For Immediate Release:
Sept. 9, 2013
Preview of 2013 Veto Session in the Missouri Senate

JEFFERSON CITY – The General Assembly’s annual veto session is scheduled to begin this week and much work lies ahead for lawmakers in the Missouri Senate.  Of the 82 Senate bills delivered to the governor for his approval, 19 received the veto stamp, providing legislators in the upper chamber a chance starting this Wednesday (Sept. 11 at noon) to bring most of those measures up for a possible veto override.

Here is a list (numerical order) of the Senate bills vetoed by the governor and the senators who sponsored the legislation:

  • Senate Bill 9 (Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg) – Modifies provisions relating to agriculture.
  • Senate Bill 28 (Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit) – Redefines “misconduct” and “good cause” for the purpose of disqualification from unemployment benefits.
  • Senate Bill 29 (Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla) – Requires authorization for certain labor unions to use dues and fees to make political contributions and requires consent for withholding earnings from paychecks.
  • Senate Bill 34 (Sen. Mike Cunningham, R-Rogersville) – Requires the Division of Workers’ Compensation to develop and maintain a workers’ compensation claims database and modifies provisions relating to experience ratings for workers’ compensation insurance.
  • Senate Bill 43 (Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown) – Modifies various provisions relating to transportation.
  • Senate Bill 51 (Sen. Munzlinger) – Modifies provisions relating to the regulation of motor vehicles.
  • Senate Bill 60 (Sen. Scott T. Rupp, R-Wentzville) – Modifies the law regarding the accreditation requirements for reinsurance companies and specifies when insurers can take credit or reduce liability due to reinsurance.
  • Senate Bill 73 (Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia) – Modifies provisions relating to the judicial process, including provisions relating to motorcycle brake lights.
  • Senate Bill 77 (Sen. John Lamping, R-Ladue) – Allows for certain neighborhood youth development programs to be exempt from child care licensing requirements.
  • Senate Bill 110 (Sen. Brown) – Establishes procedures to follow in child custody and visitation cases for military personnel.
  • Senate Bill 129 (Sen. David Sater, R-Caseville) – Establishes the Volunteer Health Services Act to allow for licensed health care professionals to provide volunteer services for a sponsoring organization.
  • Senate Bill 170 (Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City) – Allows members of public governmental bodies to cast roll call votes in a meeting if the member is participating via videoconferencing.
  • Senate Bill 224 (Sen. Shalonn “Kiki” Curls, D-Kansas City) – Modifies provisions relating to crimes and law enforcement officers and agencies.
  • Senate Bill 240 (Sen. Brad Lager, R-Savannah) – Modifies provisions relating to ratemaking for gas companies.
  • Senate Bill 265 (Sen. Brian Nieves, R-Washington) – Prohibits the state and political subdivisions from implementing polices affecting property rights and from entering into certain relationships with organizations.
  • Senate Bill 267 (Sen. Nieves) – Specifies how courts may rule in contractual disputes involving the law of other countries.
  • Senate Bill 342 (Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar) – Modifies provisions relating to agriculture.
  • Senate Bill 350 (President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles) – Eliminates the renter’s portion of the Senior Citizens Property Tax Credit and creates the Missouri Senior Services Protection Fund.

Many committees will also use the timing of the mid-September veto session to hold meetings at the State Capitol.  The Joint Committee on Education is scheduled to hold its next hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 1:00 p.m. in House Hearing Room 1, located in the basement of the Capitol building, to consider testimony regarding K-12 teacher tenure.  Vice chairman Sen. Pearce; Sen. Nieves; Sen. Rupp; Sen. Gary Romine, R-Farmington; Sen. Schaefer; Sen. Jason Holsman, D-Kansas City; and Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, serve on the joint committee with members of the House of Representatives.  One of the primary responsibilities of the joint committee is to review and monitor the progress of education in Missouri’s public schools and institutions of higher education. 

The Sentencing and Corrections Oversight Commission, chaired by Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield, is also scheduled to meet this week on Tuesday at noon in Senate Committee Room 2 for an organizational meeting.  The panel is charged with evaluating recidivism reductions, cost savings, and other effects resulting from the implementation of various state statutes pertaining to sentencing and corrections; determining ways to reinvest any costs savings to pay for the continued implementation of sentencing and correction statutes and other evidence-based practices for reducing recidivism; and examining the issues of restitution for crimes, including the amount ordered and collected annually, methods and costs of collection, and restitution’s order of priority in official procedures and documents. The 13-member commission also includes Senate Minority Floor Leader Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City, as a panelist. 

Members of the Senate Interim Committee on Medicaid Transformation and Reform will also continue their work while lawmakers are back in Jefferson City for veto session in Senate Committee Room 2 on Wednesday, Sept. 11, starting at 8:30 a.m.  Scheduled witnesses will provide testimony to lawmakers who serve on the committee, including Sen. Romine (chairman); Sen. Sater (vice chairman); Sen. Brown; Sen. Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff; Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph; Sen. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau; Sen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa; Sen. Joseph Keaveny, D-St. Louis; Sen. Paul LeVota, D-Independence; and Sen. Nasheed.  The committee was established with the goal of reforming Medicaid by improving system efficiency, financial stability and delivery of health care. 

To read more about the legislation up for consideration this week during the General Assembly’s annual veto session, visit www.senate.mo.gov.  This site also includes a hearing schedule for both the House and Senate.