JEFFERSON CITY — Following Labor Day weekend, Missouri lawmakers returned to Jefferson City for the First Extraordinary Session of the 96th General Assembly on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Included in the governor’s call for special session are several matters previously debated by the General Assembly during the 2011 regular session.
Boundaries For Student-Teacher Communications
Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, is a measure that would revise a provision found in SB 54 (passed by the General Assembly during the 2011 regular session) — the provision addresses communications between public school students and school employees.
Under the new legislation, school districts would be required to submit a written policy regarding student-employee communication by March 1, 2012. Each district must include its stance on the use of electronic media and the Internet, with the goal of preventing improper communications between students and school employees.
Also, by July 1, 2012, every Missouri school district would have to include in its teacher/employee training a component that provides up-to-date and reliable information on identifying signs of sexual abuse in children, and danger signals of potentially abusive relationships between children and adults.
Senator Cunningham’s legislation was voted out of the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, Sept. 7, and is scheduled for debate by the full Senate.
Tax Credit Reform
Economic development remains a high priority during special session. As a result, several lawmakers introduced legislation pertaining to tax credits.
Senator Chuck Purgason, R-Caulfield, introduced SB 2, which would reform Missouri’s tax credit programs with respect to the Tax Credit Review Commission’s recommendations. Some programs include:
- Distressed Areas Land Assemblage Tax Credits
- Special Needs Adoption Tax Credits
- Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
- Historic Preservation Tax Credits
- Wine and Grape Producer Tax Credits
Senator Purgason’s bill also highlights the sunsets and the repeal of certain tax credit programs, and addresses the Missouri Quality Jobs Act, which would provide additional benefits for projects designed to create and retain jobs.
Another measure sponsored by Sen. Purgason, SB 3, as well as SB 8, sponsored by Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, would make changes to tax credit programs, consistent with the Tax Credit Review Commission’s report. The legislation would also create programs to bolster economic development in the state:
- The Compete Missouri Program would combine several existing business incentive programs and provide tax incentives for job creation and retention, as well as capital investment.
- The Aerotropolis Trade Incentive and Tax Credit Act would create an international trade hub at the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.
- The Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act (MOSIRA) would provide funding for incentives to attract science and innovation companies to Missouri.
Senate Bill 8 was approved by members of the Senate Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee on Sept. 7, and is scheduled for debate in the Senate.
With a focused mission on Missouri’s data storage centers, Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, introduced SB 5 to the General Assembly. The measure would authorize state and local sales and use tax exemptions for new and expanding data centers, and permits donation lease agreements between municipalities and data center projects.
Missouri Quality Jobs Act
Senate Bill 4, sponsored by Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit, was drafted to specifically focus on the Missouri Quality Jobs Act.
In addition to current benefits offered through the Missouri Quality Jobs Act, the legislation would allow a qualified company to retain 100 percent of withholding taxes for all full-time employees up to 10 years, if that company retains at least 125 jobs over a 10-year period, with an average wage equal to or more than 90 percent of the county average wage. The company would also have to, within three years, make capital investment at the facility of no less than one-half of the amount of benefits received.
Under Sen. Kraus’ bill, the Department of Economic Development is prohibited from authorizing the retention of withholding taxes in excess of $6 million for fiscal years 2012 through 2014. Also, the authorization of tax credits under the Missouri Quality Jobs Act on or after Aug. 28, 2017 would be prohibited.
The Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act (MOSIRA)
Several lawmakers filed legislation exclusively pertaining to MOSIRA. These measures include SB 6, sponsored by Sen. Schaaf; SB 7, sponsored by Sen. Mayer; and SB 9, sponsored by Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City.
All three measures would require the advice and consent of the Senate for gubernatorial appointments to the Missouri Technology Corporation's board of directors and sets the terms and requirements for the various members of the board of directors.
Senate Bill 7 was voted out of the Senate Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee on Sept. 7, and will be presented before the full Senate for deliberation.
Stimulating Missouri’s Economy
Legislation designed to boost Missouri’s economy was introduced on Thursday, Sept. 8, by Sen. Schaaf. The measure, SB 10, addresses certificates of need for citizens. Under the act, a certificate of need would not be required for a proposed project that creates 10 or more new full-time jobs. The person proposing the project would be required to submit a letter of intent, as well as a report detailing the number of jobs and other pertinent information that may be required by the Health Facilities Review Committee to document the basis for not requiring a certificate of need.
The bill also highlights the Compete Missouri Program.
Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises
To provide equal business opportunities to women and minorities in Missouri, Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-St. Louis, introduced SB 11 to the General Assembly on Sept. 8. The act would require the Commissioner of the Office of Administration to conduct a disparity study to measure the participation of minority business enterprises and women business enterprises in contracts for supplies, services, and various agreements with the state. Under the law, the study would need to be completed by Dec. 31, 2012, and delivered to the newly created Minority Business Enterprise and Women's Business Enterprise Oversight Review Committee by that time.
The committee shall review the results of the disparity study and make recommendations to the Office of Equal Opportunity by March 31, 2013, to be implemented by the office.
Special session will run congruently with the Legislature’s annual veto session, which is scheduled for Sept. 14. Constitutionally, the General Assembly can convene for 60 days when the governor calls a special session (Section 20 (a) under Article III).
To learn more about the First Extraordinary Session of the 96th General Assembly, please visit the Missouri Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov and click on “Special Session Information” under the “Legislation” tab at the top of the page.
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