JEFFERSON CITY - Throughout the month of October, Missouri lawmakers focused on various state matters in their respective legislative committees. Among the important topics discussed at the Capitol and throughout the state were infrastructure upgrades, putting an end to child abuse, reviewing the state’s criminal laws, and crafting a comprehensive funding formula for Missouri public higher education institutions.

Joint Interim Committee on the Missouri Criminal Code

Created with the passage of SCR 28 during the 2012 legislative session, the Joint Interim Committee on the Missouri Criminal Code met at the Capitol on Oct. 2, 9, and 16. During those hearings, panel members took public comment on issues relevant to prosecutors, crime victims, and law enforcement agencies, among other matters.

The committee is charged with conducting a comprehensive review of the Missouri Criminal Code and the Missouri Bar Association's recommendations for revising the code, examining any other relevant issues, and recommending ways to improve the cohesiveness, consistency and effectiveness of the state's criminal laws.

The Missouri Criminal Code was last rewritten in the 1970s, and the mid-1800s before that.

The six-member panel includes Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City, co-chair, Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield, and Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar. The committee must report its findings to the General Assembly by Nov. 15.

Click here to listen to “This Week in the Missouri Senate” from Oct. 18, which reviews work accomplished by the Joint Interim Committee on the Missouri Criminal Code. Included in this report are Sen. Justus and Sen. Dixon.

Joint Interim Committee on Transportation Needs

Members of the Joint Interim Committee on Transportation Needs, co-chaired by Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton, met on Thursday, Oct. 18, to discuss their goal of finding a way to pay for infrastructure upgrades in Missouri. Transportation funding is a concern among many lawmakers, considering a tight operating budget.

Committee members are responsible for:

• Conducting a comprehensive analysis of the transportation infrastructure needs of Missouri,
• Examining any other issues that the committee deems relevant, and
• Making any recommendations for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of funding Missouri's transportation needs.

Panel members are also discussing rural public transportation, Missouri’s fuel tax, and the future of I-70.

The panel was created with the passage of SCR 26 during the 2012 legislative session. The committee is required to report its findings to the General Assembly by Jan. 1, 2013.

Senators selected to serve on the panel include Sen. John Lamping, R-Ladue; Sen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa; Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City; Sen. Joe Keaveny, D-St. Louis; Sen. Ryan McKenna, D-Crystal City; and Sen. Shalonn "Kiki" Curls, D-Kansas City.

Panel members are slated to continue committee hearings throughout the remainder of the year.

Click here to listen to “This Week in the Missouri Senate” from Oct. 4, which features a report on the Joint Interim Committee on Transportation Needs. Included in this report are Sen. Stouffer and Sen. Keaveny.

Joint Committee on Education

Education is one of Missouri lawmakers’ top priorities, and members of the Joint Committee on Education are working diligently to ensure higher education establishments have adequate funding for its programs, students, and staff.

Upon the passage of HB 1731 during this year’s session, the committee has been tasked with creating a funding formula for distributing state money to public colleges and universities. Panel members have a deadline of Dec. 31, 2013 to craft the funding formula, and the General Assembly is slated to implement a funding formula beginning in Fiscal Year 2015.

The Joint Committee on Education, which met at the University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, on Tuesday, Oct. 23, is focusing on providing a rational basis for core funding, supporting performance outcomes, and supporting Missouri’s goals for higher education. Panel members have also considered a series of questions, including:

• What are the essential functions of higher education?
• What are the shared goals of Missouri’s higher education institutions? What are their unique goals?
• How can higher education establishments most effectively contribute to Missouri’s educational and economic policy goals?

In addition, the panel is responsible for (among other duties):

• Reviewing and monitoring the progress of education in the state’s public schools and institutions of higher education.
• Receiving reports from the Commissioner of Education concerning the public schools and from the Commissioner of Higher Education concerning institutions of Higher Education.
• Making recommendations to the General Assembly for legislative action.

Senators serving on the joint committee include Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield; Sen. Brian Nieves, R-Washington; Sen. Scott T. Rupp, R-Wentzville; Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City; and Sen. Keaveny.

Joint Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect

Panel members on the Joint Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect stress the importance of protecting Missouri’s most vulnerable citizens and the need to ensure these children have a safe and promising future.

Created with the passage of SB 628 (sponsored by the Senate Appropriations chairman) and SB 636 (sponsored by Sen. Keaveny), the Joint Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect is charged with:

• Studying and analyzing Missouri’s child abuse and neglect reporting and investigation system;
• Devising a plan for improving the decision process for removing a child from a home;
• Determining the additional personnel and resources necessary to adequately protect children and improve their welfare; and
• Addressing the need for additional foster care homes and to improve the quality of care provided to abused and neglected children in the custody of the state.

Senators selected to serve on the panel include Sen. Dixon; Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph; Sen. Nieves; Sen. Curls; Sen. Justus; and Sen. Keaveny.

Click here to listen to “This Week in the Missouri Senate” from Oct. 11, which features a report on the Joint Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect. Featured in this report are Sen. Dixon and Sen. Keaveny.

General Election Approaches

Missourians will make their way to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 6, to make their voices heard on the 2012 candidates and ballot measures. Two of the ballot initiatives that Missourians will see at the polls were generated from measures passed by the Missouri General Assembly during the 2012 legislative session.

Constitutional Amendment 3 was created by the passage of SJR 51, approved by the Missouri Legislature on May 10.

As stated in the joint resolution, if approved by the voters, the measure would modify the composition of the Appellate Judicial Commission and the selection process for judges to the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals. The act would also increase the number of individuals that the Appellate Judicial Commission nominates for vacancies in the Supreme Court or Court of Appeals from three to four.

Currently, the Appellate Judicial Commission contains seven members (one Missouri Supreme Court Judge; three attorneys, who are elected members of the Missouri Bar; and three laypeople appointed by the governor). 

Proponents of the measure say Missouri voters would be able to exercise more accountability over the process of selecting judges. Opponents are concerned that the measure would add political motives in the judicial process.

Another initiative voters will see on their ballot is Proposition E, which was established with the passage of SB 464, sponsored by Sen. Schaaf during the 2012 legislative session.

The bill language states the act would prohibit the establishment, creation, or operation of a state-based health insurance exchange unless the exchange is created by a legislative act, an initiative petition, or referendum. The act specifically prohibits the establishment of a state-based health insurance exchange by an executive order issued by the governor.

Proponents of the measure say the matter of operating a health insurance exchange should be carefully considered by the people of Missouri or by the Legislature, and Missourians deserve more control over their health care decisions. Opponents have expressed concern that Proposition E would conflict with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which requires states to either create their own health insurance exchanges by 2014, or else the federal government will run one for them.

Click here to listen to “This Week in the Missouri Senate” from Oct. 25, which features a report on SB 464. Included in this report are Sen. Rupp and Sen. Justus.

To learn more about the Nov. 6 State General Election, visit the Missouri Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.mo.gov.

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 legislative 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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