JEFFERSON CITY — On the last day of the 2013 legislative session (5-17), SB 100, sponsored by Sen. Joe Keaveny, D-St. Louis, was approved by the Legislature and sent to the governor for his signature. The bill addresses numerous provisions of the Missouri judicial system and was overwhelmingly supported in the Missouri Senate and House.

One of the primary focuses of SB 100 is to help increase protections for Missourians involved in bankruptcy proceedings and keep certain funds safe for health-related purposes. Under current state law, an individual who must declare bankruptcy can exempt his or her money located in an inherited retirement or a profit-sharing plan from the bank. Senator Keaveny’s proposal would expand those exemptions to include money a Missourian has accumulated in a health savings plan or received from an inherited individual retirement account (IRA).

“It was brought to my attention that experts who have looked at Missouri statues believe inherited IRAs are already considered exempt assets in bankruptcy proceedings, but considering other states have had bumps in the road regarding this issue, this bill clarifies state law to insure this retirement income is protected,” Sen. Keaveny said.  “Anyone who has gone through bankruptcy proceedings knows it is a very stressful process, and Missourians shouldn’t feel worried about the jeopardy of their health care savings. Bankruptcy proceedings are means to collect outstanding debts and should not be used as a tool to completely impoverish someone or to jeopardize his or her health.”

Since passed out of the Senate in late February, SB 100 received numerous amendments in the Missouri House, including provisions addressing the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) and certain professionals’ privacy. The bill would require DOR not to release the home address or any vehicle information for a judge or member of his or her immediate family, even if the judge's status or qualification for the exemption changes.

Senate Bill 100 would also replace the chairman of the Circuit Court Budget Committee with the chairman of the Court Automation Committee for purposes of services on the Criminal Records and Justice Information Advisory Committee. In addition, Sen. Keaveny’s legislation would allow Kansas City to provide for an additional surcharge of up to $7 in municipal ordinance violation cases. No additional cost would be collected in a proceeding involving an indigent defendant. The surcharge would be used to fund special mental health, drug, and veterans courts.

If signed by the governor, SB 100 would take effect on Aug. 28. The last day of the 2013 legislative session was today, Friday, May 17. For more information about SB 100 and other bills passed during this year’s regular session, visit the Missouri Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov.