Before Missouri senators adjourned for the week to observe the Easter holiday, several bills passed out of the upper chamber and moved to the House for similar consideration.

In addition, on Monday (4-2), the governor signed SB 450, a measure addressing school board terms. As the bill contained an emergency clause, it became law immediately upon the governor’s signature. The legislation was particularly important for the Ft. Zumwalt School District in St. Charles County, as it hosted a school board election in early April and needed clarification for board members and voters.

The bill modifies the length of school board terms for certain school districts that became urban districts due to the 2010 census. Under current law, school board members of urban school districts serve six-year terms, with a limit of two terms. Board members in districts not classified as urban districts serve three-year terms, with no limit on the number of terms served. Senate Bill 450 states that any school district in St. Charles County that became an urban school district as a result of the 2010 census will retain terms of three years for its school board members.

From the Senate to the House

Sponsored by Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, SB 727 would require the Children's Division within the Department of Social Services, subject to appropriations, to implement a child care subsidy benefit pilot program, known as the “Hand-Up Program,” in at least one rural county and in at least one urban child care center that serves at least 300 families by Jan. 1, 2013. The bill is designed to help Missourians transition off welfare while providing for their families.

The purpose of the voluntary program is to prevent parents and guardians from suddenly losing full child care benefits if those guardians earn more than permitted to receive such benefits.

Under SB 727, a recipient of the pilot program would be allowed to continue to receive child care benefits, as long as he or she pays a premium that would be applied only to that portion of his or her income that is above the maximum allowable monthly income for a person to receive full child care benefits. The premium would be 44 percent of the recipient's excess adjusted gross income over the maximum allowable monthly income for the applicable family size for the receipt of child care benefits.

To protect the health and well-being of Missourians and animals, SB 566, sponsored by Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla, would require dogs and cats to be vaccinated against rabies. The vaccinations must be administered by a veterinarian and would need to be kept current in accordance with a veterinarian's determination or local law. The act allows for an exemption from the vaccination requirement for animals with medical conditions that restrict them from receiving the vaccination.

Senate Bill 856 would establish the Senate Interim Committee on the Structure of the Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance Company. The panel would study whether the Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance Company (MEMIC) should be sold, privatized, or have its current structure modified. The interim committee would need to report its findings to the General Assembly no later than Dec. 31, 2012.

Click here to listen to “Senate Minute” from April 5, which highlights the first-round approval of SB 856. Featured in this report are Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, and Senate Minority Floor Leader Victor Callahan, D-Independence.

Daily Audio and Video Clips from April 4 also feature Sen. Schmitt and Sen. Callahan discussing SB 856. Click here to watch and listen.

Sponsored by Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit, SB 715 addresses the age limit for service in the state militia. Currently, the maximum age for service in the state militia is 64 years. This act would allow the Adjutant General to waive the age limit on a case-by-case basis. In addition, provisions relating to a procedure for members of the state military to file complaints regarding their commanding officer would be repealed.

Sponsored by Sen. Brown, SB 673 would allow temporary motorcycle instruction permit holders to renew such permits only two additional times and apply permit restrictions to all holders, regardless of age.

Senate Bill 911, sponsored by Sen. Luann Ridgeway, R-Smithville, aims to protect Missourians against identify theft. The act would strengthen current laws — presently, no person or entity may require an individual to use his or her Social Security number as an employee number. This act would prohibit employers from using the last four digits of an employee’s Social Security number as his or her employee identification number.

Other measures to receive the Senate’s final stamp of approval include SB 692, which would establish procedures for counties to decrease their annual budgets when unanticipated funding reductions occur, and SB 631 (sponsored by Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar), which would modify the definition of grain dealers for purposes of the Missouri Grain Dealer Law.  

Missouri Senate Gives Initial Approval To Measure Addressing Teacher Tenure

A measure that received much debate in the Missouri Senate this week addresses teacher tenure in public schools.

Senate Bill 806, sponsored by Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, would address several topics relating to the employment of school personnel, including the length of time to earn tenure and reduction in force. The act is designed to allow Missouri students to have the best teachers in their classrooms. The measure was given initial approval by the Senate.

Currently, a teacher who is employed in the same school district for five successive years earns permanent teacher status. Senate Majority Floor Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, offered a successful amendment that increases the length of time to earn permanent teacher status to 10 successive years. This change applies to the statewide tenure system and the system in place for the St. Louis City School District.

The act also modifies the criteria that a school board uses when placing teachers on leave of absence, due to a decrease in student enrollment, district reorganization, or financial condition.

Senate Bill 806 would repeal requirements and procedures commonly referred to as "last in, first out" which, when placing teachers on leave, gives preference to permanent teachers and retains permanent teachers based on performance-based evaluation and seniority. Instead, this act states that seniority or years of service wouldn’t be able to be used as criteria for reduction in force — effective teacher performance would be the decisive factor.

Click here to listen to “The Senate Minute” from April 4, which features debate on SB 806. Lawmakers featured in the report are Sen. Cunningham and Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City.

Daily Audio and Video Clips from April 5 also highlight first-round approval to SB 806. Senator Dempsey and Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, are featured in these postings. Click here to watch and listen.

Senate Bill 806 needs a final passing vote in the Senate before moving to the House for consideration.

Bills Voted Out of Senate Committees

Legislation up for possible debate in the Senate in the upcoming weeks include the following bills, which were approved by their respective committees this week:

• Senate Joint Resolution 45, sponsored by Sen. Brian Nieves, R-Washington, would prohibit Missouri state government from recognizing, enforcing, or acting in furtherance of certain actions of the federal government.
• Senate Bill 879, sponsored by Sen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa, would allow insurers who purchase vehicles through claims adjustment process to obtain salvage certificate of titles or junking certificates, under certain conditions.
• Senate Bill 739, sponsored by Sen. Joe Keaveny, D-St. Louis, would grant the authority to administrative hearing officers from the Department of Social Services to set aside or correct administrative child support decisions or orders and proposed administrative modifications of a judicial order.
• Senate Bill 605, sponsored by Sen. Timothy Green, D-Spanish Lake, would eliminate duplicate filing of campaign finance disclosure reports.

In observance of the Easter holiday, the Missouri Senate will stand adjourned until 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 10.

To see the Senate’s weekly schedule or view a complete list of bills filed this year, among other information pertaining to the 2012 legislative session, please visit the Missouri Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov.

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.

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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