Missouri senators completed a productive first full week of the 2012 regular session, with more than 220 bills introduced thus far in the Missouri Senate.

In addition, legislative committees began work this week to consider a wide range of Senate bills filed this session and other state matters. After bills are first introduced in the Senate, also known as “first read,” the Senate leader must assign each bill to a committee before it can move forward in the legislative process — this process is known as second reading of bills. Three measures have already been voted out of their respective committees and may be sent to the Senate for possible debate.

Several committees met on Tuesday, Jan. 10, including the Senate Appropriations; Small Business, Insurance, and Industry; and Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment committees.

Chaired by Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, the Appropriations Committee assembled to hear testimony from state officials and various members of Missouri departments, including the Departments of Social Services, Mental Health, and Health and Senior Services.

This week, the Appropriations Committee also considered SB 467, sponsored by Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown. The measure would require state departments and divisions that accept federal grants of more than $1 million to post information relating to their awarded grant on the Missouri Accountability Portal, including:

• The amount, origin, and purpose of the grant;
• Any amount that will be transferred to another department or division;
• The purpose for such a transfer; and
• How the secondary recipient used the funds and the impact of how he or she used the funds.

Senate Bill 467 was voted out of the Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, Jan 11. With this passing vote, committee members recommend that the bill moves to the full Senate for debate.

Click here to listen to The Senate Minute from Jan. 10, which highlights the work of Senate committees, including the Appropriations Committee. Featured in this report are Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter; and Senate Minority Floor Leader Victor Callahan, D-Independence.

The Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee, chaired by Sen. Scott T. Rupp, R-Wentzville, met to discuss SB 572, sponsored by Senate Majority Floor Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, as well as SB 464, sponsored by Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph.

Senate Bill 572 would restore protections for co-employees from personal lawsuits for their role in honest accidents at work, return Workers’ Compensation as the exclusive remedy for workplace accidents, and address Missouri’s insolvent Second Injury Fund.

Senate Bill 464 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.

Click here to listen to The Senate Minute from Jan. 11, which features a report regarding the Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee and its consideration of SB 572. Featured in this report are Sen. Dempsey and Sen. Callahan.

Sponsored by Sen. Brad Lager, R-Savannah, SB 592 was heard in the Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee. The measure would change state laws to mirror federal employment laws when it comes to discrimination. The bill changes Missouri law to state that discrimination must be “a motivating factor” rather than “a contributing factor” in wrongful termination lawsuits, which is identical to language in the federal Civil Rights Act.

The legislation was voted out of committee on Thursday, Jan. 12. With this passing vote, committee members recommend that SB 592 moves to the full Senate for consideration.

The Senate Transportation; Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government; and Education committees were a few of the panels that assembled on Wednesday, Jan. 11.

Legislation addressing motor vehicles, household goods movers, and motorcycle road tests were brought up before the Transportation Committee, chaired by Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton.

Senate Bill 443 — Sponsored by Sen. Stouffer, this legislation would modify laws regarding the regulation of motor vehicles. The act tackles matters pertaining to driving privileges for repeat offenders, punishment for failing to appear in court in relation to a traffic ticket, new definitions to the state’s Uniform Commercial Driver’s License Act, and implementation of a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation known as “Medical Certification Requirements as part of the CDL.”

The legislation was voted out of the Transportation Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 11. With this passing vote, committee members recommend that SB 443 moves to the full Senate for debate.

Senate Bill 470 — This measure, sponsored by Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield, would revise provisions relating to the regulation of household goods movers. Under this act, movers who provide such services would no longer have to file their schedule of rates, fares, and charges with the state highways and transportation commission.

Senate Bill 564 — Addressing motorcycle licenses, this measure, sponsored by Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla, states that an applicant who is an active member of the U.S. Armed Forces and has successfully completed a military motorcycle rider training course that meets or exceeds the Motorcycle Safety Foundation curriculum standards, could demonstrate his or her ability to operate a motorcycle or motor tricycle, instead of having to take a driving test to obtain a motorcycle or motor tricycle license or endorsement.

Members of the Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee, chaired by Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, considered SB 469, sponsored by Sen. Dixon. The legislation would modify provisions regarding the updating and review of administrative rules. The Secretary of State would be given the authority to make non-substantive changes to the Code of State Regulations to update state agency information, such as name or address changes.

Click here to listen to The Senate Minute from Jan. 12, which features a report on the Senate Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee and testimony regarding SB 469. Featured in the report include Sen. Dixon and Sen. Ryan McKenna, D-Crystal City.

Lawmakers on the Senate Education Committee, chaired by Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, considered numerous measures regarding education in Missouri.

Senate Bill 455, sponsored by Sen. Pearce, would modify the duties arranged to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. Among other requirements, the bill would call for the board to create a library of transferable courses between two- and four-year institutions, as well as develop a policy to foster a reverse transfer for students who have collected enough hours to earn an associate degree from an institution that offers such a degree.

Sponsored by Sen. Rupp, SB 450 would modify the length of school board terms for certain school districts that became urban districts due to the state’s shifting population as a result of the 2010 census.

Designed to help encourage Alzheimer’s Disease research, SB 482, sponsored by Sen. Stouffer, would give the University of Missouri Board of Curators the authority to award funds for research projects to advance knowledge in the area of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. This act would increase the statutory award amount per individual award from $30,000 to $50,000 each year.

Click here to watch Daily Audio/Video Clips from this week, which highlight various legislative committees.

Postings from Tuesday, Jan. 10, feature clips highlighting work from the Senate Appropriations; Small Business, Insurance and Industry; and Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment committees. Featured in these clips are Sen. Schaefer, Sen. Dempsey, Sen. Lager, Sen. Callahan, and Sen. Timothy Green, D-Spanish Lake.

Clips from Wednesday, Jan. 11, feature the Senate Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee. Featured in these clips are Sen. Dixon and Sen. McKenna.

Lawmakers Continue to Bring Bills Forward In the Missouri Senate

Numerous measures were introduced in the Missouri Senate this week.

• Sponsored by Sen. Joe Keaveny, D-St. Louis, SB 643 would require 5-year-old children in St. Louis and Kansas City school districts to attend kindergarten on a regular basis.
• Senate Bill 655, sponsored by Sen. Green, would create the Higher Education Capital Fund to provide matching funds to public colleges and universities for capital projects under certain circumstances.
• To help Missourians who have suffered property loss due to fire, SB 619, sponsored by Sen. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, would modify Missouri’s valued policy law statute regarding fire damage. In the event of a total loss of property due to fire, the insurer must pay the total amount of the policy (less the depreciation of the property) between the time of the issuance of the policy and the loss.
• To protect the well-being of mothers and infants, SB 639, sponsored by Sen. Schaaf, specifies that the act of a mother breastfeeding her child would not be considered an act of sexual conduct or public indecency, and would designate other protections for nursing mothers.
• Senate Joint Resolution 45, sponsored by Sen. Brian Nieves, R-Washington, would, upon voter approval, prohibit the Missouri legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government from recognizing or endorsing any federal action that exceeds the powers delegated to the federal government.

In observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Senate will not be in session on Monday, Jan. 16. The Missouri Senate will reconvene at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

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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