Effective – 28 Aug 1995
217.835. Jurisdiction, certain circuit courts — service — hearing — support obligations of offender to be considered — court order to reimburse, when. — 1. The circuit court shall have exclusive jurisdiction over all proceedings seeking reimbursement from offenders pursuant to the provisions of sections 217.825 to 217.841. The attorney general may file a complaint in the circuit court for the county or city from which a prisoner was sentenced or in the circuit court in the county or city of the office of the director of the department, against any person under the jurisdiction of the department stating that the person is or has been an offender in a state correctional center, that there is good cause to believe that the person has assets, and praying that the assets be used to reimburse the state for the expenses incurred or to be incurred, or both, by the state for the cost of care of the person as an offender.
2. Upon the filing of the complaint under subsection 1 of this section, the court shall issue an order to show cause why the prayer of the complainant should not be granted. The complaint and order shall be served upon the person personally, or, if the person is confined in a state correctional center, by registered mail addressed to the person in care of the chief administrator of the state correctional center where the person is housed, at least thirty days before the date of hearing on the complaint and order.
3. At the time of the hearing on the complaint and order, if it appears that the person has any assets which ought to be subjected to the claim of the state pursuant to the provisions of sections 217.825 to 217.841, the court shall issue an order requiring any person, corporation, or other legal entity possessed or having custody of such assets, to appropriate and apply such assets or a portion thereof to satisfy such claim.
4. At the hearing on the complaint and order and before entering any order on behalf of the state against the defendant, the court shall take into consideration any legal obligation of the defendant to support a spouse, minor children, or other dependents and any moral obligation to support dependents to whom the defendant is providing or has in fact provided support.
5. If the person, corporation, or other legal entity shall neglect or refuse to comply with an order issued pursuant to subsection 3 of this section, the court shall order the person, corporation, or other legal entity to appear before the court at such time as the court may direct and to show cause why the person, corporation, or other legal entity should not be considered in contempt of court.
6. If, in the opinion of the court, the assets of the prisoner are sufficient to pay the cost of the proceedings undertaken pursuant to the provisions of sections 217.825 to 217.841, the prisoner shall be liable for those costs upon order of the court.
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(L. 1988 H.B. 1340 & 1348 § 6, A.L. 1995 H.B. 424)
(2013) Language of section limits the State’s recovery to the inmate’s assets in existence at the time of the hearing. State ex rel. Koster v. Cowin, 390 S.W.3d 239 (Mo.App.W.D.).