Today marked the end of the Second Regular Session of the 97th General Assembly as the gavel fell promptly at 6 p.m. When the senators drive home this evening, they can look back at the last five months and see many of their top priorities on the governor’s desk. During this session, the General Assembly passed legislation to promote a smaller, more efficient government accountable to the citizens it serves. As a result of the Legislature’s actions this year, Missouri families will have more take-home pay and their children will have better access to a quality education close to home.

Senate Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, said the current school transfer issue has led to thousands of kids traveling miles outside of their communities with the hope of receiving the education they deserve. Senate Bill 493, passed by the General Assembly, addresses the student transfer crisis by providing a path forward that includes accountability for failing districts and a window of opportunity for kids to receive a quality education close to home.  He applauded senators from both sides of the aisle for their noble efforts and dedication to the well-being of Missouri children.

“The overwhelming bipartisan vote proved the Legislature takes this transfer situation very seriously and was willing to step up and make the tough decisions,” said Dempsey. “We took time to fully debate and carefully construct this legislation to finally put a process in place that furthers our goal of providing a quality education for every child in the state of Missouri.”

One of the General Assembly’s biggest accomplishments was the passage Senate Bill 509 and successful override of the governor’s veto. The measure is the biggest tax relief package in Missouri in nearly 100 years. Senate Bill 509 reduces the individual income taxes on hard-working Missourians, giving them more take-home pay. The measure also phases in tax relief to small businesses.

Senate Bill 509 would reduce personal income taxes by one-half percent over five years for those in the top tax bracket. Small businesses would be allowed a 25 percent deduction for business income, which would be phased in over a five-year period. This bill contains a trigger that will not allow any reduction to go into effect unless the highest net general revenue collected in the previous three fiscal years is exceeded by at least $150 million. The changes will not be implemented until 2017.

Majority Floor Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin, said this bill will give Missouri businesses the opportunity to reinvest into the economy.

“Missouri’s economy is not growing at a fast enough rate,” said Richard. “This will allow individuals the opportunity to reinvest their hard-earned dollars back into our economy. It will increase our ability to bring more quality jobs to the state and will send a strong message that Missouri is open for business.”

After more than three years of work in the General Assembly, the Legislature advanced a measure that will revise the state’s outdated criminal code. The revision to more than 700 Missouri laws will create new classes of felonies and misdemeanors, reorganize crimes to fit new penalties in state statutes, and ensure that crimes count toward enhanced sentences for repeat offenders.

“Senate Bill 491streamlines the state’s criminal justice system and provides a safer Missouri for our citizens,” said Dempsey.

The General Assembly also passed legislation to increase access to certain vital healthcare treatments. Senate Bill 668 would make Missouri the 28th state to require insurers to have the same out-of-pocket costs for oral chemotherapy pills as intravenous cancer treatments.

Richard said as technology advances, it’s giving people suffering from cancer a better treatment option.

“There are cancer patients in rural areas who have to drive hundreds of miles to receive IV treatments, but advances in technology are providing better avenues for those treatments and it’s time we take advantage,” said Richard. “By passing this bill, we are giving greater access to one of the best cancer treatments on the market.”

The Legislature also advanced a bill that requires mammography facilities to inform women with dense breast tissue that additional screening would be beneficial. Senate Bill 639 will help prevent many women from having to undergo the intensive chemotherapy and radiation treatment because other detection methods could identify tumors early.

House Bill 2238 will give Missourians access to an alternative treatment for children living with epilepsy. The bill will allow the possession of 20 ounces of CBD oil, an extract from certain strains of the hemp plant, for the treatment of epilepsy. This form of the plant has an extremely low level of THC, the mood-altering chemical found in marijuana. Recent studies have shown CBD oil can be effective in treating seizures, especially in children with intractable epilepsy.

“There are thousands of people in Missouri suffering from epilepsy,” said Dempsey. “Families are leaving Missouri and moving to Colorado where this treatment is already legal. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for epilepsy patients, but this legislation will provide one more treatment option in our state for children who suffer from seizures.”

The Missouri General Assembly also advanced 13 budget bills to the governor’s desk. The nearly $27 billion budget will increase funding for K–12 education, increase funding for mental health services, and fund construction of the new Fulton State Hospital. Also included in the budget, expanded dental care benefits for all adults on Medicaid.

“With this balanced budget we will be able to take care of those who are in most need,” said Dempsey. “We are also expanding dental coverage to people on Medicaid who currently don’t have coverage. We will provide dental coverage, including preventative care, to about 300,000 people in the state.”

Other bills to advance out of the Senate this session include:

• House Bills 1307 & 1313, which amend the current waiting period for having an abortion from 24 hours to 72 hours, allowing women more time to make healthier and better-informed decisions.
• Senate Bill 510, which redefines “misconduct” and “good cause” for unemployment benefits, ending the abuses of those benefits and reducing the burden on Missouri businesses.
• Senate Joint Resolution 36, upon voter approval, would safeguard a citizen’s individual Second Amendment right and require the courts to use the highest level of scrutiny to uphold any restriction on these rights.
• House Joint Resolution 90, upon voter approval, will provide more flexibility for citizens to exercise their right to vote by establishing an early voting period six business days prior to the election.

The 2014 Second Regular Session ended today at 6 p.m. The Senate is scheduled to next convene during the annual veto session held in mid-September.

To see a complete list of the bills passed by the General Assembly during the 2014 legislative session and delivered to the governor, visit www.senate.mo.gov and click on the “Truly Agreed Bills” link under the “Legislation” tab.