Missouri Senate Newsroom

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Capitol Briefing

Week of March 15, 2010

 

 
 
Autism Insurance Bill Passed by Senate

 

Senate to Hold “Rebooting Government” Work Day Next Week

 

 

 

JEFFERSON CITY—The Missouri Senate this week gave final approval to a bill that would require health insurers to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.

Under Senate Bill 618 , health carriers that issue or renew health benefit plans on or after Aug. 28, 2010, would be required to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. The bill would also prohibit health carriers from refusing to cover an individual or dependent solely because the individual is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

 

The bill would, however, establish coverage restrictions for autism, limiting coverage to treatment that is ordered by the individual’s treating licensed physician or licensed psychologist, in accordance with a treatment plan.

 

Coverage provided under SB 618 for applied behavior analysis (ABA), a common treatment method for those with autism, would be subject to a maximum annual benefit of $55,000 for individuals under the age of 21 (no coverage for ABA would be provided to those 21 years of age or older).

 

And finally, SB 618 would require the Missouri Department of Insurance to grant a waiver from the autism insurance standard to small business employers that have group health plans if compliance raises premium costs by a certain percentage. Employers must demonstrate (over any consecutive 12-month period) that compliance with the coverage has increased the premium costs of their health insurance policy by at least 2.5 percent over the course of a calendar year.

 

“Rebooting Government”

 

In other news this week, Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields (R-St. Joseph) announced that next Tuesday, March 23, the Senate will dedicate a full work day to discuss ideas relating to the Senate’s new “Rebooting Government” initiative in lieu of holding committee hearings.

 

With the state’s budget situation requiring difficult decisions to be made by the Legislature (the Legislature must submit a budget to the governor by May 7), the Senate recently launched the Rebooting Government program on the Senate website, which invites Missourians to share their ideas for how to rework state government. Next week’s work day event is designed for groups of senators to review and discuss the suggestions received and then submit at least five ideas they agree upon to be introduced in legislation or through the budget process.  

 

Eight groups of four senators each will meet to examine ideas in the following categories: Agriculture/Outdoors/Department of Natural Resources, Courts/Legal/Department of Public Safety, Education, General Government/Office of Administration, Retirement, Social Programs, Tax Structure, and Transportation.

 

The groups will all meet Tuesday morning. Public notices will be posted relaying the location of each group meeting, and although public testimony will not be taken, all working groups are open to the public.

 

Missourians may continue submitting their ideas by visiting the Senate’s website at www.senate.mo.gov and clicking on the Rebooting Government logo. Submissions may be anonymous, and ideas will continue to be accepted throughout the legislative session.

 

Working groups and the senators assigned to each (in alphabetical order) include:

 

Agriculture/Outdoors/Department of Natural Resources

Sen. Frank Barnitz, D-Lake Spring

Sen. Dan Clemens, R-Marshfield

Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia

Sen. Wes Shoemyer, D-Clarence

 

Courts/Legal/Department of Public Safety

Sen. Matt Bartle, R-Lee’s Summit

Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mt. Vernon

Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City

Sen. Rob Mayer, R-Dexter

 

Education

Sen. Rita Days, D-St. Louis

Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg

Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin

Sen. Yvonne Wilson, D-Kansas City

 

General Government/Office of Administration

Sen. Tim Green, D-St. Louis

Sen. Jim Lembke, R-St. Louis

Sen. Luann Ridgeway, R-Smithville

Sen. Carl Vogel, R-Jefferson City

 

Retirement

Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau

Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield

Sen. John Griesheimer, R-Washington

Sen. Joe Keaveny, D-St. Louis

 

Social Programs

Sen. Joan Bray, D-St. Louis

Sen. Norma Champion, R-Springfield

Sen. Scott T. Rupp, R-Wentzville

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale

 

Tax Structure

Sen. Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles

Sen. Brad Lager, R-Savannah

Sen. Chuck Purgason, R-Caulfield

Sen. Robin Wright-Jones, D- St. Louis

 

Transportation

Sen. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington

Sen. Ryan McKenna, D-Crystal City

Sen. Delbert Scott, R-Lowry City

Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton

 

Watch video of Sen. Shields announcing next week’s small group meetings.

 

Other Senate Bills Sent to House

 

A wide-ranging bill that would impose several changes relating to the regulation of motor vehicles was sent to the House this week. Senate Bill 781 would, among other provisions, ban texting while driving for all drivers, regardless of age. It would also 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.

