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RSMo 537.785effective 28 Aug 2018

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This law sets up definitions for the 'Business Premises Safety Act.' A business is any company or organization that owns or runs a place open to the public — but not hotels or apartment buildings. A person covered by this law is anyone legally on that property, not counting workers there. The law defines terms like 'injury,' 'criminal act,' and 'reasonable security measures' so everyone knows what those words mean when this law is used in court.

Word-for-word law

537.785. of law — definitions. — 1. Sections 537.785 and 537.787 may be referred to and cited as the "Business Safety Act".

2. As used in sections 537.785 and 537.787, the following terms mean:

(1) "Business", any commercial or agricultural enterprise including, but not limited to, sales, s, manufacturing, food service, entertainment, property management or leasing company, or any other , whether for profit or not for profit, which owns, operates, or leases property that is open to the public, whether for charge or free of charge, and includes all employees and agents thereof. The term "business" shall not include commercial residential or lodging operations;

(2) "Criminal act", those offenses specified under chapters 565 to 571;

(3) "Harmful act", an intentional or offensive bodily contact with another person that has resulted in injury;

(4) "Injury", any personal injury including, but not limited to, , sickness, disease, or death and all resulting therefrom including, but not limited to, medical expenses, wage loss, and loss of services;

(5) "Person", any individual who is lawfully on the premises, without regard to the person's status as an or . The term "person" shall not include employees or agents of the business;

(6) "Premises", in the of and under the control of a business;

(7) "", those precautions that a reasonable business owner in such industry would implement in a particular area of the premises to guard against criminal acts or harmful acts based on the condition of the premises and the cost of implementing such precautions.

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Source & history notes

(L. 2018 S.B. 608)

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Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.

RSMo 537.785: Citation of law | KnowMo Laws