JEFFERSON CITY – Legislative
work was cut short mid-week with winter weather affecting lawmakers
throughout the state who usually travel back home upon conclusion of
their work in Jefferson City. Before the winter storm struck the Show-Me
State, the upper chamber gave first-round approval to a measure that
would train and educate students about gun safety. In addition, lawmakers
in the Senate were able to send legislation to the House relating to
administrative child support orders and a database for workers’ compensation
claims, as well as a measure that would reinstate local taxes on vehicles
bought from other states or sold between Missouri citizens.
House Receives More Legislation from the Senate
The Senate earlier this week gave its final approval to Senate
Bill 182, sponsored by Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson
City. The chairman of the Senate Transportation
and Infrastructure Committee is carrying legislation through the General Assembly
that would prohibit counties and municipalities from imposing a
local use tax on the sale of motor vehicles, trailers, boats or
outboard motors. However, local sales taxes on these items, determined
by the residence of the buyer, would be imposed, regardless of
whether the item was purchased in the Show-Me State. The rate
of tax for motor vehicles, trailers, boats and outboard motors
sold at retail would be a sum of the state sales tax and the local
sales tax; the rate of all other sales of these items would be
the sum of the state highway use tax and the local sales tax.
If SB 182 is signed into law, the local use tax implemented by
this legislation would go before a vote of the people regarding
whether to discontinue collection of sales tax on non-retail sales
of motor vehicles.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Joseph Keaveny,
D-St. Louis, would modify provisions of state law relating to administrative
child support orders. Senate
Bill 69 would grant administrative hearing officers from
the Department of Social Services the ability to set aside or correct
administrative child support decisions or orders and proposed administrative
modifications of a judicial order. The bill sponsor explained during
debate that the legislation would allow officials to be more efficient
and effective by correcting certain errors in child support orders,
which would otherwise have to be reheard in court.
To help prevent deceptive
business practices, Sen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa, is sponsoring legislation
that would prohibit florists from using a geographic reference, such
as a city’s name, in their business’s name or advertising — including
telephone directories, on the Internet, or in print advertisements
— if it is not physically located in that location. Senate
Bill 101 would require florists to specify a local telephone
number for when listing their business in a print or online directory
or when advertising their companies. Violating this act would be considered
an unlawful merchandising practice and may result in prosecution.
A
measure that would require the Division of Worker’s Compensation to
develop and maintain a database for specific claims also received the
upper chamber’s approval this week. Senate
Bill 34, sponsored by Sen. Mike Cunningham, R-Rogersville,
would require the creation of a workers’ compensation claims database
that is searchable by an employee’s name and Social Security number.
Senate Bills Granted Initial Approval
Senate
Bill 75, sponsored by Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla, would
allow school districts and charter schools in Missouri to provide
training and education about firearms safety and address potentially
dangerous or armed intruders. The act would establish the Active
Shooter and Intruder Response Training for Schools Program (ASIRT),
which would allow schools in the Show-Me State to annually train
teachers and employees on how to respond to students with information
about a threatening situation and how to address a potentially
dangerous individual, armed intruder or active shooter in or on
the school’s property. In addition, each school would be permitted
to teach the Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program, or a similar program
promoting safety and protection of children and emphasizing how
students should respond if they encounter a firearm, to first grade
students each year. The bill states that firearms would be prohibited
from use in the program. The legislation needs final approval
before moving on to the House for further debate.
The Senate
Daily Audio/Video Clips for Feb. 19 include debate
on the Senate floor from Sen. Brown; Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal,
D-University City; and Sen. Jason Holsman, D-Kansas City, regarding
SB 75.
A measure sponsored by Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown, would
exempt farm work performed by children under the age of 16 from certain
child labor requirements. Senate
Bill 16 would allow young Missourians working on their
family farms to operate and maintain power-driven machinery, climb
ladders, and operate certain farm vehicles, among other jobs. These
individuals would also be allowed to work on other family farms with
the knowledge and consent of their parents.
