Missouri senators assembled for the 96th General Assembly, Second Regular Session, at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 4. As the day began, the Senate President Pro Tem pinpointed several legislative priorities in his opening day address, including passing a balanced budget without issuing a tax increase, creating quality jobs with benefits and reforming Missouri’s Workers’ Compensation Law, and providing Missourians with a top-notch education.

More than 200 measures were first read in the upper chamber before senators adjourned for the week. Several of those bills have already been assigned to their respective legislative committees. Committee hearings are scheduled to begin next week. To view the Senate’s committee schedule, visit www.senate.mo.gov and click on the “Senate Hearing” link.

Protecting Missourians From Unfair Labor Practices

Sponsored by Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, SB 438 would, upon voter approval, prohibit employers from requiring employees to engage in or cease engaging in certain labor practices, such as requiring an employee to join a labor union. Employers who violate provisions of this act, also known as “Right to Work” legislation, would be charged with a Class C misdemeanor.

Another bill addressing Missouri employees, SB 435, sponsored by Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, would, upon voter approval, prohibit public employee labor unions from withholding fees from employee paychecks. In addition, the act would require the employee's consent for these unions to use fees and dues for political purposes.

Promoting Safety on the Roadways

Senate Bill 463, sponsored by Sen. Joe Keaveny, D-St. Louis, would increase the fine for seat belt violations from $10 to $50. This legislation is designed to prevent injury to motorists while traveling on the roadways.

Revising Missouri’s Criminal Policies

Senator Jack Goodman, R-Mt. Vernon, is sponsoring SB 445, which would create the “Joint Committee on the Missouri Criminal Code.” The proposed committee would consist of senators, members of the Missouri House, representatives from the attorney general’s office, Missouri’s Public Defender System, victims of crime, the governor's office, and the Missouri Supreme Court. The committee would issue recommendations regarding how to best revise and organize the state’s criminal laws.

Providing Quality Care for Missourians With Disabilities

Senate Bill 449, sponsored by Sen. Scott T. Rupp, R-Wentzville, would require the Missouri Department of Mental Health to develop a plan for transitioning individuals with mental disabilities from state facilities to appropriate, residential facilities.

The transition plan would include recommendations regarding permanent full-time state employees who work at current state facilities and alternative uses for state-owned facility property.

Encouraging Missourians to Invest in Clean Energy

Sponsored by Sen. Robin Wright-Jones, D-St. Louis, SB 458 would create the Green Jobs-Green Missouri Act, which would be under the authority of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The act would encourage Missourians to invest in clean energy by providing loans to homeowners and small business owners for energy improvement projects. The program would also provide training for green energy workforce development.

Addressing a State Health Insurance Exchange

Senate Bill 464, sponsored by Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, would prohibit the establishment, creation, or operation of a state-based health insurance exchange, unless the Legislature or an act of the people, such as an initiative petition or referendum, created it.

Election of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor

Sponsored by Sen. John Lamping, R-Ladue, SB 475 would place candidates for the lieutenant governor and the governor on the same ticket, allowing citizens to vote for both offices at the same time. 

Increasing the Penalty for Harassment

Demonstrating that Missouri will not tolerate harassment, SB 537, sponsored by Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, would increase the penalty for the crime of harassment from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class D felony. If the crime is committed by a person 21 years of age or older against a person 17 years of age or younger, or if he or she has previously been convicted of harassment, then the act increases the penalty from a Class D felony to a Class C felony.

Ensuring Railway Safety

Sponsored by Sen. Timothy Green, D-Spanish Lake, SB 602 would impose various regulations on contract carriers that transport railroad employees. Some of those regulations address hours of operation, testing drivers for alcohol and drug consumption, review and maintenance of driving records, and liability insurance. Under the act, any person, corporation, or entity that violates any provision of the act could face a civil penalty of up to $2,000 for each violation.

Click here to watch and listen to Daily Audio and Video clips from Jan. 4, 2012. Lawmakers featured in the postings include Sen. Mayer; Senate Majority Floor Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles; Senate Minority Floor Leader Victor Callahan, D-Independence; and Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia.

You can also reference “The Senate Minute” from Jan. 4 and Jan. 5, which highlight lawmakers’ focus on Missouri’s budget and job creation. Featured in these reports are Sen. Mayer and Sen. Callahan.

For a complete list of 2012 bills, please visit the Missouri Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov and click on “List of 2012 Senate Bills” under the Legislation tab.

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.

Throughout session, you can also utilize the Missouri Senate website to follow the Senate’s legislative accomplishments. On the left-hand side of the screen is a window that states the meeting status of the Senate. You can also listen to live debate, follow dates of committee hearings on the hearing calendar, and view the Senate Journal to keep up with the upper chamber’s work.

For more legislative news, please visit the Senate Newsroom. There you will find various audio and video programs and other services, such as:  

• Missouri Legislative Update (MLU) – A video program produced periodically throughout the year that provides an overview of the news in the Missouri Senate and House of Representatives. The program features news interviews with lawmakers and stories on issues concerning Missourians.
• Capital Dialogue – Missourinet's Bob Priddy hosts this monthly half-hour roundtable program bringing legislators together from the Missouri Senate and House of Representatives from different political parties to discuss their positions on specific issues and legislation.
• This Week in the Missouri Senate – A weekly five-minute audio program that wraps up the week’s news in the Missouri Senate. Programs are posted online every Friday in .mp3 format.
• Senate Minute – A condensed, one-minute audio report of current Senate news. Programs are posted in .mp3 format and are available through podcast.
• Daily Audio / Video Clips – Throughout the year, the Senate Newsroom posts broadcast-quality audio and video highlights from Senate committee hearings, floor debate, press conferences and other legislative events.  Please note: Clips linked to this Capitol Briefing are only available for the legislative week referenced in the publication.
• Daily News Clips – The Senate Newsroom compiles daily news clips from various print and online publications that cover issues relating to the Legislature and state government. An archive of past clips is maintained online and is offered as a subscription service.

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