Missouri Senate Newsroom

printaudiovideophotoslinksblogsenate site

 

Capitol Briefing

Week of March 1, 2010

 

 
 
Senate Begins Discussion of Large-Scale Economic Development Bill

 

Transportation Bill Earns First-Round

Senate Approval

 

 

 

JEFFERSON CITY—Before the Senate adjourned for its mid-session recess, lawmakers began floor debate on what will likely be one of the most heavily discussed topics of the session—economic development.

 

Senate Bill 895 , a wide-ranging economic development bill aimed at creating jobs—sponsored by Sen. Tom Dempsey (R-St. Charles)—was briefly brought to the floor this week for debate. The bill would, among other provisions, allow municipalities to establish Missouri Jobs for the Future Districts for which they may issue obligations to pay for costs incurred while developing the areas to attract businesses and create jobs.

 

The bill would also allow the Department of Economic Development to, upon finding an economic benefit to the state, increase the amount of incentives available for Missouri businesses through certain tax credit programs. In addition, it would establish the Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act, designed to encourage business growth in high-tech areas.

 

Watch a video clip of Sen. Dempsey discussing SB 895 on the floor.

 

Also brought to the Senate floor for debate this week was SB 793 , sponsored by Sen. Rob Mayer (R-Dexter). The bill would expand the state’s informed consent requirements for abortion, including detailing the risks of an abortion and the physiological characteristics of an unborn child at two-week gestational increments. Senate Bill 793 would also require a health professional to discuss the medical assistance and counseling resources available, advise a woman considering an abortion of the father's liability for child support, and provide information about the Alternatives to Abortion Program.

 

Watch a video clip of Sen. Mayer discussing the bill on the floor.

 

Senate Bill 818 , sponsored by Sen. Jim Lembke (R-St. Louis), was also briefly discussed on the floor. The bill would make several changes to the state’s initiative and referendum process. One proposed change includes creating the misdemeanor crime of intentional misrepresentation of a petition, which would occur when a person knowingly and fraudulently gathers signatures for a petition.

 

Listen to the Senate Minute’s report on SB 818.

 

While no further action was taken on the bills this week, they may be taken up on the floor at any future point in the session.

 

This week the Legislature passed HB 1544 , which was handled in the Senate by Sen. David Pearce (R-Warrensburg). The bill extends the payment of unemployment benefits as long as the state is reimbursed 100 percent by the federal government, as well as extends the Shared Work Unemployment Compensation Program eligibility period from 26 weeks to 52 weeks. The bill has received the governor’s signature, enacting it into law.

 

Watch a video clip of Sen. Pearce explaining HB 1544.

 

Senate Bills Sent to House

 

Several measures were sent to the House for similar consideration after receiving final approval from the Senate this week. One such bill was SB 577 , sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields (R-St. Joseph). The legislation would allow the Missouri Ethics Commission to investigate ethics violations without an outside complaint being filed, require contributions of more than $250 to incumbent officials and their challengers during session be electronically reported within 48 hours, and bar committees from shifting funds to all committees—except candidate committees.

 

Also sent to the House was SB 614 , sponsored by Sen. Yvonne Wilson (D-Kansas City). This bill would change the definition of "bullying" as used in school districts’ anti-bullying policies to include cyber-bullying and electronic communications.

 

First-Round Senate Approval

 

A wide-ranging bill that would impose several changes relating to the regulation of motor vehicles received a first-round passing vote this week. Senate Bill 781 would, among other things, allow the state to issue only one license plate to most vehicle owners rather than the two plates that are currently required (the sole plate would need to be attached to the rear of the vehicle). Some motorists would be able to obtain an optional second plate after paying a $15 fee.

 

In addition, SB 781 bans texting while driving for all drivers, regardless of age.

 

Listen to the Senate Minute’s report on SB 781.

 

Ready for Senate Floor Debate

 

Senate Bill 880 , sponsored by Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia), was passed by the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee this week. The bill contains several provisions relating to DWI, including allowing a circuit court to establish a docket or court to dispose of cases where a person has pleaded guilty to DWI or driving with excessive blood alcohol content. A person would be eligible for this specialized docket or court if he or she operated a motor vehicle with at least .15 blood alcohol content, or received a previous conviction for an intoxication-related traffic offense.

 

Another bill sponsored by Sen. Schaefer, SB 887 , was passed out of the committee and would add spice cannabinoids, commonly known as “spice” or “K2” to the list of Schedule I controlled substances.

 

The Senate Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee passed a bill this week that aims to shorten the length of the legislative session from nearly five months to three months. Senate Joint Resolution 38 , sponsored by Sen. Luann Ridgeway (R-Smithville) would require the legislative session to end in late March rather than mid-May, if approved by voters.

 

Senate Committee Hearings

 

The Senate Health, Mental Health, Seniors and Families Committee heard several bills this week, including a measure sponsored by Sen. Robin Wright-Jones (D-St. Louis). Senate Bill 676 would establish a prostate cancer pilot program to provide screening, referral services, treatment and outreach to uninsured or economically challenged men who are older than 50 and uninsured or economically challenged men between 35 and 50 years of age who are at high risk for prostate cancer.

 

A bill that would require public libraries to adopt policies on the placement of books and materials deemed obscene or pornographic for minors was heard in the Senate General Laws Committee this week. Senate Bill 735 , sponsored by Sen. Jane Cunningham (R-Chesterfield), would also require that the policies contain procedures for the public to challenge the placement of these books and materials and provide comments and guidance on the library policies. As an alternative, any library that does not adopt written policies must prominently display a statement that the library may contain uncensored materials that may be objectionable and offensive to minors.

 

Watch a video clip of Sen. Cunningham presenting SB 735 to the committee.

 

The Senate Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee heard SB 952 this week. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Wright-Jones, would require newly constructed state buildings (more than 5,000 square feet and built after Aug. 28, 2010) to meet certain green building standards.

 

Watch a video clip of Sen. Wright-Jones discussing her bill in committee.

 

Senate Bill 775 , sponsored by Sen. Rita Heard Days (D-St. Louis), was heard in the Senate Education Committee this week. The bill would change the state’s elementary and secondary education funding formula (foundation formula) by adding an additional weight for gifted education. Also discussed in the committee was SB 936 , sponsored by Sen. Pearce, which would establish the Missouri Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Initiative within the Department of Higher Education to encourage interest and future study in those fields among K-12 students.

 

Watch a video clip of Sen. Days presenting SB 775 to the committee.

 

In addition to working on the fiscal year 2011 budget, the Senate Appropriations Committee heard SB 1000 , sponsored by Sen. Tim Green (D-Spanish Lake), this week. The bill would transfer certain amounts of state money from 23 different funds into the state general revenue fund before June 30, 2011. 

 

Watch a video clip of Sen. Green presenting SB 1000 to the committee.

 

The Missouri Senate will stand in recess for its mid-session break next week, with all members reconvening at 4 p.m. on Monday, March 15. The Second Regular Session of the 95th Missouri General Assembly runs through Friday, May 14, 2010.

 

This legislative update is written on a weekly 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 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:  

 

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

 

 

Subscribe / Unsubscribe

 

-END-

 

contact | about | site map