perception of law
1. A description in your own words of what this bill proposes and how it changes existing law; why was this bill proposed? (you may speculate if the reason isn’t apparent)
1a.) Missouri House Bill HB 2081 establishes “Laura's Law” which specifies that any social host who furnishes a minor with intoxicating liquor found to be a contributing cause of resulting permanent personal injuries or death will be guilty of a class D felony. This law changes the dynamics of any old law (alcohol-related traffic offenses, with penalty provisions) by holding a person who has control over the consumption of alcohol by a minor is now referred to as the “social host”. The social host (parent, guardian, or other adult) who has exclusive use and enjoyment of any property, (licensed retailer, club, drinking establishment, or caterer or holds a temporary permit, or an employee thereof; selling the intoxicating liquor to the minor with reasonable cause to believe that the minor was twenty-one or more years of age; and to purchase the intoxicating liquor, the person exhibited a driver's license, Missouri non-driver's identification card, or other official or apparently official document, containing a photograph of the minor and purporting to establish that such minor was twenty-one years of age and of the legal age for consumption of intoxicating liquor) accountable for the minors actions if and while intoxicated. The reason I believe the bill was introduced is most likely a young girl named Laura had been mortally wounded while being intoxicated, and being “over served” was the mitigating factor. I would also speculate the incident turned political as the bill was introduced by Representative Noel Torpey, whom was also running for political office.
2. What interest groups do you foresee would have an interest in this legislation? An interest group is an organization such as the ACLU, the Missouri Police Chiefs Association, etc.
2a.) I can foresee Mothers Against Drunk Driving
1a.) Missouri House Bill HB 2081 establishes “Laura's Law” which specifies that any social host who furnishes a minor with intoxicating liquor found to be a contributing cause of resulting permanent personal injuries or death will be guilty of a class D felony. This law changes the dynamics of any old law (alcohol-related traffic offenses, with penalty provisions) by holding a person who has control over the consumption of alcohol by a minor is now referred to as the “social host”. The social host (parent, guardian, or other adult) who has exclusive use and enjoyment of any property, (licensed retailer, club, drinking establishment, or caterer or holds a temporary permit, or an employee thereof; selling the intoxicating liquor to the minor with reasonable cause to believe that the minor was twenty-one or more years of age; and to purchase the intoxicating liquor, the person exhibited a driver's license, Missouri non-driver's identification card, or other official or apparently official document, containing a photograph of the minor and purporting to establish that such minor was twenty-one years of age and of the legal age for consumption of intoxicating liquor) accountable for the minors actions if and while intoxicated. The reason I believe the bill was introduced is most likely a young girl named Laura had been mortally wounded while being intoxicated, and being “over served” was the mitigating factor. I would also speculate the incident turned political as the bill was introduced by Representative Noel Torpey, whom was also running for political office.
2. What interest groups do you foresee would have an interest in this legislation? An interest group is an organization such as the ACLU, the Missouri Police Chiefs Association, etc.
2a.) I can foresee Mothers Against Drunk Driving