JEFFERSON CITY – The Senate said “goodbye” this week to one of its colleagues and delivered several measures to the House of Representatives, including a bill that would make changes to individual and business income taxes, legislation that would provide funding for the renovation or repair for hundreds of projects throughout the state, and a measure that would change the rules and requirements for child care providers that receive state or federal funding.

The Senate also fast-tracked legislation this week, first through the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee and then through the upper chamber, that would stop local governments from enacting ordinances that prohibit or restrict a mother from breastfeeding a child in public or private.  The measure would also allow nursing mothers to be excused from jury duty with a written statement from their physician.  House Bill 1320 is sponsored by Rep. Rory Ellinger, D-University City, who is ailing from liver cancer.  Many members of the Senate had the opportunity to serve alongside Rep. Ellinger while in the House of Representatives.  With final approval from both the House and the Senate, the bill received the governor’s signature on Thursday.  The measure is similar to Senate Bill 502, sponsored by Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph.

Senate Bills Move on for House Consideration

Legislation sponsored by Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit, receives the Senate’s final approval early in the week.  Once fully phased in, Senate Bill 509 & 496 would reduce the top tax rate on individual income to 5.5 percent; each reduction to the rate would be by one-tenth of a percentage point.  Increases to the deduction of business income tax would be by 5 percent, and once fully phased in, taxpayers would be allowed to deduct 25 percent of their business income.  Shareholders and partners of S-corporations and partnerships would be allowed to take a proportional deduction based on their share of ownership.  Both the personal and business income tax deduction, starting in 2017, would not go into effect unless the previous year’s general revenue grows by at least $150 million more than the highest mark of the three prior fiscal year’s total general revenue.  For individuals with a Missouri adjusted gross income of less than $20,000, Senate Bill 509 & 496 also increases the personal income tax exemption from $2,100 by $500, totaling $2,600.

 
The Senate’s Daily Audio/Video Clips for April 1 feature Sen. Kraus (Cut 1) and Sen. Paul LeVota, D-Independence (Cut 2), discussing Senate Bill 509 & 496 during debate on the Senate floor.      

Dubbed the “Hurricane Sandy” legislation by bill sponsor Sen. Scott Sifton, D-Affton, Senate Bill 708 would allow emergency workers to request, receive and submit absentee ballots.  This issue came to Sen. Sifton’s attention when many Missourians who were assisting with emergency efforts during Hurricane Sandy in 2012 missed their opportunity to cast their vote during the elections back in their districts. 

 
The Senate’s Daily Audio/Video Clips for April 2 include Sen. Sifton (Cut 1) debating Senate Bill 708 during its third reading and final passage motion in the Senate. 

Senate Bill 782, sponsored by Sen. Gary Romine, R-Farmington, addresses alternative certification for elementary education teachers.  The bill would allow those who are certified by the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) — a non-profit established by the U.S. Department of Education to prepare, certify and support teachers — to obtain teacher certification in the area of elementary education.  These applicants would have to complete 90 contact hours and of those, at least 30 hours would have to be in an elementary classroom. 

The Senate also gave its final approval to a bill that would authorize gaming establishments to provide lines of credit to “high rollers.”  Senate Bill 741, sponsored by Sen. Scott T. Rupp, R-Wentzville, would require applicants to qualify for at least $10,000 in credit, which would not be extended to those under the influence of alcohol.  This was the last measure Sen. Rupp brought before the full Senate for its approval before he resigned from his seat in the General Assembly to serve on the Missouri Public Service Commission.

 
The Senate’s Daily Audio/Video Clips for April 2 feature the final motion made by Sen. Rupp (Cut 2) on Senate Bill 741 in the Senate chamber. 

Senate Bill 680, sponsored by Sen. Shalonn “Kiki” Curls, D-Kansas City, would expand eligibility requirements in Missouri for certain individuals to receive food stamp assistance.  Pursuant to the option granted under the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996, Senate Bill 680 would allow an individual who has a possession of a use of a controlled substance felony conviction to be eligible for food stamp benefits.  The legislation outlines specific guidelines individuals must follow to receive the benefits, including meeting other factors required for food stamp eligibility. 

