JEFFERSON CITY — After considering a more than 200 page bill relating to economic development, senators returned to Jefferson City on Sept. 12, ready to work. Senate Bill 8, sponsored by Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, was brought up for debate on the Senate floor on Sept. 13. The following day, the Senate approved the measure by a vote of 26-8.
The legislation is designed to create performance-based tax incentive programs that would stimulate the economy and create employment opportunities for Missourians.
Before it received approval from the Senate, several amendments were offered to the legislation and adopted. Those who proposed successful amendments include Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph; Sen. Ron Richard, R-Joplin; and Sen. Scott T. Rupp, R-Wentzville.
Senate Amendment 1, offered by Sen. Schaaf, would preserve the Missouri Property Tax Credit, also known as the Circuit Breaker Tax Credit. This program allows low-income, disabled, and elderly renters to claim a certain amount of their rent or real estate tax on the home they own or reside in. The amendment passed with a vote of 17-16.
Senator Richard offered SA 4, which would allow developers and homeowners in federally declared disaster areas to receive a portion of the available tax credits under the Neighborhood Preservation Tax Credit Program, in order to rebuild their homes and repair those that are damaged.
Similar to Sen. Richard’s amendment, Sen. Rupp offered SA 5, which would allow distressed businesses in Missouri communities affected by natural disasters to benefit from the Missouri New Markets Tax Credit Program — a public-private partnership program that attracts private capital investments for businesses in low-income communities.
One of the most talked-about provisions of SB 8 is the Aerotropolis Trade Incentive and Tax Credit Act, designed to create an international trade hub at the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. In its current form, SB 8 would provide $60 million to encourage freight-forwarders to direct cargo traffic to the airport.
The measure contains an emergency clause, meaning provisions of the bill would take effect immediately upon the governor’s signature. Senate Bill 8 has been sent on to the Missouri House for deliberation.
To listen to “This Week in the Missouri Senate” for Sept. 16, which highlights the Legislature’s debate on SB 8, click here. Various audio/video clips from Sept. 14 also feature Sen. Mayer; Sen. Timothy Green, D-Spanish Lake; and Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City, discussing the measure.
Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, also received approval from the Senate and will now move to the full House for debate. The legislation received initial approval on Sept. 12, and passed in the Senate on Sept. 14.
Senator Cunningham’s measure revises a provision found in the Amy Hestir Student Protection Act (SB 54) that addresses communication between public school students and school employees.
Under SB 1, 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.
Click here to watch and listen to audio/video clips from Sept. 13, featuring Sen. Cunningham and Sen. Justus discussing SB 1 on the floor of the Missouri Senate. You can also hear “The Senate Minute” for Sept. 13 and “This Week in the Missouri Senate” for Sept. 16, which highlight lawmakers’ work on the legislation.
In addition, SB 7, also sponsored by Sen. Mayer, was approved by the Senate by a vote of 30-4, and was sent to the House for consideration. The act would establish the Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act, also known as MOSIRA. The legislation is designed to lure science and innovation companies to Missouri. Under the bill, funds appropriated by the General Assembly from the Life Sciences Research Trust Fund would be appropriated to the life sciences research board to increase the quality and capacity of scientific research at public and private non-profit institutions.
The act replaces the Missouri Technology Fund with the Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Fund, which would receive annual appropriations made by the General Assembly, based upon recommendations made by the directors of the Department of Economic Development and Department of Revenue, and contributions made by private entities, the federal government, and local governments.
To listen to and watch Sen. Mayer’s comments on SB 7 from Sept. 14, click here. “This Week in the Missouri Senate” for Sept. 16 also features the General Assembly’s work on SB 7.
Several Resolutions Introduced in the Senate
Offered by Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, SR 26 would, upon approval, urge U.S. Congress to include an opt-out provision if it passes President Obama’s recent jobs proposal, without being penalized and forced to pay back funds that the states decided not to acquire.
Senate Resolution 28, sponsored by Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit, urges Congress to support production and full funding of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program. The program is the U.S. Department of Defense’s focus for defining affordable, next generation strike aircraft weapon systems for the Navy, Air Force, Marines, and our country’s allies.
With an objective to prevent damage caused by flooding disasters, SR 43, sponsored by Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown, urges the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to manage the rivers to avoid flooding catastrophes and rebuild the recently damaged levees to their former height as quickly as possible. It also encourages restoration of productive farmland that was flooded, and urges the Missouri Congressional delegation to support policies that promote river management that would minimize damage caused by future floods.
Senate Resolution 44, offered by Sen. Cunningham, advises the Commissioner of Education, members of the state board of education, and the governor to decline a grant from the Early Learning Challenge Fund. The resolution also discourages individuals from applying for a grant from any other source that requires an early childhood quality rating system.
House Measures Move to the Senate
Several measures approved by the House have been sent to various Senate committees for deliberation, and one House bill received debate by the full Senate. House Bill 3, handled by Sen. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, would move the presidential primary from February to March and raise the amount presidential candidates pay state committees. He sponsored a similar measure during the 2011 regular session.
Veto Session Begins
Wednesday, Sept. 14 marked the day that the General Assembly’s annual veto session began, though no veto-overrides were attempted.
Fourteen bills passed by the Legislature during the 2011 regular session were vetoed by the governor. In order to override a governor’s veto, two-thirds of the members of both chambers must vote in favor of the override.
During veto session, the General Assembly may meet for a timeframe not to surpass 10 calendar days.
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.
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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