Missouri senators got down to business this week as numerous Senate bills were voted out of their respective committees. In addition, the first Senate bill of 2012 received initial approval from the upper chamber.

The measure, SB 443, sponsored by Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton, would change state law regarding the regulation of motor vehicles. The act addresses matters including:

• Intoxication-related traffic offenses: The measure would change current statute to comply with federal law, which allows courts and the Department of Revenue to issue limited driving privileges to repeat offenders for the purpose of driving to or from his or her place of employment, school, alcohol or drug treatment programs, and seeking the services of a certified ignition interlock device provider.
• Failure to appear in court: Under current law, if a person fails to dispose of a traffic ticket in a timely manner, the court notifies the director of revenue, and that accused person would have his or her driver’s license suspended, until he or she settles the matter by paying the required fines and court costs. Upon proof of disposition of the charges, and payment of a reinstatement fee, the director returns the license and removes the suspension from the person's driving record. The act modifies this provision so that a commercial motor vehicle operator or a holder of a commercial driver's license would not be eligible to have such a suspension removed from his or her driving record.
• Uniform Commercial Driver’s License Act: The bill would add new definitions to the Uniform Commercial Driver’s License Act to comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations and support the implementation of the federal rule labeled "Medical Certification Requirements as part of the CDL.”
• CDL Medical Certification Compliance: The measure would implement a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation known as "Medical Certification Requirements as part of the CDL.” This act would also require commercial driver’s license applicants to complete certain self certifications and submit required medical examiner certification documents when applicable.

A final passing vote by the full Senate would send SB 443 over to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Click here to watch/listen to Daily Audio and Video Clips from Jan. 19, which highlight SB 443. Featured in these postings are Sen. Stouffer and Sen. Ryan McKenna, D-Crystal City.

Measures Given Green Light to Move Forward Through Legislative Process

This week, numerous acts were “voted do pass” by their respective legislative panels, meaning these bills may be taken up for consideration by the full Senate.

Among the measures voted out of committee are bills that would address education, health insurance, food stamps, research for Alzheimer’s Disease, motorcycle road tests, workers’ compensation, and the number of members who serve in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Sponsored by Sen. Scott T. Rupp, R-Wentzville, 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. The measure received a stamp of approval from members of the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 18.

Also voted out of the Education Committee on Jan. 18 was SB 455, sponsored by Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg. The bill 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.

To address the future of Missouri’s health care industry, Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, is sponsoring SB 464, which 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. In addition, Sen. Schaaf’s bill specifically prohibits the governor from establishing an exchange by executive order. On Tuesday, Jan. 17, the measure received passing votes from members of the Senate Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee.  

Senate Bill 474, sponsored by Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit, would require the Missouri Department of Social Services to take steps to mandate qualified citizens to use photo IDs to receive food stamps. If enacted into law, and, upon one year after approval from the federal government, citizens age 16 or older who are eligible for food assistance would be issued a photo identification card by the department. The measure was voted out of the Senate Governmental Accountability Committee on Jan. 18.

To help raise awareness for Alzheimer’s Disease, Sen. Stouffer is sponsoring SB 482, which was voted out of the Senate Education Committee on Jan. 18. The bill 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 from $30,000 to $50,000 each year.

Sponsored by Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla, SB 564 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’s 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. The bill received a stamp of approval from the Senate Transportation Committee on Jan. 18.

Senate Bill 572, sponsored by Senate Majority Floor Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, 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. The measure was voted out of the Senate Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee on Jan. 17.

Sponsored by Sen. Kraus, SB 589 would require political subdivisions that use automated traffic enforcement systems to distribute fines to local school districts where the violation occurred to be used for transportation purposes. The fines distributed to the school districts would not be distributed through the school funding formula. Panel members on the Senate Governmental Accountability Committee voted in support of the measure on Jan. 18.

Senate Joint Resolution 25, sponsored by Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, would, upon voter approval, lower the number of members in the Missouri House of Representatives from 163 to 101 members. The joint resolution was voted out of the Senate Governmental Accountability Committee on Jan. 18.

Legislative Committee Consider Senate Bills

Numerous Senate committees assembled this week to consider bills filed this session.

