JEFFERSON CITY, MO - The Senate's Pensions and General Laws Committee this week approved a measure sponsored by Senator Cauthorn providing for the issuance of permits to carry concealed weapons, though not into certain places such as schools, churches and public buildings.

"It is time that the state of Missouri honor the Second Amendment, this bill allows for law abiding citizens to protect themselves and their families," Cauthorn said. "We have worked hard to ensure that those who apply for a permit have a background check and safety training before county sheriffs issue the permits."

Cauthorn's legislation, Senate Bill 83, faces two votes by the full Senate before it could advance to the House.

"We're one of just six states that don't allow these types of permits," Cauthorn said. "That's a distinction I don't think most Missourians are wanting, and one that flies in the face of the U.S. Constitution."

The same Senate committee this week approved a measure establishing the Joint Committee on the Life Sciences. In general, "life sciences" refers to all sciences relating to the study of living organisms like plants, animals and humans. Composed of members of both the Senate and House, the bi-partisan life sciences committee would make recommendations for legislative implementation of Missouri's strategic plan for life sciences and on laws and policies encouraging retention and recruitment of existing life sciences companies and life scientists.

"Missouri is poised to take the lead in life sciences research," Cauthorn said. "And the work done by this joint committee could well serve to put us out front sooner, rather than later."

Cauthorn and his Senate colleagues this week passed its version of House Bill 15, an important supplemental funding bill authorizing the governor to use $150 million in bond revenues to fund state programs through June 30, the end of the current budget year.

"This wasn't the perfect budget fix in my opinion, but it was the best in a string of fairly unspectacular proposals," Cauthorn said. "At least now we can work on the 2004 budget."

Approval of the spending measure allows it to advance to conference committee, where differences between the Senate and House versions of the measure will be ironed out.

Senators this week gave approval to a measure requiring the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to develop a regulatory impact report on proposed rules, policies and regulations

"This bill won't hamper the DNR's ability to be effective stewards of Missouri's lands and waters," Cauthorn said. "Instead, it assures that those considering agency-related regulatory changes oftentimes citizen-staffed commissions have all the information they need to make informed decisions."

Senate Bill 36 also prohibits the DNR from revoking an approved permit within a year's time (unless harm to health or the environment is subsequently shown) and requires the agency to provide clear reasoning for denying a permit.

"Permit-seekers should never be made to feel like they're asking for something inordinately special when they're requesting DNR permits that ultimately lead to the expansion of agribusiness, small business and industry," Cauthorn said.

The "Missouri Rural Economic Stimulus Act" is now before the Senate's Economic Development, Tourism and Local Government Committee. Senate Bill 692 would allow certain municipalities to create a Rural Economic Stimulus Authority to oversee creation of alternative fuel production facilities. Cauthorn explained that the panel would submit a development plan to the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority for approval of the use of tax increment financing, an incentive-based plan that returns some sales and/or property tax proceeds back to the project.

"Anything we can do in the Capitol to promote economic development in Missouri's rural communities is a step in the right direction," Cauthorn said.

The Senate's Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee this week approved a measure reforming various aspects of the state's "tort" or civil liability system. Among several provisions, Senate Bill 280 would allow the failure to wear a seat belt as evidence of comparative negligence in a lawsuit, requires that the venue in all liability actions be the county where cause of action occurred, and provides for a cap on non-economic damages of $350,000.

"The courts are in place for all aggrieved parties to seek remediation not a jackpot," Cauthorn said. "What this legislation does is make going to trial more like a day in court and less like a day at the casinos."

Cauthorn and his Senate colleagues this week engaged in extensive debate over Senate Bill 34, which would impose civil liability on anyone violating the state's informed consent law for abortions.

"In Missouri, parental consent is required for anyone under 18 to receive an abortion, but states like Illinois have no such requirements," Cauthorn said. "This bill maintains that transporting a minor to another state for an abortion without parental consent should be subject to civil liability."

As the year's regular legislative session nears the mid-point, Senators are beginning to process the first batches of what will eventually be hundreds of bills originating in the House. A bill can start in either chamber, but must earn joint passage to become law. To this end, the House considers all Senate proposals, and the Senate considers all House proposals. Along with the budgetary bill, proposals relating to civil liability reform and banking law revisions were among the House measures recently received by the Senate.

Senator Cauthorn represents Missouri's 18th Senatorial District. He can be reached in his capital office at (573) 751-6858.