JEFFERSON CITY — Today (3-1), lawmakers in the Senate move several measures to the House for debate before adjourning for the week, including a bill that would help public higher education institutions raise funds for capital improvement projects, legislation that would change the qualifications for those individuals who accompany drivers holding temporary instruction permits, and a measure that would expand the Show-Me State’s “Move Over” law to include MoDOT vehicles.

Senate Bill 655, sponsored by Sen. Timothy Green, D-Spanish Lake, would create the “Higher Education Capital Fund” to provide matching funds for public colleges and universities for certain capital improvement projects.  These higher education institutions would have to raise 50 percent of the cost of the project before they can be considered by the General Assembly to receive matching funds.  Provisions in the bill also prohibit these funds from being used for athletic facilities or any other facility that would generate revenue.

Legislation that expands the list of qualified individuals who may accompany temporary driving instruction permit holders also received a final passing vote in the Senate.  Under current law, a temporary instruction permit holder may only drive a motor vehicle when accompanied by a grandparent, parent, guardian, or qualified driving instructor.  Senate Bill 648 expands this list of qualified drivers to include individuals who are at least 25 years of age, have been licensed for a minimum of three years, and have received written permission from the parent or legal guardian to escort or accompany the driver.

Sponsored by Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar, Senate Bill 568 would expand Missouri’s “Move Over” law to include vehicles operated by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).  More specifically, the legislation would require drivers approaching stationary emergency vehicles or vehicles owned by MoDOT displaying amber or white lights to proceed with caution by change lanes, providing workers with a safer area to work on the state’s roadways. 

Other measures moving on to the House include:

• Senate Bill 563, sponsored by Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield, which would change the Missouri State University Board of Governors’ term lengths so that no more than three members’ terms expire in any given year.
• Senate Bill 562, also sponsored by Sen. Dixon, which would modify how property is transferred by certain state universities in Missouri.
• Senate Bill 690 addresses an oversight in state statue when the Missouri State Highway and Water Patrol divisions were combined, allowing the highway patrol to sell surplus watercraft and watercraft supplies. 

Earlier in the week, the Senate gave its first-round approval to a measure known as the “Justice Reinvestment Act.”  Senate Bill 699 addresses earned compliance credits, administrative jail sanctions, mandatory placement in programs for first-time revocations, and creates two panels — the “Sentencing and Corrections Oversight Commission” and the “Joint Committee on Missouri Criminal Code.”

Another passing vote in the Senate would move SB 699 to the House for similar consideration.

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.