JEFFERSON CITY — More than 15 Senate committees held hearings this week to hear testimony on a wide range of legislation.  The Missouri Senate also considered measures on the Senate floor addressing electric utility renewable energy standard requirements and subpoenas for records in the General Assembly.

On Monday (1-24), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee continued their overview of the governor’s fiscal year 2012 budget recommendations.  The committee also listened to FY 2011 supplemental budget recommendations and statewide issues for FY 2012.  Throughout the rest of the week, members considered budget proposals from various state departments, including the Department of Revenue and the Department of Transportation.

Click here to listen to “The Senate Minute” from Jan. 24.  The audio program features soundbites from Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, and Sen. Robin Wright-Jones, D-St. Louis.

Bills addressing voter registration, advanced voting systems, and voter photo IDs were brought before members of the Senate Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee.  Those measures included:

• Senate Bill 84 – Sponsored by Sen. Wright-Jones, this legislation would modify law relating to voter registration and election offenses.
• Senate Bill 105 – This measure, sponsored by Sen. Timothy Green, D-Spanish Lake, would create an advance voting system for elections.
• Senate Joint Resolution 2 and Senate Joint Resolution 9 – Sponsored by Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton, and Sen. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, respectively, these measures would allow enabling legislation for photographic identification for voting.
• Senate Bill 3 – Another bill sponsored by Sen. Stouffer, this legislation would establish photo ID requirements for voting.

Senator Engler and Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City, serve on the Senate Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee.  Their audio is featured in the Jan. 25 edition of “The Senate Minute.”  Click here to listen.

The Judicial and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee considered Senate Bill 8, sponsored by Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mt. Vernon, on Monday evening.  The legislation would restrict co-employee liability in workers’ compensation cases.  More specifically, the act would release workers from liability for negligence when another employee is injured in the workplace, unless the negligent worker took part in purposeful, dangerous conduct.

Before adjourning on Monday, the Senate gave its approval to Senate Concurrent Resolution 1, sponsored by Sen. Luann Ridgeway, R-Smithville.  The measure disapproves of a final order of rule making by the Missouri Public Service Commission in regard to Electric Utility Renewable Energy Standard Requirements.  Concurrent resolutions express the opinion or will of both the House and the Senate and are adopted by both chambers.  In this instance, SCR 1 may carry the full force and effect of law if passed by the House and approved by the governor.

On Tuesday (1-25), the Senate Health, Mental Health, Seniors and Families Committee held a hearing to consider three measures regarding certain welfare benefits.  Senate Bill 5 and Senate Bill 7, sponsored by Sen. Stouffer and Sen. Goodman, respectively, would require drug testing for work-eligible TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) applicants and recipients based on reasonable suspicion.  Senate Bill 74, sponsored by Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit, requires the same testing for applicants, however, would base the testing upon reasonable cause.

“The Senate Minute” for Jan. 26 features Sen. Kraus and Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-St. Louis, discussing legislation that would change the rules regarding drug testing for recipients receiving TANF benefits.  Click here to listen.

The Senate Select Committee on Redistricting rounded out the meetings on Tuesday.  The committee is charged with performing all duties necessary for the General Assembly to prepare for its role in the 2010 census.  In Missouri, congressional redistricting is the responsibility of the Legislature.  The task of redrawing the state’s 34 Senatorial districts and 163 House districts is assigned to two bipartisan commissions appointed by the governor.  The Legislature must draw and approve new congressional districts during the 2011 regular session, or face a special session, to ensure proper filing in February 2013 for congressional district candidates.

Several Senate committees met on Wednesday (1-26) to consider bills ranging in topic from transportation to education.  Among other legislation, the Senate Transportation Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 24, sponsored by Sen. Joe Keaveny, D-St. Louis, which would increase the fine for seat belt violations from $10 to $50.  The committee also gave its approval to measures that will now head to the Senate floor for debate:

• Senate Bill 11, sponsored by Sen. Ryan McKenna, D-Crystal City, would prohibit all drivers, regardless of age, from text messaging while operating a motor vehicle.
• Senate Bill 28, sponsored by Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla, would exempt motorcyclists age 21 and older from wearing a helmet.
• Senate Bill 33, sponsored by Sen. Stouffer, would repeal a provision of law which requires the Department of Transportation to submit to binding arbitration in negligence actions.
• Senate Bill 45, sponsored by Sen. Wright-Jones, would require official motor vehicle inspection and emission stations to have liability insurance to cover any possible damages to a vehicle during an inspection.

