Missouri Lawmakers Send Initiatives Regarding Term Limits and the State's No-Call List to the House for Consideration

Missouri senators continue to deliver legislation to their colleagues in the House of Representatives, while lawmakers in the upper chamber also consider many measures before adjourning for the week.

Senate Bill 484, sponsored by Sen. Scott T. Rupp, R-Wentzville, would modify Missouri’s do-not-call list and create “paid for by” requirements for political phone calls.

The act would include cell phones on the do-not-call list — under current law, only landline telephones are included on the list.

Certain automated acts are exempt from Sen. Rupp’s law, including calls:

• That a Missourian has given permission to receive;
• Relating to a recent or current business relationship or a current personal relationship;
• From a public safety agency or other entity notifying a person of an emergency;
• From school districts to students, parents, or employees; and
• From employers to employees regarding work-related issues.

Sponsored by Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, SB 719 would allow people visiting from out-of-state to purchase a temporary boating safety identification card to operate a rented watercraft in Missouri. 

The temporary license would be available for up to seven days and would cost $9. Those applying for the license would be required to sign an affidavit stating they have reviewed the Missouri State Highway Patrol Handbook regarding Missouri Boating Laws and Responsibilities.

The bill contains an emergency clause, meaning it would take effect immediately upon the governor’s signature.

Proposing a constitutional amendment to create term limits for all statewide elected officials, Sen. Brad Lager, R-Savannah, is sponsoring SJR 26. Under current law, a person can serve as governor or state treasurer only for two, four-year terms. This initiative would, upon voter approval, extend these term limits to the positions of lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and state auditor.

Click here to watch and listen to “Daily Audio and Video Clips” from Feb. 21, which features clips on SJR 26. Featured in the postings include Sen. Lager and Sen. Timothy Green, D-Spanish Lake.

Senate Bill 701, sponsored by Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, would allow certain motor vehicles to drive on public highways with dyed fuel during a state of emergency (which is declared by the governor).

Under the bill, motor vehicles allowed to operate with dyed fuel during an emergency include vehicles associated with a public utility or rural electric cooperative that is responsible for restoring utilities (such as electricity) during a state of emergency.

The bill is designed to help Missourians regain their utility services after a disaster strikes.

Legislation Considered in the Senate

This week, numerous measures were considered by the upper chamber.

Senate Bill 457, sponsored by Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, would require any person who observes a child being subjected to sexual abuse to immediately report the incident to law enforcement. Under current law, only certain professional workers, such as physicians and nurses, are required to report such abuse.

Click here to review “Daily Audio and Video Clips” from Feb. 21, which feature clips on SB 457. Included in these clips are Sen. Schmitt and Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City.

Sponsored by Sen. John Lamping, R-Ladue, SB 749 states that an employee, employer, health care provider, or other such entities would not be obligated to provide health care coverage for abortion, contraception, or sterilization, if such services go against the person or establishment’s moral convictions or religious beliefs.

The act would also protect these individuals who object to performing such services from discrimination by any government entity or public official.

In addition, the bill would require the attorney general to bring a civil action in any appropriate state or federal court whenever there is reasonable cause to believe that the provisions of this act (or similar acts that protect Missourians’ religious and moral beliefs) have been, or is threatened to be, violated.

Click here to listen to the “Senate Minute” from Feb. 22, which features a report on SB 749. Lawmakers included in this report are Sen. Lamping and Sen. Justus.

You can also view clips on SB 749 by viewing “Daily Audio and Video Clips” from Feb. 21. Featured in these postings are Sen. Lamping; Sen. Justus; Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton; Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph; and Senate Minority Floor Leader Victor Callahan, D-Independence.

Sponsored by Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, SB 492 would change the retirement benefits formula for members of the General Assembly and statewide elected officials who first take office on or after Jan. 1, 2013. 

Under the bill, such members of the General Assembly would be eligible for retirement coverage under the chapter from the Missouri state employees’ retirement system that is used by state employees. The bill is designed to initiate one universal pension system for state workers.

These considered measures may receive further debate in the Senate at a later time.

Senate Considers Legislation Addressing Filing Period for 2012 State Primary Election; New Senate District Maps Proposed

Before adjourning for the week, Missouri senators considered changes made to SB 773, which was given final approval in the Senate last week.  On Feb. 23, the House passed its amended version of the legislation, which changed the Senate’s initial proposed filing date from March 27 to April 24 to March 19 to March 30

Currently, the filing period for the August 2012 state primary is from Feb. 28 to March 27.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar, is designed to resolve timing issues caused by legislative redistricting matters, and contains an emergency clause. Senate Bill 773 was tabled for further consideration.

Also this week, new Senate maps were proposed by a bipartisan state redistricting commission. Several more days of public testimony are scheduled before the Senate Apportionment Commission submits its final vote on the new maps.

The redistricting process occurs every 10 years when census results pinpoint population shifts in the state.

To view the recently release Senate district boundary maps, click here or visit the Missouri Office of Administration’s redistricting website at oa.mo.gov/bp/redistricting.

Special Committee on Social Service Program Savings Conducts Hearing

The newly created Special Committee on Social Service Program Savings, chaired by Sen. Schaaf, met on Tuesday, Feb. 21, to consider testimony from the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Department of Social Services.

The committee is responsible for conducting hearings in order to examine past and projected changes in the participation and cost of each social service program offered in Missouri.

The committee is further charged with studying possible structural changes of each program, including program elimination, changes to federal funding, eligibility, new programs coordinated with the federal government, and any other program changes designed to reduce cost.

Lawmakers appointed to serve on the panel include Sen. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington; Sen. Lager; Sen. Joe Keaveny, D-St. Louis; and Sen. Shalonn “Kiki” Curls, D-Kansas City.

Click here to watch “Daily Audio and Video Clips” from Feb. 22, which feature a posting on the Special Committee on Social Service Program Savings. Featured in this posting is Sen. Schaaf.

The Missouri Senate is scheduled to reconvene at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 27.

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, and, 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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