Bill > HB2109

This bill creates a new section of law establishing family justice centers and modifies existing statutes related to witness tampering. The new family justice center provisions define such centers as multiagency facilities that provide comprehensive services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, child abuse, elder abuse, and human trafficking. These centers are required to maintain strict confidentiality of client information and cannot require victims to participate in the criminal justice system to receive services. The centers may include personnel from various organizations such as law enforcement, medical providers, prosecutors, victim-witness programs, shelters, and counseling professionals. The bill provides legal protection for center staff, ensuring they cannot be held civilly liable when acting in good faith. Additionally, the bill amends the witness tampering statute by expanding the definition of a "victim" and removing eligibility for probation, parole, or suspended sentences for those convicted of witness tampering. The legislation also explicitly rejects previous court interpretations that required proof of an underlying criminal offense to prosecute witness tampering, effectively broadening the scope of the law's application.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB2109&year=2026&code=R