Shown above, Sen. Schaefer met with Colonel Don Albright, who is a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars, on Thursday, April 18, 2013.

On Thursday (4-18) last week, I visited with Colonel Don Albright, from Clark. Colonel Albright is a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars. I’d like to thank Col. Albright and all veterans for their service to our country.

Last Friday (4-19), I traveled to Springfield and on Saturday (4-20) to Kansas City with members of the Senate Appropriations Committee to hear testimony from Missourians concerned about the document scanning procedures used to acquire driver’s licenses and concealed carry permits. Listed below are upcoming meetings where citizens will have the opportunity to voice their concerns regarding this troubling situation:

• Friday, April 26, from 1 to 3 p.m., Cape Public Library 711 N. Clark St., Cape Girardeau
• Saturday, April 27, from 10 to 12 a.m., Christian High School Commons Area, 1145 Tom Ginnever Ave., O’Fallon

On Monday (4-24), the Senate committee substitutes for the 13 bills that make up the state budget were debated and approved on the Senate floor. The Senate worked late into the night and was able to pass all of the bills with the Senate’s recommendations. To listen to a portion of the debate, click here or visit the multimedia section of my official Senate website.

In the Senate’s version, the Department of Revenue received a funding reduction of $3.5 million to eliminate the state Drivers License Division, along with a $680,000 cut for postage and a $7 million cut in federal government funding the department currently receives.

The Senate also approved a $65.8 million increase to the K-12 education foundation formula. In addition, the Bright Flight and A+ scholarship programs would both see increases in funding.

The Senate’s budget proposal will now be sent back to the House for review. Any differences in the House and Senate versions will be worked out in conference committee hearings. Lawmakers have until May 10 to approve a final version to send to the governor.

The current status of my proposed legislation for this session is as follows:

• House Bill 55, which I am handling for Rep. Flanigan, creates a tax amnesty program; it is on the formal calendar of House bills for third reading in the Senate.
• Senate Bill 13, an act that would change solid waste language, is on the Senate’s informal calendar for perfection.
• Senate Bill 82, which deals with a possible lieutenant governor vacancy, is on the Senate’s informal calendar for perfection.
• Senate Bill 81, which gives the courts discretion to award attorney’s fees, was passed out of the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee and awaits placement on the Senate calendar for possible debate.  
• Senate Bill 97, which modifies the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, was referred to the General Laws Committee and awaits a hearing.
• Senate Bill 98, which modifies provisions relating to animal shelter fees, was referred to the Agriculture Committee and awaits a hearing.
• Senate Bill 122, which modifies the state’s Sunshine Law, was approved by the Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee and is awaiting placement on the Senate calendar.
• Senate Bill 130, which increases the penalties and driver’s license suspension periods for those who fail to yield the right-of-way in certain instances, was passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee and is awaiting placement on the Senate calendar.
• Senate Bill 244, which modifies provisions relating to the registering and issuance of death certificates, was voted out of the Financial and Government Organizations and Elections Committee and awaits placement on Senate calendar.
• Senate Bill 320, which makes changes to the composition of the University of Missouri Board of Curators, was referred to the Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee and awaits a hearing.
• Senate Bill 321, which creates a home inspector licensing board and procedures for licensing home inspectors, was referred to the Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee and awaits hearing.
• Senate Bill 462, which authorizes circuit clerks to collect a surcharge for processing garnishments, was passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and awaits placement on the Senate calendar.
• Senate Bill 463, which allows Boone County to adopt regulations to control the standards for residential units and develop a program for licensing and inspecting the units, was heard in the Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee on Wednesday, April 10.
• Senate Bill 464, which requires approval by the General Assembly before the Board of Public Buildings may issue revenue bonds for state office buildings, was referred to the Appropriations Committee.  
• Senate Bill 465, which creates a tax amnesty program for state taxes, was referred to the Appropriations Committee.
• Senate Bill 466, which requires that all donation receptacles have the name and contact information of the owner, was heard in the General Laws Committee and awaits a final vote to be placed on the Senate calendar for possible debate.  
• Senate Bill 467, which requires the General Assembly to consider youth smoking statistics when appropriating money from the Life Sciences Research Fund, was heard in the General Laws Committee and awaits approval to be placed on the Senate calendar for possible debate.
• Senate Bill 468, which allows a local hospital to abolish the current property taxes to fund the hospital in order to establish a sales tax to fund such operations, was heard in the Ways and Means Committee and awaits approval from committee members to be placed on the Senate calendar.  
• Senate Joint Resolution 3, which, if approved by voters, would allow the issuance of state bonds for various infrastructure projects, was heard in the Appropriations Committee and awaits placement on the Senate calendar for possible debate.  

The following bills have been approved by the Senate and are now moving through the House:

• Senate Bill 12, which provides immunity from civil liability for court appointed attorneys, was passed out of House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, April 24, and awaits a placement on the House calendar.  
• Senate Bill 72, which designates the month of May as “Motorcycle Awareness Month,” was heard in the House Tourism and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday (4-18).
• Senate Bill 73, which prohibits law enforcement from specifically targeting motorcycles in roadside checkpoints of road block patterns, was approved by the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday (4-24).
• Senate Bill 121, which modifies provisions relating to liquor control laws, was passed out of the House General Laws Committee on Tuesday (4-16) and is currently in the House Rules Committee.
• Senate Bill 193, which establishes the Advisory Council on the Education of Gifted and Talented Children, was heard in the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee on Wednesday (4-17).
• Senate Bill 226, which would modify the standards for determining when a person is in need of mental health detention and evaluation, was third read and passed last Thursday (4-18) and second read in the House on Monday (4-22). It awaits referral to a committee.  
• Senate Joint Resolution 14, which, if approved by voters, would reaffirm Missourians’ Second Amendment rights, was referred to the House General Laws Committee and awaits a hearing.

Runge Nature Center Web Camera

The Runge Conservation Nature Center Web camera gives you a glimpse to the outside world.  The popular wildlife feeding area attracts numerous songbirds, wild turkey, white-tailed deer and numerous squirrels.  The live video feed is fun to watch and puts you eye to eye with nature. Please click here or visit www.mdc.mo.gov to view the Web camera.

At the Runge Conservation Nature Center, come and enjoy the wonders of Missouri's habitats and the fish, forest and wildlife resources found in the Show-Me State. Get acquainted with beauty as we travel from the rugged prairies of the north to the swamplands of the Bootheel.  Please click here or visit http://mdc.mo.gov/node/296 for more information on the Runge Nature Center.

Did you know...?

The Lake of the Ozarks is the largest privately owned lake in the United States.

Thank you for your continued interest in the issues that affect the citizens of Boone and Cooper counties. If you have any questions or concerns throughout this session, please contact my office.