 
The Senate’s Daily Audio/Video Clips for April 2 include Sen. Curls (Cut 3) describing how Senate Bill 680 would change current law. 

The Senate gave its final approval this week to Senate Bill 723, sponsored by Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar.  The legislation is designed to provide funding for the renovation or repair more than 300 projects throughout the state.  It would raise the cap on the amount of revenue bonds that may be issued by the State Board of Public Buildings from $775 million to $1.175 billion.  Certain bonds may be used for the construction of a new mental health facility in Callaway County to replace the current Fulton State Hospital.  The bill would also raise the cap on the amount of bonds from $175 million to $375 million to repair existing buildings and facilities on the campuses of public colleges and universities throughout the state.

 
The Senate’s Daily Audio/Video Clips for April 3 feature Sen. Parson (Cut 5) and Sen. John Lamping, R-Ladue (Cut 6), sharing their thoughts during debate in the upper chamber on Senate Bill 723.      

Another bill sponsored by Sen. Parson would exempt motor vehicles more than 10 years old from the sales tax on titling.  However, the exemption, found in Senate Bill 693, would not apply to motor vehicles that cost more than $15,000.

Senate Bill 727, sponsored by Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, would create a sales and use tax exemption for certain items sold at farmers’ markets, but would not apply to products sold at farmers’ markets that have sales of at least $25,000.  In addition the bill, subject to appropriations, would require the Department of Social Services to establish a pilot program to provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants with access to affordable fresh food when purchasing fresh products at farmers’ markets. 

 
The Senate’s Daily Audio/Video Clips for April 3 include Sen. Chappelle-Nadal (Cut 7) describing how Senate Bill 727 would benefit citizens in her district.      

Legislation that would change the rules and requirements for child care providers that receive state or federal funds now moves to the House.  New provisions under Senate Bill 720, sponsored by Senate Minority Floor Leader Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City, include establishing increased child care business training, and building and physical premises requirements; requiring the Department of Social Services (DSS) to create a website that lists provider-specific information about health and licensing requirements, inspections and history of violations and compliance actions; establishing a DSS hotline for parents to submit provider complaints; and, with the assistance of child care businesses and parents, advocates, and DSS, creating a transparent system of quality indicators to provide parents with a way to set apart child care businesses in the community. 

 
The Senate’s Daily Audio/Video Clips for April 3 feature Sen. Justus (Cut 8) discussing how Senate Bill 720 would make changes to state-funded child care providers.        

Legislation sponsored by Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, would allow the Missouri State Capitol Commission to enter into contracts with vendors for the sale of items, food and beverages for certain events held at the State Capitol, such as those commemorating the anniversaries of the State Capitol and the state of Missouri.  Under Senate Bill 674, the Missouri State Penitentiary historic site would also be added to the list of entities to contract specific services.  This contract authority would expire at the end of 2024.

Senator Kehoe is also sponsoring Senate Bill 673 this session that would change the duration for unemployment compensation.  Current Missouri law states the maximum duration for an individual to receive unemployment benefits is 20 weeks.  This act would directly correlate Missouri’s unemployment rate with the number of weeks available to receive unemployment benefits:

• 20 weeks – 9 percent or higher;
• 19 weeks – between 8.5 and 9 percent;
• 18 weeks – 8 percent up to and including 8.5 percent;
• 17 weeks – between 7.5 and 8 percent;
• 16 weeks – 7 percent up to and including 7.5 percent;
• 15 weeks – between 6.5 and 7 percent;
• 14 weeks – 6 percent up to and including 6.5 percent; and
• 13 weeks – below 6.5 percent. 

The bill also modifies the method to pay federal advances by requiring the Board of Unemployment Fund Financing to issue credit instruments when the amount owed to the federal government for advances exceeds $300 million.

 
The Senate’s Daily Audio/Video Clips for April 3 include Sen. Kehoe (Cut 9) sharing the accomplishments of Senate Bill 673.

The proposed constitutional amendment found in Senate Joint Resolution 27, sponsored by Sen. Schaaf, also advances to the House this week.  His measure, if approved by voters, would maintain that individuals’ electronic communication and data are protected from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government.  A warrant for the information would have to describe the data or communication looking to be accessed and be supported by probable cause.