Senate
Bill 176 & 192, sponsored by Sen. Eric Schmitt,
R-Glendale, and Sen. John Lamping, R-Ladue, respectively, would
designate the new bridge on I-70 crossing the Mississippi River
as the “Stan Musial Memorial Bridge.” The legislation would also
designate a portion of I-70 leading up to the Illinois border as
the “Andy Gammon Memorial Highway.” Gammon lost his life while
working on construction of the bridge. During debate, the bill
sponsor told his colleagues that the namesake for the bridge was
appropriate as the infrastructure both welcomes visitors to the
area and connects communities together. The portion of the legislation
naming the bridge is contingent upon Illinois designating its portion
of the bridge after the former Missouri Cardinal baseball legend.
Measures Approved by Legislative Committees
Senate
Bill 199, sponsored by Sen. Chappelle-Nadal, was voted
out of the Seniors,
Families and Pensions Committee this week,
moving it to the full Senate for possible debate. Her legislation
would require the Department of Health and Senior Services to encourage
all state licensed long-term care facilities to institute policies
that promote a person’s involvement in the well-being and support
of a family member who is a resident of a long-term care facility.
Members
of this same committee also approved Senate
Bill 208, sponsored by Senate Minority Floor Leader
Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City. The legislation would raise the age
limit from 18 to 21 for individuals to petition the court to return
to the custody of the Children’s Division within the Department
of Social Services, if it is in the youth’s best interest.
Voted
out of the Senate Rules,
Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee this week was Senate
Concurrent Resolution 2, sponsored by Senate Majority
Floor Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin. His resolution directs the State
Historical Society of Missouri to develop plans to commemorate and
celebrate the State of Missouri’s bicentennial. The Show-Me State
was formally admitted into the Union of the United States of America
on Aug. 10, 1821. Resolutions like SCR 2 commemorate events that draw
attention to the passage of historical milestones and generate interest
when documenting and celebrating events such as Missouri’s bicentennial,
which will occur in 2021.
In the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee, members voted out Senate
Bill 73, sponsored by Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia.
The legislation would prohibit law enforcement agencies from establishing
roadblock patterns based on particular vehicle types, such as motorcycle-only
checkpoints. However, law enforcement agencies may establish roadside
checkpoints that only stop and check commercial motor vehicles.
Legislation
creating the Missouri Export Incentive Act was approved by members
of the Jobs,
Economic Development and Local Government Committee this
week. Senate
Bill 120, sponsored by Sen. Schmitt, would change provisions
relating to taxation and economic incentives, including data storage
tax incentives, low-income housing tax credits, the Neighborhood Preservation
Act, the self-employed health insurance tax credit, historic preservation,
and Brownfield Remediation tax credits. In addition, the bill would
create the Missouri Export Incentive Act that would authorize air export
tax credits for freight forwarders to qualifying outbound flights from
the Lambert - St. Louis International Airport.
Senate
Bill 207, sponsored by Sen. Kehoe, was approved by
the Commerce,
Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee.
Currently, gas corporations may file a petition with the Public
Service Commission for rate adjustments to recover costs incurred
for infrastructure replacement projects. This bill would allow
electrical corporations to follow a similar process to recover
costs for infrastructure replacement projects. The types of costs
that could be recovered include certain work on electric plants,
certain capital projects undertaken to comply with environmental
or safety regulations, and costs of facilities relocation due to
public works projects.
Senate Committees Consider Legislation
In the Senate Judiciary
and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee,
panel members heard testimony on Senate
Bill 84, sponsored by Sen. Scott T. Rupp, R-Wentzville.
His legislation would provide medical freedom of conscience protection
for medical professionals, such as a doctor or nurse, and health care
institutions with respect to the provision and participation of specialized
medical procedures or research, such as performing abortions or sterilization
— when not medically necessary — procedures, or prescribing abortion-inducing
drugs or contraception, among other specified medical services. The
legislation would prevent any medical professional or health care institution
from being civilly, criminally or administratively liable for declining
to participate in or provide specified medical procedures or research
that violates the professional’s or institution’s religious, moral
or ethical principles.
Also considered by this committee was Senate
Bill 126, sponsored by Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville.
