers discussing bill to give Legislature more control over Capitol operations

Missouri lawmakers have a week to pass a bill giving the Legislature more control over some state Capitol operations.

The Senate on Thursday sent the House a bill that deals with security at the Capitol complex.

“I believe, as we remodel this Capitol complex, one of the big concerns that many people have — in a very bipartisan way and at all levels of this building — is how is our security, in the world we live in?” Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, told colleagues Thursday.

“I believe you’ll see — as plans unfold (and) as they start to move forward with what various pieces will happen inside this building — I think there will be some security plans put in place that still will allow open access to the public but would make (security) a little bit tighter.”

Sen. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, has been a lawmaker for eight years and remembers earlier visits to Jefferson City and seeing the heavy security presence at the Capitol and Truman State Office buildings that was formed in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C.

Those measures began with metal detectors manned by law enforcement officers, including those from the Highway Patrol, Water Patrol, state Park Rangers and Conservation agents.

Later, Missouri government hired a private security firm to check people as they went into the Capitol and Truman buildings.

However, Kehoe noted, recession-caused tight budgets in the mid-2000s caused then-Gov. Matt Blunt to eliminate the expense.

“It was a budget issue — the cost to maintain the machines and keep them running and have somebody actively by them and what doors they go by and everything else,” he said.

Those budget decisions generally made access easy to state office buildings throughout Missouri, except where courts operate.

Courthouse security has remained tight or been increased, with paid security in many courthouses and state-paid marshals at the Supreme Court and appeals court buildings using metal detectors and prohibiting the general public from taking cellphones and other electronic devices into courtrooms.

Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard, R-Joplin, told reporters he, House Speaker Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, and Nixon have been talking about security issues.

“I think we’re looking at something different (from a decade ago), with the new technology,” Richard said. “I think what’s happened in the new day is, I think we’re bound to keep people safe — visitors and workers.

“So, I think we’ll address the needs. If it’s a reasonable cost, I think we’re prepared to do that.”

At this point, he doesn’t know whether the increased security will involve metal detectors, detector wands or other technology.

Nixon told reporters he won’t discuss specifics at this point.

“Certainly, we’re concerned about security issues, and we’ll continue to communicate about those not only with leadership of the Legislature but also Missouri citizens,” Nixon said at a Friday news conference, “because we want to balance security with access to this public facility and access to the process of the things that go on here.”

Senators on Thursday debated — then unanimously approved — changes to a House-passed bill sponsored by Rep. Galen Higdon, R-St. Joseph.

His plan would have created a Capitol Security Infrastructure commission, including the governor, Senate president pro tem and House speaker (or their designated representatives).

His commission would have been responsible for the general supervision and charge of state-owned buildings that house offices of the General Assembly or its staff.

Also, Higdon’s bill would have transferred supervision of the Capitol police to the commission from the Public Safety department.

Sen. Jeanie Riddle, R-Mokane, handled Galen’s bill in the Senate and offered a substitute, replacing Higdon’s commission with a Joint Legislative Committee on Capitol Security.

“This joint committee will serve a supervisory role that makes recommendations on the general supervision and security of the Capitol Building and grounds, the parking garages, and other state-owned buildings in the immediate vicinity of the Capitol grounds that houses any members or staff of the General Assembly,” Riddle explained. “They will meet anytime it is deemed necessary by the chairman or at least annually.

“The committee will have three members (each) from the House and Senate, which will include the speaker and the president pro tem.”

However, her version leaves control of Capitol police with the Public Safety department.

“Because the General Assembly is the majority tenant of the building,” Riddle said, “we felt it was necessary to have an official report and position from a committee of the General Assembly on concerns that we had in regard to the safety and security of the building.”

Lawmakers only have until 6 p.m. Friday to reach agreement on that bill and all others.