Dear Friends:

In an effort to keep you informed about the activities at your state Capitol and how those activities might impact your lives, I am offering a regular electronic newsletter. I will send you information about bills making their way through the legislative process, especially bills that directly impact the lives of Kansas Citians. I welcome your feedback and encourage you to contact my office with any questions or concerns you may have.

Thank you.

State Could See Reduction in Revenue with Passage of Tax Reform Measure

The Senate gave first-round approval this week to a massive, 316-page tax reform bill that could reduce state revenues by as much as $700 million. Senate Bill 26:

• phases in a one-percent personal and corporate income tax cut over five years;
• phases in a one-half percent increase in sales and use taxes over five years;
• requires an extra one-fourth of one percent personal income tax cut if Congress approves the Marketplace Fairness Act;
• increases the personal exemption amount by $2,000 for low-income Missourians; and
• includes the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement that would apply to Internet sales.

SB 26 would reduce state revenue by hundreds of millions of dollars, although the exact impact on state revenues remains unknown at this state in the process. One of my fellow caucus members from Kansas City, Sen. Jason Holsman, offered an amendment to SB 26 preventing the provisions of the bill from taking effect until the state fully funds the school foundation formula, saying the state does not have enough resources to fund its school formula, yet with this bill the Legislature's going to reduce revenue by $600 million.

State estimates show public schools in Missouri are currently underfunded by $700 million. Missouri currently ranks 47th in the nation in state support for K-12 public education.

The sponsor of SB 26, Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee's Summit, argues the tax cuts are necessary to keep Missouri competitive with neighboring Kansas, which slashed state income taxes and eliminated corporate income taxes last year. The Kansas City Star reports legislative researchers estimate the Kansas tax cuts could create a budget shortfall of nearly $2.5 billion over the next five years.

The Senate did approve an amendment by Sen. Scott Sifton, D-St. Louis, which scales back the original plan to cut income taxes by a full percentage point. The amendment also adds an additional tax break that Sen. Sifton said would benefit small businesses. The measure needs one more affirmative vote before moving to the House for consideration.

Senators also resumed debate this week on Senate Bill 29, the so-called "paycheck protection" bill. The measure prohibits public employee labor unions from withholding union fees from paychecks and it requires most labor unions to get consent from their employees to use fees and dues for political purposes. SB 29 exempts first responders from the provisions of the bill.

Sen. Gina Walsh, D-Bellefontaine Neighbors, says the bill seeks to prohibit an activity that is not allowed, stating her union dues are used for her health and welfare, as well as to fund her small union office and to pay for staff at that office. Sen. Walsh continued to inform my colleagues and I that union dues cannot be used for politics. The state now offers 75 paycheck deductions; why is the General Assembly singling out labor union dues? After some discussion, this bill was placed on the informal calendar and is expected to come up again for debate.

The Senate this week gave its final approval to Senate Bill 208, sponsored by Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City, and Sen. Ryan McKenna, D-Crystal City. SB 208 raises the age limit for when a young person can re-enter into foster care. Sen. Justus says young people are eligible to stay in the state foster care system until the age of 21, but several try to leave the system early. However, some individuals decide they are not quite ready to be on their own, but they cannot go back to their foster parents. During floor debate, she explains allowing these individuals to opt back in gives the state the authority to help these youth achieve a better future. Sen. Justus continued saying the measure could actually save the state money, because kids who leave the foster care system early are more likely to have unintended pregnancies, not finish high school or college, end up in the Department of Corrections, or become homeless.

The Senate also gave final approval to Senate Bill 199, sponsored by Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City. The measure encourages long-term care facilities to adopt policies encouraging families to be involved in the well-being and support of relatives who are residents of the facility. According to the bill's sponsor, family members would have an opportunity to meet at the nursing home or to talk about the health and wellness of their loved ones with employees at the facility.

Among much floor debate this week, I had the great pleasure to introduce members of a wonderful program located in my legislative district in the Missouri Senate chamber. reStart Inc. roadtriped down to Jefferson City on March 6 for its annual Advocacy Day in order to share its mission of ending homelessness. This interfaith ministry with homeless individuals is committed to providing shelter and support services to those men, women, youth and families that find themselves without a roof over their heads. This program helps these individuals move toward independence and self-sufficiency while moving toward its ultimate goal: ending homelessness in the community. To learn more about reStart Inc., visit www.restartinc.org.

The end of February marked the final time senators could introduce bills in the upper chamber for the 2013 legislative session. In the month of March, heading into the final days of session in mid-May, lawmakers will work on advancing many of these filed measures through the legislative process. Lawmakers will return to Jefferson City on Monday, March 11, at 4 p.m.

Status of Sen. Curls' Sponsored Legislation

The following are measures I have filed this session (notes last legislative action):

• Senate Bill 151 - Changes the notice requirement to a tenant in a foreclosure action from 10 to 90 days (assigned to the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee)
• Senate Bill 152 - Allows judges to suspend the imposition of an adult criminal sentence for juvenile offenders (assigned to the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee)
• Senate Bill 153 - Requires a non-custodial parent to pay child support until the child reaches 22 instead of 21 years of age (assigned to the Senate Seniors, Families and Pensions Committee)
• Senate Bill 223 - Modifies provisions of the Public School Retirement System of Kansas City (hearing scheduled in the Senate Seniors, Families and Pensions Committee for March 12)
• Senate Bill 224 - Increases the maximum salaries that may be paid to the members of the Kansas City Police Department and provides that actions taken against the police chief are subject to review (voted out of the Senate Progress and Development Committee and moves to the full Senate for possible debate)
• Senate Bill 225 - Modifies laws regarding educational parental support for higher education (assigned to the Senate Judicial and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee)
• Senate Bill 262 - Prohibits heath carriers from denying coverage for a health care service on the basis that the service was provided through telemedicine if the same service would be covered when delivered in person (hearing conducted by members of the Senate Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee)
• Senate Bill 263 - Creates the crimes of assault of an employee of a mass transit system while in the scope of his or her duties in the first, second and their degree (assigned to the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee)
• Senate Bill 346 - Modifies the eligibility requirements for food stamp assistance (hearing conducted in the Senate Governmental Accountability & Fiscal Oversight Committee)
• Senate Bill 388 - Regulates certain contracts for the sale of residential real estate (assigned to the Senate Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee)
• Senate Bill 389 - Provides a process for the Parole Board to review the case histories of offenders serving more than 15 years in prison and recommend clemency or allow release on parole (assigned to the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee)
• Senate Bill 422 - Relating to the designation of highways (introduced in the Senate chamber)
• Senate Joint Resolution 11 - Increases the amount of time for repaying the Budget Reserve Fund when monies from this fund are appropriated due to a disaster or the governor's reduction of the state's expenditures (assigned to Senate Ways and Means Committee)
• Senate Joint Resolution 20 - Authorizes the creation of Show-Me Small Business Districts (introduced in the Senate chamber)

To read more about my legislative actions in the Missouri Senate, visit my Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov/curls and click on the various informative links, which include my news releases, under my Media tab.