The Senate Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee considered measures on Tuesday, Jan. 17, including:

• Senate Bill 596 — The measure, sponsored by Sen. Brown, would suspend prevailing wage laws in areas declared to be natural disaster areas for five years after the governor issued the declaration.
• Senate Bill 560 — Sponsored by Sen. Luann Ridgeway, R-Smithville, the measure would prohibit the establishment and operation of health insurance exchanges in Missouri, unless certain criteria are met. (Not to be confused with SB 464.)
• Senate Bill 435 — Addressing matters regarding labor unions, the legislation would, upon voter approval, prohibit public employee labor unions from withholding fees from employee paychecks. In addition, the act, sponsored by Sen. Crowell, would require the employee's consent for these unions to use fees and dues for political purposes.

Bills addressing elections and voting regulations were brought before the Senate Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee.

Sponsored by Sen. Schaaf, SB 520 would require a candidate who forms a committee to designate the office to which he or she is seeking nomination or election.

Senator Schaaf is also sponsoring SB 465, which would allow Buchanan County, as well as cities and towns within Buchanan County, to establish a Theater, Cultural Arts, and Entertainment taxing district.

Senate Bill 442, sponsored by Sen. Stouffer, is designed to prevent voter fraud in Missouri by establishing photo identification requirements for voting. More specifically, the bill would call for Missourians to produce the following in order to vote:

• A non-expired Missouri driver's license;
• A non-expired or non-expiring Missouri non-driver's license;
• Any identification containing a photograph issued by the Missouri National Guard, the U.S. Armed Forces, or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
• Or a document issued by the United States (or the state of Missouri) containing the name of the voter, the most recent signature in the individual’s voter registration records, a photograph, and an expiration date — the document is still valid if it is dated after the most recent general election.

To address matters regarding voter registration and election offenses, Sen. Robin Wright-Jones, D-St. Louis, is sponsoring SB 486. Under the act, individuals who request 50 or more voter registration applications, who are not deputy registration officials, must be at least 18 years of age. In addition, the person's name, address, telephone number, whether he or she is making the request on behalf of a group or organization, and a description of each group or organization for which the request is made, must be filed with the Secretary of State.

Wednesday, Jan. 18 was a busy day for lawmakers, as several measures were brought before Senate committees.

Senate Bill 528, sponsored by Sen. Wright-Jones, would allow a person to obtain “I HAVE A DREAM” specialty license plates if he or she donates an annual contribution of at least $25 to the Martin Luther King, Jr. State Celebration Commission Fund. The measure was debated in the Senate Transportation Committee.

Considered by the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee, SB 523, sponsored by Sen. Shalonn “Kiki” Curls, D-Kansas City, would prohibit people under the age of 18 from selling tobacco products.

Sponsored by Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown, SB 498 would prohibit cities from restricting veterans’ organizations from operating resale shops in certain areas. The measure was considered by panel members of the Senate Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee.

Also considered by the Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee was SB 585, sponsored by Sen. Ron Richard, R-Joplin. The measure would create a tax credit to attract sporting events to Missouri to generate more revenue for the state.

On Thursday, Jan. 19, the Senate Ways and Means and Fiscal Oversight Committee assembled to consider measures relating to tax credit programs, including SB 531, sponsored by Sen. John Lamping, R-Ladue, and SB 548, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Purgason, R- Caulfield.

Senate Bill 531 would modify the low-income housing tax credit program and the historic preservation tax credit program. The Missouri Department of Revenue would be required to apply any increase in revenue generated from capping these tax credit programs to a decrease in the personal income tax rate to begin on Jan. 1, 2016.

Senate Bill 548 would place sunsets (deadlines for programs to be reviewed or terminated) on all tax credit programs by Jan. 1, 2016.

Click here to listen to The Senate Minute from Jan. 19, which features a report on Senate committee hearings and considered measures. Featured in this report are Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, and Sen. Curls.

You can also click here to watch/listen to various Daily Audio and Video Clips from Jan. 18, which highlight a wide range of Senate committees. Featured in these postings are Sen. Schmitt; Sen. Kraus; Sen. Rupp; Senate Minority Floor Leader Victor Callahan, D-Independence; and Sen. Curls.

Lawmakers Discuss FY 2013 Budget

Missouri senators joined members of the House in a joint session to hear the governor’s State of State address on Tuesday. Recommendations in the speech are then considered by the General Assembly, especially when crafting the state’s fiscal year spending plan.

Panel members on the Senate Appropriations Committee will continue to meet and discuss options for the FY 2013 operating budget. Lawmakers are required to have the budget delivered to the governor by 6 p.m. on Friday, May 11, 2012.

Click here to listen to “The Senate Minute” from Jan. 18, which highlights senators’ budget concerns. Featured in this report are Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, and Sen. Wright-Jones.

For a complete list bills filed this session, 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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