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JEFFERSON CITY—As the nation readies itself to recognize Memorial Day on Monday, May 31 to honor the military members who lost their lives while serving their country, lawmakers are able to count the passage of several bills addressing military and veterans issues among the successes of the 2010 legislative session.
The governor this week signed a handful of these bills relating to the military and veterans, including House Bill 1524, handled in the Senate by Sen. David Pearce (R-Warrensburg). This comprehensive bill contains several provisions that will affect military members and their families.
One of the main provisions of HB 1524 requires the Secretary of State to establish procedures for overseas military members and other overseas voters to request voter registration applications and absentee ballots electronically. In addition, a sufficient quantity of paper ballots for federal elections must be printed and available to these voters 45 days in advance.
The Secretary of State will also develop a free access system by which these voters may determine whether an absentee ballot has been received by the appropriate election authority.
House Bill 1524 also:
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Requires the state and local government entities to give a measured preference to service-disabled veteran Missouri businesses when selecting contractors for any job or service.
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Specifies that Missouri recognizes the designations of Prisoner of War (POW) and Missing in Action (MIA) as valid descriptions of casualty status and category classification for military personnel.
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Defines "primary next of kin" as, in order of precedence, a surviving spouse, eldest child, father or mother, eldest brother or sister, or eldest grandchild as it relates to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
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Authorizes the governor and adjutant general to present various military recognitions, medals and ribbons.
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Allows for a special license plate for Legion of Merit Medal recipients.
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Requires the State Treasurer, upon receiving a military medal, to hold and maintain it until the original owner or his or her heirs or beneficiaries can be found.
In addition, HB 1524 contains a provision found in HB 2262 (also signed by the governor this week) that allows the adjutant general to establish the Missouri Youth Challenge Academy, a residential, military-based academy that will provide work experience and training in life skills, citizenship, life-coping and academic skills to at-risk high school age youth. This portion of the bill—as well as HB 2262—contains an emergency clause, making it effective immediately upon receiving the governor’s signature on May 27.
Also receiving the governor’s signature this week was House Bill 2147. This measure, also handled by Sen. Pearce, exempts a dependent of a retired military member who relocates to Missouri within one year of retirement from the three-year attendance requirement for the A+ Schools Program (a provision also contained within HB 1524). Currently, only a student who is an active-duty military dependent is exempt from the three-year attendance requirement for the program, which allows qualified students to receive financial assistance for attending a Missouri community college, vocational or technical school.
The bill will become law on Aug. 28, 2010.
House Bill 1893, handled in the Senate by Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia), is another military bill signed by the governor this week. Currently, the laws regarding the distribution of gaming funds contain provisions that govern the administration of early childhood education and veterans' programs, which are supported by gaming money. This bill makes a few changes pertaining to veterans by requiring grant funds to be made available for service officer training for outreach programs between veteran service organizations and the Missouri Veterans Commission. It also adds the Vietnam War to the list of conflicts for which service medals are awarded.
In addition, beginning in fiscal year 2011, the Veterans' Commission Capital Improvement Trust Fund and the Early Childhood Development Education Care Fund will each receive, subject to appropriations, an additional $600,000 per year if the Gaming Commission Fund reaches the 2009 appropriation level for early childhood education.
House Bill 1893 also requires the state auditor to conduct an annual audit for a period of three years beginning January 1, 2011, of the Veterans' Commission Capital Improvement Trust Fund and the Early Childhood Development Education and Care Fund.
This measure becomes law Aug. 28, 2010.
The governor this week also signed HB 1806, a local government bill. Primarily, the measure increases the assessed valuation thresholds for a county to move into a higher classification. First-class county classification is increased from $600 million to $900 million; second-class county classification is increased from $450 million to $600 million; and third-class county classification is increased to $600 million or less. In the future, required assessed valuation thresholds for a change in county classification will be increased each year to reflect the Consumer Price Index.
Because HB 1806 contained an emergency clause, it became effective on May 25, the day the governor signed the bill.
This legislative update is written on a regular basis. To follow these and other issues facing the Missouri Senate, visit www.senate.mo.gov. Visitors can track legislation as it passes through the General Assembly, learn more about their district, or, when the Legislature is in session, listen to streaming audio of legislative debate as it happens. For more legislative news, please visit the Senate Newsroom. There you will find various audio and video programs and other services, such as:
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Missouri Legislative Update (MLU) – A video program produced periodically throughout the year that provides an overview of the news in the Missouri Senate and House of Representatives. The program features news interviews with lawmakers and stories on issues concerning Missourians.
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Capital Dialogue – Missourinet's Bob Priddy hosts this monthly half-hour roundtable program bringing legislators together from the Missouri Senate and House of Representatives from different political parties to discuss their positions on specific issues and legislation.
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This Week in the Missouri Senate – A weekly five-minute audio program that wraps up the week’s news in the Missouri Senate. Programs are posted online every Friday in .mp3 format.
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Senate Minute – A condensed, one-minute audio report of current Senate news. Programs are posted in .mp3 format and are available through podcast. All four of these programs give listeners the option of subscribing via podcast.
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Daily Audio / Video Clips – Throughout the year, the Senate Newsroom posts broadcast-quality audio and video highlights from Senate committee hearings, floor debate, press conferences and other legislative events.
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Daily News Clips – The Senate Newsroom compiles daily news clips from various print and online publications that cover issues relating to the Legislature and state government. An archive of past clips is maintained online and is offered as a subscription service.
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