JEFFERSON CITY — Lawmakers in the Missouri Senate today (2-28) considered legislation that would assist higher education institutions with funding capital improvement projects.  Senate Bill 655, sponsored by Sen. Timothy Green, D-Spanish Lake, would create the “Higher Education Capital Fund” to provide matching funds to public colleges and universities for capital projects.

More specifically, the legislation would give the General Assembly the authority to appropriate matching funds to public colleges or universities for capital projects.  However, higher education institutions could not use the funding for athletic facilities or any other facilities used to generate revenue.  To receive matching funds, a public college or university would have to raise 50 percent of the cost of the project from private donations or grants.  The General Assembly may then appropriate the remaining 50 percent of the cost of the project as matching funds to the institution.  In turn, public higher education institutions would be prohibited from using operating budget funds, tuition, fees or bond revenues to produce their portion of the project’s cost.

During debate, the bill sponsor explained that his legislation provides higher education institutions an incentive to help raise funds for capital improvements for their institutions.

An amendment, offered by Senate Appropriations Chairman Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, was added to the measure stating that no money would be distributed to the fund without a line-item appropriation for the project.

With the Senate’s approval of the amendment and first-round passing vote on the bill, SB 655 needs a final vote before moving to the House of Representatives for consideration.

The Senate also gave initial approval to legislation, SB 648, sponsored by Senate Majority Floor Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, that would expand the list of qualified individuals who may accompany temporary driving instruction permit holders who are under 16 to include licensed drivers who are 25 or older, have been licensed for a minimum of three years, and have received written permission from the holder.  Currently, a temporary instruction permit holder may only drive a motor vehicle when accompanied by a grandparent, parent, legal guardian or a qualified driving instructor. 

Final approval in the Senate sends SB 648 over to the House for debate.

For more information about bills moving through the Missouri Senate, visit www.senate.mo.gov.  To contact the Senate Newsroom, call (573) 751-3824 or email: newsroom@senate.mo.gov.