JEFFERSON CITY — Nearly 20 meetings were scheduled this week for senators to consider legislation before their respective committees.  As bills are introduced in the Missouri Senate, they are later assigned to issue-specific committees in which measures’ sponsors and individuals who are advocates for and against legislation are given the opportunity to testify in front of panel members during committee hearings.  As legislators observed the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday on Monday, they got right to work this week.

On Tuesday, lawmakers in the Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Sen. Scott T. Rupp, R-Wentzville.  His legislation would change Missouri’s law regarding its Second Injury Fund, which was created to help injured workers when a current work-related injury combines with a prior disability to create an increased combined disability. 

The bill would establish priority for paying fund liabilities, starting with expenses relating to legal defense of the fund; permanent, then partial, total disability awards in the order in which they are settled or finally settled by the court system; medical expenses incurred prior to July 1, 2012; and the interest on unpaid awards.  The act also institutes a funding mechanism to bolster the Second Injury Fund when usual collections are inadequate by increasing the surcharge rate that finances the fund, among other provisions.  Senators later voted this bill out of committee, moving it to the Senate floor for possible debate.

Also on Tuesday, the Seniors, Families and Pensions Committee voted out several measures sponsored by Sen. John Lamping, R-Ladue.  Senate Bill 33 would modify current state law that addresses public accommodations and service dogs for individuals with mental disabilities; Senate Bill 47 would add to the list of legal guardians of a child who may receive subsidies; and Senate Bill 48 would change provisions in state law relating to the prohibition of racial considerations in adoption proceedings.  With these passing votes, the legislation now moves to the full Senate for possible debate.

In the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday, Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, testified on behalf of his measure, Senate Bill 73.  The legislation would prohibit law enforcement agencies from establishing roadside checkpoints or road block patterns based on a particular vehicle type, including motorcycle checkpoints.

Click here to listen to soundbites from Sen. Schaefer and Sen. Jason Holsman, D-Kansas City, discuss SB 73 during the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing on Jan. 23, 2013.  The Senate Minute for Jan. 24, 2013, also features audio from the committee hearing regarding this measure.

The Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee also met on Wednesday to hear testimony on a pair of tax credit-related measures sponsored by Senate Majority Floor Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin, and Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield.   Senate Bill 15 and Senate Bill 20, which have been combined into one measure, would change state law regarding certain benevolent tax credits, including the Public Safety Officer Surviving Spouse tax credit, the Children in Crisis tax credit, and the Rebuilding Communities tax credit. Benevolent tax credits benefit charitable rather than profit-making entities.  Senate Bill 19, sponsored by Sen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa, also has been combined with SB 20.  His legislation would extend the sunset on the Residential Dwelling Accessibility tax credit, among other provisions.

The same committee gave its approval to Senate Bill 10, sponsored by Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, moving it to the full Senate for possible debate.  The legislation, combined with Senate Bill 25, sponsored by Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar, would create a tax credit to attract certain sporting events to the Show-Me State.

During the Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee, senators heard testimony on Senate Bill 16, sponsored by Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown.  His legislation would exempt farm work performed by children under 16 years of age from certain child labor requirements, including obtaining a work certificate; working for a certain number of hours and days; prohibiting certain hazardous jobs, such as operating and maintaining power-driven machinery, climbing ladders, operating vehicles, and working with specific chemicals.  This exemption would only apply to young Missourians working on their own family farms, as well as working on family farms as long as they have the knowledge and consent of their parents. 

Later in the day, panel members on the Education Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 3, sponsored Sen. Rupp.  The legislation would create the Early High School Graduation Scholarship Program for public high school students who graduate from high school early.  The committee also considered Senate Bill 7, sponsored by Education Committee Chair Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg.  The measure would address Missouri’s unaccredited school districts by removing the two-year waiting period that exists between the classification of a school district and the lapse of the district’s corporate organization.  In addition, the act would require the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to conduct at least two public hearings regarding the accreditation status of a school district.  These hearings would consider community resources that could be used to help the school district regain its accreditation.

Click here to listen to a soundbite from Sen. Pearce discussing this bill during the Senate Education Committee hearing on Jan. 23, 2013.

Finally on Wednesday, senators on the Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 61, sponsored by Sen. Joseph Keaveny, D-St. Louis.  His measure would require the state auditor to compare the costs of death penalty cases and first-degree murder cases in which the death penalty is not sought. 

On Thursday, the Ways and Means Committee heard testimony on legislation relating to taxation.  Senate Bill 11, sponsored by Sen. Schmitt, would create a phased-in individual income tax dedication for business income and reduce the corporate income tax rate over a five-year period.  Subsequently, Senate Bill 26, sponsored by Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit, would change the individual and corporate income tax by modifying the individual tax rate table so that all income more than $7,000 would be taxed at the rate of 5 percent effective Jan. 1, 2014.  His legislation would also phase in an individual income tax deduction for business income over a five-year period.

Click here to listen to a soundbite from Sen. Schmitt discussing SB 11 during the Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing on Jan. 24, 2013.

This committee also considered Senate Bill 31, sponsored by Sen. Lamping, which would increase the tax on cigarettes by 26 cents, modify the state individual income tax rate, and increase the state sales and use tax by one-half percent.

Click here to listen to a soundbite from Sen. Paul LeVota, D-Kansas City discussing SB 31 during the Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing on Jan. 24, 2013.

Nearly 40 measures were also introduced in the Senate this week, including:

• Senate Bill 176 and Senate Bill 192, sponsored by Sen. Schmitt and Sen. Lamping, respectively.  These bills would designate the new bridge on Interstate 70 crossing the Mississippi River between downtown St. Louis and southwestern Illinois as the “Stan Musial Memorial Bridge.”  These measures were filed after Stan “The Man” Musial, a highly regarded Major League Baseball player who played 22 seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals, passed away at the age of 92.
• Senate Bill 177, also sponsored by Sen. Schmitt, would move the date of the presidential primary from February to March.
• Senate Bill 179, sponsored by Sen. Parson, would create an income tax deduction for purchases of new homes.
• Senate Bill 185, sponsored by Sen. David Sater, R-Caseville, would criminalize prenatal drug alcohol use.
• Senate Bill 187, sponsored by Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla, would exempt motorcycle riders age 21 and older from wearing a helmet.
• Senate Bill 189, sponsored by Sen. Gary Romine, R-Farmington, would make it a crime if a person fails to move out of a rental property 10 days from the date of judgment to vacate the premises.
• Senate Bill 190, sponsored by Sen. Gina Walsh, D-Bellefontaine Neighbors, would establish mandatory wage reporting to determine the prevailing wage.
• Senate Bill 198, sponsored by Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, would require, subject to appropriations, an expansion of the variety of kosher foods approved under the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Special Supplemental Food Program. 
• Senate Bill 206, sponsored by Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, would designate the “jumping jack” as the official exercise of Missouri.
• Senate Bill 208, sponsored by Minority Floor Leader Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City, would raise the age limit from 18 to 21 years of age for when an individual may re-enter into foster care.
• Also sponsored by Sen. Justus, Senate Concurrent Resolution 6 would urge ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  Concurrent resolutions express the opinion or will of both chambers and is adopted by both the House and Senate.  They are used to memorialize Congress on particular issues, ratify amendments to the U.S. Constitution, such as SCR 6, express recommendations and condolences, and request action of state officials and departments.  Depending on the intended purpose, a concurrent resolution may carry the full force and effect of law.

The Missouri Senate will convene on Monday, Jan. 28 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.