Identical to legislation filed last year, the act states that Missouri
licensed pharmacies would not be required to carry or maintain
an inventory of any prescription or nonprescription drug or device.
Senate
Bill 94, considered by members of the Senate Financial
and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee, would allow
Missouri voters to cast advance ballots at central voting locations
and satellite sites effective Jan. 1, 2014, beginning the third
Wednesday prior to an election between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.,
and until 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays. The legislation, sponsored
by Sen. Justus, would require election authorities to consider
geographic location and demographics of the registered voters from
the previous election to ensure nondiscrimination and provide adequate
notice of the central locations and the satellite sites that are
selected for advance voting places. Committee members also heard Senate
Bill 145 — sponsored by Sen. Gina Walsh, D-Bellefontaine
Neighbors — a similar measure that would also create an advance
voting system for elections.
The Senate
Daily Audio/Video Clips for Feb. 19 feature Sen.
Justus presenting SB 94 before members of the Senate Financial
and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee.
This same committee heard testimony on Senate
Bill 135, sponsored by Sen. Sater. His legislation
would require a newly formed Fair Ballot Commission to approve
fair ballot language and ballot summary statements. Currently,
the Missouri Secretary of State prepares fair ballot language statements
that describe ballot measures; these statements are then posted
at polling places next to the sample ballot. The act would require
the Secretary of State to submit the language to an eight-member
commission consisting of licensed attorneys in Missouri appointed
by majority and minority leadership from both legislative chambers,
along with one private citizen of the state who is not an attorney,
for approval. Ballot summary statements, which are a part of the
official ballot title, would also be approved by the Fair Ballot
Commission.
Senator Schmitt presented Senate
Bill 177 to members of the Senate Financial and Governmental
Organizations Committee that would move the date of the presidential
primary in Missouri from the first Tuesday after the first Monday
in February to this same date in March.
The Senate
Daily Audio/Video Clips for Feb. 19 highlight Sen.
Schmitt testifying in support of SB 177 in the Senate Financial
and Governmental Organizations Committee. You can also listen
to commentary from
Sen. Schmitt and Sen. Justus regarding SB 177 in the Senate
Minute from Feb. 19.
A measure sponsored by Sen. Chappelle-Nadal would repeal provisions
passed in 2008 state law relating to unauthorized and unlawfully present
immigrants. Senate
Bill 203 was heard in the Senate Seniors, Families and
Pensions Committee and addresses:
- Law enforcement’s training and enforcement of federal immigration
laws,
- Municipalities that provide sanctuary to illegal immigrants when
they are in present violation of federal immigration laws,
- State and local public benefits for illegal immigrants,
- Employment of illegal immigrants and misclassification for employees,
and
- Transporting or harboring any illegal immigrant, among other provisions.
The Senate
Daily Audio/Video Clips for Feb. 19 showcase Sen.
Chappelle-Nadal and Sen. Gary Romine, R-Farmington, discussing
SB 203 in the Senate Seniors, Families and Pensions Committee.
In the Senate
Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee, panel
members considered Senate
Bill 160, sponsored by Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg.
His legislation would require insurance companies to provide coverage
for the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders beginning Jan.
1, 2014. The act would prohibit health carriers from denying eligibility
or continued coverage to an individual who is in need of treatment
of an eating disorder, in accordance with the Practice Guidelines for
the Treatment of Patients with Eating Disorders. Senate Bill 160 would
require the insurer to provide access to psychiatric and medical treatment
under the plan and provide coverage for integrated care and treatments
as prescribed by health care professionals, including nutrition counseling,
physical therapy, dietician services, and medical and psychiatric monitoring.
Legislation that would require all state buildings and state parks
to display the Honor and Remember flag as an official recognition and
in honor of fallen members of the U.S. Armed Forces was considered
in the Senate General Laws Committee this week. Senate
Bill 218 is sponsored by Sen. Paul LeVota, D-Kansas City.
