Senator Gary Romine

Legislative Column for the Week of May 4, 2015

Staying Focused on the Issues as the End of Session Draws Near

There’s just one week remaining in the First Regular Session of the 98th General Assembly. As of right now, your Missouri lawmakers have sent more than 100 bills to the governor for his consideration. Of those, 10 have received his signature and three have been vetoed; the Legislature has successfully voted to override the governor’s veto on two measures: Senate Bill 24 and House Bill 63. While my colleagues and I have some very long days ahead of us, we remain committed to addressing as many of the issues facing our constituents as possible.

After spending considerable time in both the House and Senate, legislation I filed this year has evolved into a major omnibus education bill. In addition to establishing graduation requirements for a career and technical education high school certificate, Senate Bill 172 now includes language promoting civics education and requiring individual remedial plans for 7th and 9th grade students who may be falling behind.

Also added during the amendment process is language requiring school districts to adopt a policy on youth suicide awareness and prevention and allowing any licensed educator to complete up to two hours of training or professional development in youth suicide awareness and prevention.

Senate Bill 172 was heard in a conference committee Wednesday morning and is expected to be sent to the governor next week. I truly believe we have a great piece of legislation here, and I look forward to seeing its provisions signed into law.

Also heard in a conference committee on Wednesday, Senate Bill 445 would allow Ameren to purchase and use their own air quality monitoring system to monitor sulfur dioxide emissions, as required by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2010 standards. Since 2007, Ameren has spent an estimated $1 billion complying with the EPA’s strict regulations. This measure will help keep consumer rates low by reducing Ameren’s compliance costs. The measure was well-received by all the committee members and passed unanimously.

I’m very pleased to report that Senate Bill 224, legislation requiring recipients of Missouri’s A+ Schools Program to be citizens or permanent residents in Missouri, was advanced to the governor’s desk on Tuesday. This policy already exists in Missouri’s other two scholarship programs: Access Missouri and Bright Flight. When it comes to our state resources, I believe our first obligation is to the citizens who have grown up in our state, paid taxes in our state and are lawful residents of our state.

In other legislative news, I handled several House bills in the Senate that were truly agreed to and finally passed this week: House Bill 778, designating the 22nd week of each year as 22q Awareness Week; and House Bill 125, allowing the board members of the Farmington Industrial Development Authority to reside in the county have made it to the governor’s desk. House Bill 125 is the House equivalent of my Senate Bill 68, successfully passed by the General Assembly last week.

I also handled House Bill 1149, allowing young people in the custody of the Division of Youth Services (DYS) to be employed by one of our many state departments and be paid a salary. The measure also sets up a DYS trust fund with the state treasurer’s office to be managed and dispensed by someone who has oversight of the youth. Any funds that have not been expended for personal use will be released to the youth once they become of age and upon leaving DYS. The language in HB 1149 provides young people with a real opportunity to learn financial responsibility, a life skill that can never be learned to early. House Bill 1149 is now on the last leg of its journey before being sent to the governor.

Also this week, my staff and I were once again delighted to welcome Baylee Jo’s BBQ Seafood & Grill from Ironton. This is the third year Chris and the Baylee Jo’s staff have made the drive up to Jefferson City. It’s been a long session for the Senate staff, and the barbeque was a very welcome treat — receiving great reviews from everyone.

Finally, I was happy to meet with the following constituents and groups who stopped by the Capitol this week: Tom Hurt of DeSoto; Dennis Atkins, Mary Atkins and Norma Moore with Disabled Citizens Alliance for Independence in Viburnum; Lance Mayfield of Viburnum; the

DeSoto Girls State Championship Softball Team; and Lloyd Whitworth, Allison Catoire, Crystal Johnson, Danielle Hurt, Judy Donaldson and Davey Crocker, who came to advocate on behalf of AFSCME.

Contact Me

I always appreciate hearing your comments, opinions and concerns. Please feel free to contact me in Jefferson City at (573) 751-4008. You may write me at Gary Romine, Missouri Senate, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101; or email me at gary.romine@senate.mo.gov; or www.senate.mo.gov/romine.

Sen. Romine’s Sponsored Legislation for 2015

Bill Number	Description	Status
Senate Bill 36	Modifies the law relating to the Missouri Human Rights Act and employment discrimination.	Hearing conducted in the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.
Senate Bill 37	Awards attorney's fees and court costs in cases where a settlement offer was previously rejected and when the court rules on a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim.	On the Senate Informal Perfection Calendar.
Senate Bill 38	Modifies provisions relating to the Joint Committee on MO HealthNet.	Approved by the Senate; passed by the House Select Committee on General Laws.
Senate Bill 68	Provides that directors of industrial development corporations in St. Francois County may be taxpayers and registered voters in the county.	Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed.
Senate Bill 142	Requires the Department of Natural Resources to prepare a regulatory impact report when submitting a state implementation plan to the Environmental Protection Agency.	Approved by the Senate; passed by the House Select Committee on Utilities.
Senate Bill 143	Modifies the crime of animal trespass.	Bill combined with SBs 112, 212, 143 and 234.
Senate Bill 171	Modifies provisions relating to high school equivalency degree testing.	Referred to the Senate Education Committee.
Senate Bill 172	Requires the State Board of Education to establish minimum graduation requirements for a career and technical education high school diploma.	In conference between House and Senate.
Senate Bill 173	Modifies state funding for small school districts.	Passed out of the Senate Education Committee.
Senate Bill 224	Requires a student to be a United States citizen or permanent resident in order to be eligible to receive reimbursements from the A+ Schools Program.	Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed.
Senate Bill 225	Modifies Department of Natural Resources permit decision appeal procedures.	On the Senate Informal Perfection Calendar.
Senate Bill 230	Modifies provisions relating to the MO HealthNet program.	Passed by the Senate; passed by the House.
Senate Bill 252	Prohibits two-way telecommunications devices and their component parts in correctional centers and jails.	Hearing conducted in the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee.
Senate Bill 253	Expands the authority of the Governor to convey easements without the approval of the General Assembly and expands the rights granted by the easements.	Referred to the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee.
Senate Bill 412	Modifies laws regarding arbitration agreements between employers and at-will employees.	Referred to the Senate Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee.
Senate Bill 413	Modifies provisions relating to natural resource damages authorized to be recovered by the state natural resources trustee.	Referred to the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.
Senate Bill 445	Requires owners of an electric generating unit in Jefferson County to develop an ambient air quality monitoring or modeling network.	In conference between House and Senate.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 5	Creates the Missouri Lead Industry Employment, Economic Development and Environmental Remediation Task Force.	Approved by the Senate and House.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 40	Creates the Study Commission on Mining Property Assessment.	Passed by the Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee.