This week the Missouri Senate reconvened after a week off for spring recess, the half-way mark in the legislative session.
Congratulations to the Rock Bridge girls’ basketball team for winning its third-straight state championship, the fourth since 2008. The Bruins defeated Lee’s Summit North 62-45. They are currently among six teams in Missouri’s history to have won three consecutive titles. Congratulations!
I would also like to congratulate the individuals honored by Job Point for exemplary employment and personal achievement! Job Point is a non-profit employment center and community development corporation headquartered in Columbia. Job Point also selected Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital as the Employer of the Year for promoting the abilities of individuals seeking employment and greater participation in community life. Missouri Division of Youth Services was honored as Partner of the Year for its exceptional support. Congratulations and thank you for your service!
I greatly appreciate the teachers and students who traveled to the Capitol this week to see the Missouri Legislature in action! On Tuesday, March 25, fourth grade students from Pilot Grove stopped by my office during their Capitol tour. Battle and Hickman High School students with the Youth Community Coalition spent time in my office Wednesday afternoon, March 26. The coalition is a network of over 70 organizations and individuals working together to decrease substance abuse and promote healthy behaviors among youth in Boone County.
On Tuesday, the Appropriations Committee heard Senate Bill 820. The bill was voted do pass by the committee. Senate Bill 820 modifies the formula for determining how much money a tobacco product manufacturer that does not participate in the Master Settlement Agreement will receive back from the escrow fund in which the manufacturer is required to deposit money from the sale of cigarettes.
Senate Bill 696, which increases the penalties and drivers’ license suspension periods for those who fail to yield the right-of-way in certain instances, was third read and passed in the Senate on Thursday, March 27.
The status of my sponsored legislation for the 2014 session is as follows:
- Senate Bill 498, which would require health insurance navigators to be bonded and create a private cause of action against navigators for the unlawful release of information, has been second read in the House. Representative Kevin Austin is handling the bill in the House for me.
- Senate Bill 696, which increases the penalties and driver’s license suspension periods for those who fail to yield the right-of-way in certain instances, was approved by the Senate on Thursday, March 27. The bill now goes to the House for possible debate.
- Senate Bill 697, which allows the Department of Revenue to disclose the annual number of cigarettes sales by the tobacco manufacturer, was second read and referred to the Appropriations Committee. A hearing was held on the bill on Monday, Feb. 10.
Currently, the Department of Revenue is prohibited from disclosing information relating to a person's tax return, with certain exceptions under Section 32.057, RSMo. This legislation opens the confidentiality section and creates an exception allowing the Department of Revenue to disclose to the public the annual cigarette sales by a tobacco product manufacturer.
The legislation would provide government transparency and availability of data that is otherwise difficult to obtain and readily assemble. Existence of public information may provide state legislators with insight on growth or decline in the state smoking population and its potential effect on future state revenues.
- Senate Bill 756, which would modify the elementary and secondary education funding formula by adding an additional weight for gifted education, was referred to the Senate Education Committee on Feb. 6.
- Senate Bill 762, which defines automobile event data recorder and limits the release of data collected to five circumstances, was passed by Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. It awaits possible debate on the Senate floor.
- Currently, trustees of a county hospital formed under Chapter 205 are prohibited from providing health care services or entering into partnerships with other local or county hospitals if such adjoining or nearby counties also have a county hospital. Under Senate Bill 763, so long as the trustees of such county hospitals provide consent, county hospitals in Boone and Cooper counties shall be allowed to provide such health care services or enter into such partnerships. The bill awaits a hearing in the Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee.
- Senate Bill 820, which modifies the formula for determining how much money a tobacco product manufacturer that does not participate in the Master Settlement Agreement will receive back from the escrow fund when the manufacturer is required to deposit money from the sale of cigarettes, was voted out of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, March 25, and awaits possible debate on the Senate floor.
- Senate Bill 821, which adds a motorcycle registration surcharge of $5 to be deposited in the motorcycle safety trust fund, was heard in the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday, March 5. The bill was voted do pass and awaits possible debate on the Senate floor.
- Senate Bill 843, which modifies provisions of the Missouri Sunshine Law, was heard in the Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee on Monday, March 10.
- Senate Bill 855, which allows fire protection district boards to meet without public notice in order to authorize the disbursement of funds for the deployment of certain emergency task forces, was referred to the Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee.
- Senate Bill 861, which establishes certain protections and remedies for consumers who purchase new motorcycles, was heard in the Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee on Tuesday, March 11, and awaits a final vote to proceed to the floor for possible debate.
- Senate Bill 886, which provides civil actions between a landlord and a tenant are appealable, awaits a hearing in the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.
- Senate Bill 887, which requires each public institution of higher education to annually report the institution’s administrative costs as a percent of its operating budget, was voted do pass by the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday, March 26, and awaits possible debate on the Senate floor.
- Senate Bill 898, which allows the Department of Corrections to determine the manner of executions rather than requiring executions be by lethal gas or injection, was referred to the Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee on Thursday, March 6.
- Senate Bill 908, which modifies the composition of the University of Missouri Board of Curators, was referred to the Education Committee on Thursday, March 6.
- Senate Bill 936, which allows Boone County to adopt, by order or ordinance; regulations to control the minimum standards of occupancy for residential units rented or leased and in additional develop a program for licensing and inspecting the units, awaits a hearing the Senate Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee.
- Senate Bill 937, which allows the county counselor of Boone County to receive $15,000 for duties relating to mental health and mental health facility and an additional amount not to exceed $15,000 for investigative and clerical personnel assisting with such duties, awaits a hearing in the Senate Veterans’ Affairs and Health Committee.
- Senate Bill 979, which modifies the eligibility for line of duty compensation for emergency personnel, awaits a hearing in the Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee.
- Senate Bill 980, which relates to rehiring retired state employees, awaits a hearing in the Senate Seniors, Families and Pensions Committee.
- Senate Bill 981, which relates to state contracting, awaits a hearing in the Senate Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Committee.
- Senate Bill 982, which relates to penalties for sex offenses, awaits a hearing the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.
- Senate Joint Resolution 36, which modifies constitutional provisions regarding the right to keep and bear arms, was voted and passed by the Senate on Thursday, Feb. 20. The bill was heard in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, March 12 and is currently in the House General Laws Committee. Representative John Diehl is handling this bill for me in the House.
- Senate Joint Resolution 44 is a constitutional amendment that, if approved by the voters, would require any revenue received by the state in a fiscal year in excess of the amount appropriated for such fiscal year shall be returned to taxpayers in the form of a refundable tax credit. The bill was heard in the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Thursday, Feb. 13.
- House Bill 2014, the supplemental budget bill, was reported to the Senate on Wednesday, March 12, and is on the calendar for House Bills on third reading.
In local news, The Department of Conservation (MDC) invites young hunters to discover nature and learn more about turkey hunting at a free youth turkey clinic Tuesday, April 1, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the MDC E. Sydney Stephens Central Regional Office and Conservation Research Center in Columbia. Participants will learn how to select the best ammunition and shotgun for turkey hunting, how to improve their hunting and shooting skills, how to properly pattern their shotgun, how to call turkeys, and how to use decoys during the hunt.
Those attending the clinic will also have an opportunity to submit their name for a youth turkey hunt. The turkey hunt will take place on April 12 in Boone County. Any first-time youth turkey hunter, ages 11 to 15 and who is hunter-education certified, is eligible to apply. All selected participants must be accompanied by a parent or adult mentor age 18 or older.
For more information about the clinic or youth hunt, contact Conservation Agent Brian Flowers at Brian.Flowers@mdc.mo.gov or call (573) 815-7901, ext. 3388. The Central Regional Office and Conservation Research Center is conveniently located off of U.S. Highway 63 just west of the Discovery Parkway exit on the south side of East Gans Road. For more information about this and other Discover Nature programs, go online to www.mdc.mo.gov.
Thank you for your interest in the issues that affect the citizens of Boone and Cooper counties. If you have any questions or concerns throughout this session, or plan on coming by the Capitol, please contact my office at (573) 751-3931.
Did you know...?
The highest mountain range point in Missouri is located in the Saint Francois Mountains and the highest point is Taum Sauk Mountain.
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