JEFFERSON CITY — Throughout the month of June, numerous measures passed by the Missouri Legislature were signed into law by the governor. In addition, the complete series of core budget bills that comprise the $24 billion spending plan for the Fiscal Year 2013 budget were given the governor’s final stamp of approval.

Higher Education Measure Signed Into Law

House Bill 1042, handled in the upper chamber by the Senate Education Committee chairman, was signed into law by the governor on June 7. The measure, which received unanimous approval in the Missouri Senate, will make it easier for students in Missouri to transfer between public universities and earn their degree.

More specifically, the measure requires the Coordinating Board for Higher Education, with assistance from the Committee on Transfer and Articulation, to create a statewide core transfer library of at least 25 lower-division courses that can be transferred among all public colleges and universities in Missouri by July 1, 2014. The bill also charges the board with developing a policy that awards a student who has accumulated the necessary credit hours from more than one public higher education institution that offers an associate degree with a college diploma.

With the governor’s signature, HB 1042 will become law on Aug. 28.

Click here to listen to “This Week in the Missouri Senate” from June 15, which features a report on HB 1042, including statements from Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla; Sen. Joseph Keaveny, D-St. Louis; and Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield.

Allowing Charter Schools to Operate Throughout Missouri

To bring more accountability to charter schools in Missouri and ensure a top-notch education for students, SB 576 received the governor’s final stamp of approval on
June 27.

Charter schools will soon be able to operate in unaccredited districts throughout Missouri. Before the passing of this measure, charter schools could only operate in the St. Louis City and Kansas City school districts.

These learning institutions can operate in accredited districts without provisions, if sponsored by the local school board. However, a school board that has an enrollment of 1,550 students or more cannot enroll more than 35 percent of its enrollment in charter schools. The legislation also gives Missouri’s state auditor the authority to audit charter schools in the same manner as any agency of the state.

In addition, to give Missouri students more opportunities to earn a high school diploma, SB 576 allows proposed or existing high-risk or alternative charter schools to include other arrangements for students to obtain credits for satisfying graduation requirements in the charter application and charter. These arrangements may include credit for off-campus instruction, work experience, independent studies and performance-based credit options.

With a final stamp of approval, the legislation will officially become Missouri law on Aug. 28.

Protecting Fourth of July Fireworks Displays

A measure sponsored by Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, ensures the tradition of fireworks displays for Fourth of July celebrations can continue in Missouri. Senate Bill 835, signed by the governor on June 11, brings Missouri’s rules on fireworks and pyrotechnics into line with federal regulations. The bill updates the state’s classifications for large diameter fireworks to reflect those in the Code of Federal Regulations and removes references to American Pyrotechnics Association standards. The bill contained an emergency clause, allowing the legislation to become law upon the governor’s signature.

Cell Phones Allowed on No-Call List

Missouri citizens can now add their cell phones to the state No-Call list with the signing of House Bill 1549. The measure, ushered through the upper chamber by Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit, updates the statutes governing the No-Call list to allow the addition of cell phones to the list, protecting citizens from unwanted solicitation calls.

To add a cell phone to the No-Call list, complete the online registration form at www.ago.mo.gov/nocalllaw, or call 866-BUZZOFF (866) 289-9633. The attorney general’s office sends the list to telemarketing companies on a quarterly basis, meaning cell phones added by Aug. 1 would be covered on Oct. 1.

Job Creation Measure Signed into Law

A job creation measure widely supported by the Legislature was signed into law by the governor on June 27. House Bill 1661 clarifies the types of businesses that can qualify for the income tax deduction for job creation by a small business, including businesses formed as a sole proprietorship, partnership, S-corporation, C-corporation, limited liability company (LLC), limited liability partnership (LLP), or other business entity. The bill also allows certain businesses to pass the tax deduction on to their partners, members or shareholders. House Bill 1661 takes effect on Aug. 28.

Supporting Missourians With Developmental Disabilities

Taxpayers who donate to facilities that care for Missouri citizens with developmental disabilities will now be able to qualify for a tax credit with the governor’s signing of HB 1172. The measure creates the Developmental Disability Care Provider Tax Credit Program, which will award taxpayers a tax credit of 50 percent of an eligible donation to a qualified developmental care provider that is used solely to provide direct services to citizens with developmental disabilities. House Bill 1172 also expands the amount residential treatment agencies can receive under the residential treatment agency tax credit program, and extends the expiration date of the program to Dec. 31, 2015.

