84.325.  Transition director, appointment — implementation period, control by board of police commissioners — transfer of indebtedness and assets — duties of board, personnel — rulemaking authority. — 1.  A transition director shall be appointed by the governor to ensure oversight of an orderly transition of the control of any municipal police force from any city not within a county to the board of police commissioners.  The implementation period shall begin on the effective date of this act^*, and end no later than July 1, 2026.  The board of police commissioners shall assume control of any municipal police force established within any city not within a county during the implementation period, according to the procedures and requirements of this section and any rules promulgated under subsection 6 of this section and as determined in coordination with the transition director, local officials, and the board of police commissioners.  The purpose of these procedures and requirements is to ensure the continuity of operations of the municipal police force with minimized disruptions to the residents of any city not within a county, to provide for an orderly and appropriate transition in the governance of the police force, and to provide for an equitable employment transition for commissioned and civilian personnel.

  2.  Upon the assumption of control by the board of police commissioners under subsection 1 of this section, any municipal police department within any city not within a county shall convey, assign, and otherwise transfer to the board title and ownership of all indebtedness and assets, including, but not limited to, all funds and real and personal property held in the name of or controlled by the municipal police department.  Such city shall thereafter cease the operation of any police department or police force.

  3.  Upon the assumption of control by the board of police commissioners under subsection 1 of this section, the state shall accept responsibility, ownership, and liability as successor-in-interest for contractual obligations and other lawful obligations of the municipal police department.

  4.  The board of police commissioners shall initially employ, without a reduction in rank, salary, or benefits, all commissioned and civilian personnel of the municipal police department who were employed by the municipal police department immediately prior to the date the board assumed control.  The board shall recognize all accrued years of service that such commissioned and civilian personnel had with the municipal police department, as well as all accrued years of service that such commissioned and civilian personnel had previously with the board of police commissioners.  Such personnel shall be entitled to the same holidays, vacation, sick leave, sick bonus time, and annual step increases they were entitled to as employees of the municipal police department.

  5.  The commissioned and civilian personnel who retire from service with the municipal police department before the board of police commissioners assumed control of the department under subsection 1 of this section shall continue to be entitled to the same pension benefits provided as employees of the municipal police department and the same benefits set forth in subsection 4 of this section.  Any police pension system created under chapter 86 for the benefit of a police force established under sections 84.012 to 84.340 shall continue to be governed by chapter 86 and shall apply to any comprehensive policing plan and any police force established under sections 84.012 to 84.340.  Other than any provision that makes chapter 86 applicable to a municipal police force established under sections 84.343^** to 84.346^**, nothing in sections 84.012 to 84.340 shall be construed as limiting or changing the rights or benefits provided under chapter 86.

  6.  The board of police commissioners may promulgate all necessary rules and regulations for the implementation and administration of this section.  Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028.  This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after March 26, 2025, shall be invalid and void.