The Missouri Senate sent multiple bills to the House this week for consideration, and offered its first-round approval to various measures.

One of the bills sent over to the House this week was legislation that would change state law relating to the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA) and employment discrimination. 

Senate Bill 592, sponsored by Sen. Brad Lager, R-Savannah, changes the standard for proof under the MHRA for discrimination lawsuits, putting Missouri in line with federal law. Currently, state law requires workers to prove that discrimination is a “contributing factor” in a discrimination lawsuit against the employer. This bill would change this to a “motivating factor,” the same standard laid out in the federal Civil Rights Act.

In addition, the act abrogates, or abolishes, all Missouri case law relating to the public policy exceptions to the employment at-will doctrine. Employers would not be allowed to discharge people who:

• Report an unlawful act of the employer or its agent to governmental or law enforcement agencies, officer, or the employee's human resources representative;
• Report serious misconduct of the employer or its agent that violates a clear mandate of public policy;
• Refuse to carry out a directive issued by an employer or its agent that, if completed, would be a violation of the law; or
• Engage in conduct otherwise protected by statute or regulation.

Senate Bill 592 was third read and passed by the Senate on Wednesday, Feb. 8.
Senate Bill 564, sponsored by Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla, also received the Senate’s stamp of approval.  

Senator Brown’s legislation 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, would be able to demonstrate his or her ability to operate a motorcycle or motor tricycle, instead of having to take a driving test, to obtain a motorcycle license.
If SB 592 and SB 564 are approved by the House of Representatives, they would move to the governor’s desk for his signature.

Some of the bills that received first-round approval from the Senate, but have not yet been sent to the other chamber, include SB 455 and SB 498.

Sponsored by Sen. David Pearce, R- Warrensburg, SB 455 would modify the duties of the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. Among other requirements, the bill would call for the board to create a library of at least 25 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.

Senate Bill 498, sponsored by Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown, would prohibit cities from restricting veterans’ organizations from operating resale shops in certain areas.

Under current law, cities are prohibited from passing laws that restrict certain organizations from operating retail businesses that sell donated items. This act would expand the law to include 501(c)(19) organizations.
Final passing votes by the Missouri Senate would send these two bills to the House for consideration.

Legislation Debated on the Senate Floor

Measures addressing the review of administrative rules and the timeframe of state legislative sessions were heard in the upper chamber this week.

Sponsored by Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield, SB 469 would require a periodic review of all administrative rules and modify provisions regarding the awarding of certain fees in administrative actions. The act would give the Secretary of State the authority to make non-substantive changes to the Code of State Regulations to update state agency information, including name or address changes.

Agencies with rules under review would prepare a report with the results of the evaluation, including whether or not a rule is necessary; a duplicate of another rule; conflicts with other state, federal, or local rules; needs alterations; or should be rescinded.

Click here to listen to “The Senate Minute” from Feb. 7, which features a report on SB 469. Senators included in the report are Sen. Dixon and Sen. Timothy Green, D-Spanish Lake.

Senate Joint Resolution 29, sponsored by Sen. John Lamping, R-Ladue, would, upon voter approval, require the legislative session to end in late March, as opposed to mid-May, beginning with the 98th General Assembly, which would start in 2015. In addition, veto session would be moved from September to June.

Click here to listen to “The Senate Minute” from Feb. 8, which highlights the debate on SJR 29. Featured in this report are Sen. Lamping and Senate Minority Floor Leader Victor Callahan, D-Independence.

You can also click here to watch/listen to “Daily Audio and Video Clips” from Feb. 7, which highlight SB 469 and SJR 29. Lawmakers featured in these postings include Sen. Dixon; Sen. Lamping; Sen. Callahan; Sen. Joseph Keaveny, D-St. Louis; and Sen. Green.

Senate Committees Discuss Numerous Bills

Among the Senate Committees to assemble this week were the Senate Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee and the Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee.
Legislation considered by the Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee on Monday, Feb. 6, included:

• Senate Bill 621 — sponsored by Sen. Brown, the legislation would amend various provisions regarding the licensure and inspections of Missouri hospitals. The bill is designed to promote efficiency and eliminate duplicate services in hospitals.
• Senate Bill 542 — sponsored by Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, the measure would establish a paper ballot as the official ballot. Under current law, electronic voting systems permit voters to cast their vote by the use of a single punch or mark for candidates — the bill would remove this provision.
• Also sponsored by Sen. Chappelle-Nadal, SB 544 would establish licensing standards for different types of clinical laboratory science personnel. Some of these professionals include medical laboratory scientists and technicians, categorical laboratory scientists, and phlebotomists.
• Senate Bill 476 — sponsored by Sen. Lamping, the legislation would amend laws relating to unsecured loans of $500 or less. Under current law, lenders are allowed to renew these loans upon the borrower’s request. This act would prohibit lenders from renewing such loans more than once.

On Wednesday, Feb. 8, the Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee met to consider acts relating to exotic animals and animal abuse.

Sponsored by Sen. Keaveny, SB 666 would address the ownership of certain exotic animals, specifically large, non-human primates such as chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas.

Senate Bill 666 states that a person must acquire a permit issued by the Missouri Department of Agriculture in order to keep a large, non-human primate. Permit applicants must be at least 21 years of age and cannot have violated a state or local animal welfare law in the past, nor pled guilty to or been found guilty of a felony within the last 10 years.

To prevent animal abuse in Missouri, SB 695, sponsored by Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar, would require people employed by animal agricultural operations who videotape suspected instances of animal abuse to provide the original recording to law enforcement within 24 hours. Violation of this act would result in a Class A misdemeanor.

The Missouri Senate is scheduled to reconvene at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 13.

For a complete list of 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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