The first two Senate bills of the 2012 legislative session made their debut in the Missouri House this week, as both measures were third read and finally passed in the Senate on Thursday, Jan. 26. The legislation addresses the regulation of motor vehicles and how state departments record federal grants and funding.

Senate Bill 467, sponsored by Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown, would require state departments and divisions that accept federal grants over $1 million to post information relating to the grant on the Missouri Accountability Portal. The portal is available to Missouri citizens so they can reference how their tax dollars are spent and other relevant information related to governmental programs.

These applicable departments and divisions would be required to submit the following to the portal:

• The amount, origin, and purpose of the federal grant;
• The amount of the grant that’s transferred to another department or division, along with the purpose of the transfer; and
• How the secondary recipient used the funds from that grant, as well as the impact of that use.

In addition, the governor would be required to submit on the portal a daily report stating the amount of funds withheld from the state operating budget.

Another measure ushered to the House is SB 443, sponsored by Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton. This measure would change state law regarding the regulation of motor vehicles.

Senator Stouffer’s bill would address 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.

The legislation would also tackle the matter of failing to appear at court. Under current law, if a person fails to address 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. Once the director is notified that the person addressed the changes and paid the reinstatement fee, the license is returned and suspension is removed 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.

In addition, the measure would:

• Add new definitions to the Uniform Commercial Driver’s License Act;
• Make alterations to current compliance guidelines for Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations;
• Support the implementation of the “Medical Certification Requirements as part of the CDL” federal rule; and
• Implement a Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulation known as “Medical Certification Requirements as part of the CDL.”

Click here to watch “Daily Audio and Video Clips” from Jan. 26, which feature the final approval of SB 443.

Other bills that have received initial approval from the Senate, but have not yet been sent to the House for consideration, include SB 464, sponsored by Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph. The bill would prohibit the establishment and operation of a state health insurance exchange, unless the exchange was created by a legislative act, or by an act of the people, such as an initiative petition or referendum.

Click here to listen to “The Senate Minute” from Jan. 25, which features a report on SB 464. Senators in this report include Sen. Schaaf and Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City.

You can also watch “Daily Audio and Video Clips” from Jan. 24, which highlight testimony from Sen. Schaaf and Sen. Justus on SB 464.

Numerous Measures Await Consideration in the Upper Chamber

Several measures were voted out of Senate committees this week and await consideration from the full Senate.

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. Senate Bill 449 was voted out of the Senate Health, Mental Health, Seniors and Families Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 24.

Sponsored by Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, SB 479 would eliminate retirement benefits for members of the General Assembly and statewide elected officials who first take office on or after Jan. 1, 2013.

In addition, the act would eliminate basic life insurance and disability insurance coverage for certain elected officials, but would provide the official the option to purchase life insurance and disability insurance through the state. These elected officials would be required to pay all of the cost of the premiums for any health insurance they choose to receive from the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan, and they would be prohibited from receiving any contribution from the state towards their retiree health insurance premium. Senate Bill 479 was voted out of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs, Emerging Issues, Pensions and Urban Affairs Committee on Thursday, Jan. 26.

Regarding voter registration and election offenses, SB 486, sponsored by Sen. Robin Wright-Jones, D-St. Louis, would require people who request 50 or more voter registration applications (who are not deputy registration officials) to 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. The measure was voted out of the Senate Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee on Monday, Jan. 23.

Senate Bills Heard in Committee

Legislation heard in committee this week included measures that would address the reporting of child abuse, illegal immigration, uniform application forms for group health insurance policies, discriminatory employment practices, and texting while driving.

Senate Bill 457, sponsored by Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, was brought before the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee on Monday, Jan. 23. The measure would change the law on mandatory reports of suspected child abuse and neglect. Under current law, only certain professional workers, such as physicians and school officials, are required to immediately notify the Children’s Division of the Department of Social Services if they suspect a child is suffering from abuse. This act would require all Missourians to report any suspected child abuse cases to the division.

On Wednesday, Jan. 25, SB 473, sponsored by Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit, was heard in the Senate Governmental Accountability Committee. Senator Kraus’ measure would, upon voter approval, require the attorney general to sue the federal government to enforce federal immigration laws. The attorney general would also request the state auditor to submit a statement containing an itemized list of costs incurred by the state and political subdivisions due to the federal government’s “lack of enforcement” of its immigration laws.

Senate Bill 540, sponsored by Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, was heard in the Senate Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 24. Senator Chappelle-Nadal’s bill would prohibit discriminatory employers from receiving public works contracts, and would require employers to provide cause to terminated employees.

The Senate Transportation Committee considered SB 567, sponsored by Sen. Wright-Jones, on Wednesday, Jan 25. The legislation would prohibit all drivers, regardless of age, from text messaging while driving a motor vehicle on any Missouri highway. The measure would also prohibit an official from stopping any motorist solely to determine whether or not he or she was texting.

Click here to listen to “The Senate Minute” from Jan. 26, which highlights a report on SB 567. Featured in this report are Sen. Stouffer and Sen. Wright-Jones.

You can also watch “Daily Audio and Video Clips” from Jan. 25, which feature the hearing of SB 567 in the Transportation Committee. Featured in these postings are Sen. Stouffer; Sen. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington; Sen. Ryan McKenna, D-Crystal City; and Sen. Wright-Jones.

The Missouri Senate is scheduled to reconvene at 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30. The Second Regular Session of the 96th General Assembly runs through Friday, May 18, 2012.

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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