 

Senate Bill 887 , sponsored by Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia), also received a final passing Senate vote. The legislation adds spice cannabinoids, commonly known as "spice" or "K2," to the state’s list of Schedule I controlled substances.

 

Watch a video clip of Sen. Schaefer presenting SB 887 on the Senate floor.

 

Another bill sponsored by Sen. Schaefer, SB 855 , was sent to the House, and would allow the State Registrar to issue heritage birth or marriage certificates celebrating the unique heritage of Missouri citizens that would be available for purchase for a fee of $50. The fees from the sale of the heritage certificates would be placed in the general revenue fund.

 

A bill relating to county classifications also moved to the House. Senate Bill 605 , sponsored by Sen. Rob Mayer (R-Dexter), would increase the assessed valuation a county must maintain in order to move into a higher classification. The assessed valuation for first-class counties would be increased from $600 million to $900 million. The assessed valuation for second-class counties would be increased from $450 million to $600 million. All counties with an assessed valuation of less than $600 million would be considered third-class counties.

 

Also receiving final Senate approval was SB 687 , sponsored by Sen. Robin Wright-Jones (D-St. Louis), which would require official motor vehicle inspection and emission stations to have liability insurance to cover any possible damages to a vehicle during an inspection.

 

A bill that would allow statewide officials to request that the Office of Administration determine the lowest and best bidders for state purchasing, printing and service contracts received final approval from the Senate. Senate Bill 844 , sponsored by Sen. Shields, now moves to the House for similar consideration.

 

Finally, this week the Senate adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 34 , sponsored by Sen. Jim Lembke (R-St. Louis), sending it to the House for consideration. The resolution would reaffirm Missouri's sovereignty under the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and demand that the federal government stop all activities outside the scope of its constitutionally delegated powers.

 

Watch a video clip of Sen. Lembke presenting the resolution to the Senate.

 

Ready for Senate Floor Debate

 

The Senate Education Committee this week passed SB 631 , sponsored by Sen. Jane Cunningham (R-Chesterfield). The bill would create the Amy Hestir Student Protection Act, which contains several provisions relating to schools. One provision, for example, states that a registered sex offender, or a person required to register as a sex offender, would be prohibited from being a school board member or a candidate for a school board position.

 

Senate Bill 845 , which would allow overseas voters—including military members—to request and send voter registration applications and absentee ballot applications electronically was passed by the Senate Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee.

 

The committee also passed SB 991 , sponsored by Sen. Delbert Scott (R-Lowry City). The bill would eliminate, combine and revise certain state boards, commissions, committees and councils.

 

All of these bills are now eligible to be brought to the Senate floor for debate.

 

Senate Committee Hearings

 

Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Glendale) presented SB 840 to the Senate Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Committee this week. The bill would create a refundable income and financial institutions tax credit, which would be available for sports commissions, convention and visitors bureaus, certain non-profit organizations, counties, and municipalities to offset expenses incurred in attracting sporting events to the state.

 

Senator Schmitt also presented SB 1062 to the Senate Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee this week. This bill, similar to SB 917 , sponsored by Sen. Schaefer, would enact guidelines relating to how health care costs and quality are measured in the state and how that information is made available to Missourians.

 

Watch a video clip of Sen. Schmitt presenting SB 1062 to committee.

 

The Senate Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee heard a bill that would increase pesticide registration fees in the state. Under current law, the fee for registering a pesticide in Missouri is $15 per year. Senate Bill 622 would increase the fee to $150 plus one-fifth of 1 percent of the product's annual gross sales in Missouri, up to a maximum total fee of $1,500 per product.

 

Senate Bill 637 , sponsored by Sen. Lembke, received a hearing this week in the Senate Transportation Committee . The bill would prohibit political subdivisions from using automated photo red light enforcement systems to enforce red light violations.

 

Watch a video clip of Sen. Lembke presenting SB 637 to committee.

 

And finally, Sen. Wright-Jones presented SB 641 to the Senate Education Committee this week. The measure would require charter schools to comply with laws and regulations that require the reporting of information by schools, governing boards and school districts to the State Board of Education or Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

 

Watch a video clip of Sen. Wright-Jones presenting SB 641 to the committee.

 

The Missouri Senate will reconvene at 4 p.m. on Monday, March 22. 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.

 

 

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