Foster Care Legislation

House Bill 1576, given the governor’s approval on June 25, allows certain foster parents in Missouri to purchase health insurance from the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan at the premium rate established for state employees. To qualify, foster care parents cannot have access to health insurance through their employers and must provide documentation showing their eligibility for state health insurance. The measure received unanimous approval in the Missouri Senate and was handled in the upper chamber by Sen. Mike Parson, R- Bolivar. The measure will take effect on Aug. 28.

The governor also signed into law a measure designed to protect the educational success of foster care children. House Bill 1577, which was handled in the Senate by the chairman of the Education Committee, establishes criteria regarding foster care children who transfer schools. Specifically, the bill requires the receiving school to base the student’s placement on the previous school’s assessment; provide comparable services to a foster care student based on his or her Individualized Education Plan; and waive graduation requirements if similar class work was completed at the previous school. The bill takes effect on Aug. 28.

Vetoed Legislation

On June 27, the governor vetoed House Bill 1789, handled in the upper chamber by Sen. Brian Nieves, R-Washington. The legislation would have created a process in a few select areas by which students could transfer to a new school if they had to ride a minimum distance of at least 17 miles to their school, another school was seven miles closer and the transfer wouldn’t force the receiving district to exceed its classroom size. 

Economic Report Shows Slow Growth for Missouri

A report released in June by the U.S. Commerce Department shows Missouri’s economic growth continues to lag behind the national average. According to the report, the Show-Me State’s economy only grew 0.04 percent in 2011, far below the national rate of 1.5 percent, and placing Missouri 43rd out of 50 states. This represents the third straight year the state has posted economic growth below the national rate. However, Missouri’s unemployment rate was 7.3 percent in May, compared to the national rate of 8.2 percent, showing that despite the slow economic growth, the state continues to fare better than many others in employment.

Click here to listen to “This Week in the Missouri Senate” from June 21, which features senators’ reactions to the report, Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, and Sen. Keaveny.

Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Signed into Law

Toward the end of June, the complete series of measures that comprise Missouri’s $24 billion operating budget for Fiscal Year 2013 received the governor’s stamp of approval. The 13 core budget bills given final approval by the Missouri Senate are tailored to address the state’s vital departments, programs, and services, such as elementary and secondary education and social services.

The first budget measure signed by the governor was HB 2002, which addresses elementary and secondary education in Missouri. The measure was approved by the governor on June 17.

More specifically, the measure, handled in the upper chamber by the Senate Appropriations Committee chairman, includes $3.009 billion for Missouri’s school foundation formula, $99.8 million to transport students to and from school, $144.7 million for early childhood special education, $50 million for vocational education, and $15 million for early childhood development, among other important school funding items.

Shortly after HB 2002 was approved by the governor, HB 2010 followed suit and was given a final stamp of approval on June 21. The legislation appropriates funding to the Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH), as well as the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS).

Included in the $1.393 billion spending plan for DMH includes funding for the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, the Division of Comprehensive Psychiatric Services, and the Division of Developmental Disabilities. 

Funding for DHSS includes support for the Division of Regulation and Licensure, the Division of Senior and Disability Services, and the Division of Community and Public Health. More than $1.043 billion total is allocated for DHSS.

The remaining core budget bills were signed by the governor on June 22; however, several line-item vetoes and expenditure restrictions were enacted, altering the final spending plan that was approved by the Missouri Senate and sent to the governor in May.

If the governor decides to withhold funding from a certain budget bill, he can later release the money, as opposed to a line-item veto, which removes the allocated funding amount from the legislation.

Reference the table below to see a full list of the core budget bills and the money allocated and withheld from each measure.

Click here to listen to “This Week in the Missouri Senate” from June 29, which features a report on the FY 2013 budget. Included in the report is Sen. Brown and Sen. Timothy Green, D-Spanish Lake.

To follow these and other issues facing the Missouri Senate, visit www.senate.mo.gov. Visitors can track legislation considered by the General Assembly during the 2012 legislative session, learn more about their Senate 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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