Opinion ID: 1761874
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Legislative and Procedural History

Text: When HB 972 was first introduced on April 1, 2005, its purpose and title were stated as follows: An Act to repeal sections 577.001, 577.023, RSMo, and 302.309 RSMo . . ., and to enact in lieu thereof four new sections relating to intoxication-related traffic offenses, with penalty provisions. Specifically, section 302.309 was amended to limit driving privileges for intoxication-related offenders; new statutory definitions were added to sections 577.001 and 577.023; and a new section 565.022 created the crime of vehicular manslaughter. While under committee review, the amendments to section 302.309 were deleted, but otherwise the bill remained the same. This second version, titled An Act to repeal sections 577.001 and 577.023, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof three new sections relating to intoxication-related traffic offenses, with penalty provisions, was passed out of committee April 19, perfected April 28, and passed by the House of Representatives May 3. HB 972 was revised further in the Senate. When passed out of committee May 10, only one of the original sections of the bill was repealed and replaced (section 577.023 regarding definitions); the others were eliminated, and new sections were substituted relating to the sale of alcohol to minors, voluntary manslaughter, and endangering the welfare of a child. This third version of the bill was titled an act to repeal sections 311.310, 565.024, 568.050, and 577.023, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof four new sections relating to alcohol-related offenses, with penalty provisions. On May 12, with the legislative session ending the next day, a final substitute bill was introduced repealing six sections, again only one of which was in the original version, and enacting thirteen new sections, of which only six originated from some earlier version of the bill. The other seven were new and unrelated to traffic or alcohol offenses. Three of the seven purported to regulate the adult entertainment industry. Specifically, proposed section 67.2540 defines terms ranging from adult cabaret to sexually-oriented materials. Section 67.2546 prohibits private viewing rooms in adult entertainment establishments. Section 67.2552 prohibits nudity and certain sexual activities in such establishments. These three provisions are the subject of MACE's challenge. [1] This fourth and final version of HB 972 containing the seven new sections was passed May 13, the last day of the legislative session, bearing the title An Act to repeal sections 311.310, 565.024, 566.083, 568.050, 577.001, and 577.023, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof thirteen new sections relating to crime, with penalty provisions and an emergency clause for certain sections. MACE sought declaratory judgment in Cole County asserting that HB 972 violates article III, sections 21 and 23 of the Missouri Constitution, prohibiting changes in original purpose and requiring single subjects with clear titles, and the first and fourteenth amendments of the U.S. Constitution guaranteeing free speech and equal protection. The circuit court ruled in MACE's favor, declaring the three provisions in question to be invalid, unenforceable, and severed from the remainder of HB 972.