The Senate Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee met for a hearing to consider three measures pertaining to the “Puppy Mil Cruelty Prevention Act,” a law passed by Missouri voters in November that “requires large-scale dog breeding operations to provide each dog under their care with basic food and water, adequate shelter from the elements, necessary veterinary care, adequate space to turn around and stretch his or her limbs, and regular exercise.”

Two bills considered by this committee would modify this act.  Senate Bill 113, sponsored by Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar, would:

• Remove the provision prohibiting anyone from having more than 50 dogs for breeding or selling the resulting puppies.
• Give breeders who are properly licensed a grace period between 30 and 180 days to correct any violations before they are charged with a Class C misdemeanor.
• Require the Department of Agriculture to conduct two follow-up inspections on any properly licensed breeder who is found to have committed a serious violation of this act.  The department could revoke the commercial breeder’s license if the individual fails to correct a serious violation after the second inspection.

Sponsored by Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown, Senate Bill 95 modifies the “Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act” differently by:

• Making the animal care standards applicable to anyone in the state who has more than 10 female dogs over six months of age, not just licensed breeders.
• Removing current law prohibiting anyone from having more than 50 dogs for the purpose of breeding and selling the resulting puppies.  Instead, Sen. Munzlinger’s legislation would prohibit anyone from having more than 50 dogs that are over six months of age.
• Modifying the title of the act, referring to it as the “Puppy Cruelty Prevention Act.”
• Changing to definition of “covered dog,” and removing the definition of “pet.”
• Removing animal shelters’ exemption from the requirements of the act passed by voters in November.

Senate Bill 4, sponsored by Sen. Stouffer, would repeal the “Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act” altogether.

In the Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee, members considered several measures designed to boost Missouri’s economy.  Two of these measures, sponsored by Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, were outlined in the Senate’s opening day address.

Senate Bill 18 would cap corporate franchise taxes at $2 million.  Supporters of the legislation say the bill would stop double taxation; corporations already pay income, sales and property taxes.  The franchise tax ultimately taxes these activities and properties again. Senate Bill 18 would limit the amount of corporate franchise taxes any corporation must pay to no more than $2 million annually for all tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2011.

Senate Bill 19 takes this cap further by phasing-out the corporate franchise tax over a five-year period.  Several states have already implemented similar legislation, including Kansas, Ohio and Pennsylvania.  Beginning Jan. 1, 2013, SB 19 would gradually reduce the corporate franchise tax rate over a five-year period until it is completly phased-out.  Effective Jan. 1, 2016, no corporate franchise tax would be imposed.

Members of the Senate Progress and Development Committee, chaired by Senate Minority Floor Leader Victor Callahan, D-Independence, considered Senate Bill 23, sponsored by Sen. Joseph Keaveny, D-St. Louis.  The measure, among other provisions, would allow the City of St. Louis to control its police force without state intervention, giving the city the authority to establish a municipal police force.

Legislation approved by the Senate Governmental Accountability Committee made its way to the full Senate for debate.  Senate Bill 68, sponsored by Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, would authorize the issuance of subpoenas for the production of records by the General Assembly.  Supporters of the legislation explain that the bill would clearly define how materials are gathered and submitted to those requesting to obtain information.

Currently, subpoenas for witnesses issued at the request of a member of the General Assembly are issued by the President of the Senate (the lieutenant governor) or the Speaker of the House.  Senate Bill 68 would require subpoenas be issued by the Senate President Pro Tem or the Speaker of the House.  In addition, the legislation would authorize the issuance of subpoenas for the production of records.  With the Senate’s first-round approval, another passing vote would send the bill to the House for similar consideration.

The Missouri Senate will reconvene at 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 31. The First Regular Session of the 96th General Assembly runs through Friday, May 13, 2011.

This update is written monthly during the interim. To follow these and other issues facing the Missouri Senate, visit www.senate.mo.gov. Visitors can track legislation as it passes through the General Assembly, learn more about their district, or, when the Legislature is in session, listen to streaming audio of legislative debate as it happens. For more legislative news, please visit the Senate Newsroom. There you will find various audio and video programs and other services, such as:

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