JEFFERSON CITY — By the close of the first full legislative week, nearly 200 measures make up the list of legislation filed this year for the General Assembly’s consideration.  As more and more measures are introduced in the Missouri Senate, a motion also known as “first reading,” they are then assigned to respective committees that assemble to hear proponents and opponents give their testimony on these issue-specific bills. 

The Senate Seniors, Families and Pensions Committee, chaired by Sen. John Lamping, R-Ladue, was the first panel this week to listen to testimony on several bills.  The committee reviews legislation regarding the preservation of the quality of life for senior citizens, as well as family and children’s issues.  On Tuesday, Jan. 15, members of this committee considered three measures filed by Sen. Lamping; SB 33 would change Missouri law relating to public accommodations and service dogs for individuals with mental disabilities; SB 47 would modify the definition of “relative” as it pertains to the placement of children with relatives; and SB 48 would change state law relating to the prohibition of racial considerations in adoption proceedings.

The Senate Minute for Jan. 14 highlights future committee work and features audio from Majority Floor Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin, and Minority Floor Leader Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City.

Also on Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, chaired by Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield, held an organizational meeting and briefly discussed judiciary-related matters.  Senators on the panel are responsible for examining bills relating to the judicial department of the state, including the practice of Missouri courts, civil procedure and criminal laws, criminal costs, probation or parole of individuals sentenced under the criminal laws of Missouri.

The Senate Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee, chaired by Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, held a hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 16, to consider two tax credit related measures.  Senate Bill 10 and SB 25, sponsored by Sen. Schmitt, and Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar, respectively, would create tax credits to attract certain sporting events to Missouri.  However, Sen. Schmitt’s legislation specifically targets amateur sporting events.  This panel reviews legislation relating to the promotion of economic development, the creation and retention of jobs, tourism and the promotion of tourism as a state industry, as well as other related issues.

The Senate Minute for Jan. 15 includes soundbites from Senate Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, and Sen. Justus discussing job creation and economic development.

The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, also met on Wednesday to hear three brief presentations.  First, Dr. Chris Nicastro, Commissioner of Education, and Paul Katnik, Interim Assistant Commissioner for Office of Educator Quality, presented the pilot of the Missouri Educator Evaluation System.  Then, committee members listened to the Missouri Conservation Department’s Assistant to Director Aaron Jeffries give a presentation titled “Discover Nature Schools.”  Finally, Dr. Stacey Preis, Director of the Joint Committee on Education, gave an overview of proposed Higher Education Funding Models.  Members of the Education Committee are responsible for considering all state education-related measures, including public schools, libraries, programs and higher education institutions. 

Finally, the Senate Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit, closed out the legislative week for panels with a meeting on Thursday.  The committee is responsible for reviewing bills concerning the revenue and public debt of Missouri, the assessment of real and personal property, the classification of property for taxation purposes, and gambling.  Up for consideration was SB 42, sponsored by Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown.  His legislation would allow income tax refunds and lottery payouts to counterbalance the loss of compensation for unpaid debts to county jails.  In addition, the measure would prohibit those with delinquent county jail debts from holding a concealed carry endorsement or licenses to hunt or fish.

Senators used much of the time in the upper chamber this week to introduce legislation.  Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, filed SB 155, which would require any genetically modified meat or fish raised and sold in Missouri to be clearly labeled as genetically engineered, meaning any animal or fish that contains a genetic structure altered beyond natural conditions.  During the bill’s introduction, she described her legislation as a consumer protection measure.

Another measure, SB 150, sponsored by Sen. Munzlinger, was introduced as a bill aimed at protecting Missourians’ Second Amendment rights.  His legislation would make any federal law or executive order banning the possession of a semiautomatic firearm (that is more restrictive than laws already in place in December 2012) unenforceable.  His bill is in response to the recent recommendations regarding gun control announced by the U.S. President this week.

The Senate Minute for Jan. 17 features remarks from Sen. Nasheed and Sen. Munzlinger on the floor of the Missouri Senate as they were introducing their legislation.

Members of the General Assembly convened earlier this week outside on the Capitol lawn in a joint session to swear in many of Missouri’s executive branch members.  Those who took their oath of office on Monday, Jan. 14, include Attorney General Chris Koster, State Treasurer Clint Zweifel, Secretary of State Jason Kander, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, and Gov. Jeremiah “Jay” Nixon.  Senate Leader Dempsey presided over the inaugural ceremony, which included performances by the Missouri National Guard’s 135th Army Band out of Springfield, Mo.  Inaugural festivities continued in the rotunda at the State Capitol later Monday evening to watch the Grand March and participate in the Inaugural Ball.

Committee hearings will pick up next week, with 11 already scheduled and posted on the Missouri Senate website.  Some of the legislation for panel members’ consideration includes bills that address the state’s workers’ compensation law, a measure that exempts certain children who work on farms from various child labor laws, legislation that relates to certain benevolent tax credits, and a bill that addresses school accreditation for failing school districts.  In addition, the Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, will hold several meetings next week to listen to public testimony from various members of state departments regarding their funding for Fiscal Year 2014.  Visit www.senate.mo.gov and click on the “Senate” link under the “Hearings” tab on the right-hand side of the page to see a complete list of committee meetings.

The Missouri Senate will observe Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 21, and will convene on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 4:00 p.m. 

To follow these and other issues before the Missouri Senate, visit www.senate.mo.gov.  Visitors can track legislation considered by the General Assembly during the 2013 session, learn more about their legislative district, and listen to streaming audio of legislative debate as it happens on the Senate floor.

For more legislative news, please visit the Senate newsroom at www.senate.mo.gov/newsroom, where you will find various audio and video programs and other informational services, such as:

• Missouri Legislative Update – A video program produced throughout the legislative session and interim that provides an overview of news in the Missouri Senate and House of Representatives.  The program features news interviews with lawmakers conducted by Missourinet’s Bob Priddy and stories on issues concerning Missourians.
• 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.
• The Senate Minute – A condensed, one-minute audio report of current Senate news.  Programs are posted in .mp3 format and are available through 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.  Please note: Clips linked to this Capitol Briefing are only available for the legislative week referenced in the publication.