A
Senate joint resolution was also heard by members of the Senate General
Laws Committee this week. Senate
Joint Resolution 14, sponsored by Sen. Schaefer, would,
if approved by Missouri voters, modify provisions of the state’s constitution
regarding the right to keep and bear arms. More specifically, SJR
14 states a citizen has the right to keep and bear arms in defense
of his or her family, in addition to the current rights to defend his
or her home, property and themself. This amendment would remove language
in the Missouri Constitution stating that the right to keep and bear
arms does not justify the wearing of concealed weapons. Finally, the
amendment states that the rights guaranteed under this provision of
the constitution are inalienable and that the state of Missouri is
obligated to uphold these rights and, under no circumstance, decline
to protect citizens against their infringement.
The Senate Transportation
and Infrastructure Committee considered Senate
Joint Resolution 16, sponsored by Sen. Kehoe. If approved
by Missouri voters, the initiative would raise the state sales
and use tax by one percent for a period of 10 years. The proceeds
from the additional sales and use tax would be used for transportation
purposes. The temporary sales and use tax measure must be resubmitted
to the voters every 10 years, until such measure is defeated.
The Senate
Minute for Feb. 20 features commentary from
Sen. Kehoe and Sen. Ryan McKenna, D-Crystal City, regarding SJR
16.
Deadline Approaches for Filing Senate Bills
With a Feb. 28 deadline to file legislation for the 97th General Assembly,
First Regular Session, lawmakers in the Senate are beginning to introduce
their final measures in the upper chamber.
- Senate
Bill 333 – sponsored by Sen. Ryan Silvey, R-Kansas
City, would reauthorize and modify provisions relating to the
Qualified Research Expenses tax credit. The tax credit, which
expired in 2004, is designed to induce existing businesses to
increase their research efforts in Missouri by offering tax credits.
This legislation would entitle a taxpayer to an income tax credit,
limited to certain research areas, up to 6.5 percent of the qualified
research expenses in excess of the average qualified research
expenses over the prior three years.
- Senate
Bill 337 – sponsored by Sen. Sater, addresses the
sale of tobacco products to individuals under the age of 18.
Currently, no person is allowed to sell tobacco to minors. This
legislation would ban the sale of tobacco-derived and vapor products
to minors, such as electronic cigarettes, and extends penalties
for selling tobacco products to minors to include tobacco-derived
and vapor products.
- Senate
Bill 338 – sponsored by Sen. Romine would modify
provisions relating to correctional treatment programs for offenders
who are under the age of 18. Current state law requires the
Department of Corrections to establish correctional treatment
programs for offenders under the age of 17; offenders who are
under the age of 17 must be separated from those who are 17 or
older. This measure changes the age of the offenders in the
program to under the age of 18 and provides that offenders who
are under 18 must be separated from those who are 18 or older.
- Senate
Bill 339 – also sponsored by Sen. Romine, would
establish the Missouri Works Training Program, which would combine
several existing job training programs and modify the eligibility
requirements for the program. The act would also remove the
in-person requirement for those individuals claiming unemployment
compensation to an office of the Division of Employment Security,
allowing them to report their claim online or by other means
as determined by the division.
- Senate
Bill 344 – sponsored by Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar,
would require the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
to issue an annual report card for each public school rating
the school with a grade of A, B, C, D or F. The “Parent and
Community School Information Act” would base the grades on an
individual attendance center’s performance on the Missouri School
Improvement Program standards.
- Senate
Bill 346 – sponsored by Sen. Shalonn “Kiki” Curls,
D-Kansas City, would allow an individual who has a felony conviction
under federal or state law involving precession or use of a controlled
substance to be eligible for food stamps under certain circumstances
determined by the Department of Social Services.
- Senate
Bill 349 – sponsored by Sen. LeVota, would, beginning
Jan. 1, 2014, extend benefits under the MO HealthNet program
to individuals age 19 or older and younger than 65 who are not
otherwise eligible for Mo HealthNet services; qualify for these
health services under the Affordable Care Act of 2010; and who
have income at or below 133 percent of the federal poverty level,
plus 5 percent of the applicable family size.
The Missouri Senate will convene on Monday, Feb.
25, at 4:00 p.m. The 2013 legislative session runs until Friday, May
17.
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.
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