The Senate also adopted several concurrent resolutions this week, which expresses the will or opinion of both legislative chambers and depending on its purpose, may carry the full force and effect of law.  Senate Concurrent Resolution 28, sponsored by Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, would help commemorate the 35th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act and encourage continued dialogue between the United States and Taiwan by supporting the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement.

Sponsored by Sen. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau, Senate Concurrent Resolution 33 would recognize the month of February as “Oral Health Awareness Month,” emphasizing that oral health is critical to overall health.  The resolution also supports health policies that promote oral health and the use of local, state, and federal resources to monitor the status of citizens’ oral health. 

Senate Concurrent Resolution 36, sponsored by Sen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa, would establish a Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Task Force to develop strategies in order to identify and address the unmet needs of individuals who have MS to enhance their quality of life and provide those with the disease greater access to various treatments and other therapeutic options available.  The task force would report its recommendations and findings to the General Assembly by Jan. 15, 2015.

Since Congress’ request prior to the beginning of World War II for a national blood collection program to support the members of the Armed Forces, the American Red Cross today provides nearly 40 percent of the county’s blood supply.  To encourage continued donations, Senate Concurrent Resolution 37 would recognize the first Tuesday of every September as American Red Cross Blood Donation Day.  The resolution is sponsored by Sen. Kehoe.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 40, sponsored by Sen. Brad Lager, R-Savannah, would urge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in developing guidelines for regulating carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants, to respect the primacy of Missouri and other states and rely on state regulators to develop such standards. 

 
The Senate’s Daily Audio/Video Clips for April 3 feature Sen. Lager (Cut 10) and Sen. Jason Holsman, D-Kansas City (Cut 11), discussing their views on Senate Concurrent Resolution 40.

Finally, the Senate gave its approval to House Concurrent Resolution 4, handled in the upper chamber by Sen. Gina Walsh, D-Bellefontaine Neighbors.  The resolution would call upon the president to support the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline, which seeks to decrease the country’s dependence on oil from outside of North America.  The measure would also support and permit oil production off the northern coast of Alaska to spur investment in the nation’s economy.

 
The Senate’s Daily Audio/Video Clips for April 3 include Sen. Walsh (Cut 12) presenting the House Concurrent Resolution 4 to her colleagues in the Missouri Senate. 

Measures in the Senate Receive Initial Approval

Legislation sponsored by Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield, would specify which places of amusement, entertainment, recreation, games and athletic events must collect sales tax.  Under Senate Bill 584, these places would include various performing arts productions, sporting events, gambling facilities, theme and amusement parks, circuses, carnivals, and museums, among others.  Certain not-for-profit entities exempt from sales and use taxes would not be required to charge sales tax for admission. 

Also advancing in the Senate is Senate Bill 729, sponsored by Sen. Romine.  The legislation would create a new tax credit for donations to innovation campuses, created through legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2013.  Innovation campuses provide a partnership between Missouri high schools, four-year colleges and universities, businesses, and two-year higher education institutions.  Taxpayers would be able to receive a tax credit equal to 50 percent of their donation to an innovation campus, under Senate Bill 729, as long as the donation is used to advance learning in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math.

Senate Bill 785, sponsored by Sen. Kehoe, is also one step closer to advancing to the House.  The measure would expand the opportunity to obtain the state’s one-time seven-day temporary boating safety identification card for nonresidents to all Missouri residents. 

In order to promote strategic partnerships between Missouri-based companies and those based in the country of Israel, the Senate gave its initial approval to Senate Bill 812.  The bill would require the Department of Economic Development to open an office in Israel, if an appropriation is made for this post.  The measure is sponsored by Sen. Parson.

 
The Senate’s Daily Audio/Video Clips for April 3 feature Sen. Parson (Cut 1) describing the need for Senate Bill 812.      

Legislation Considered in Upper Chamber

Lawmakers spent time this week debating Senate Joint Resolution 42, sponsored by Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale.  If approved by voters, this proposed constitutional amendment would establish a permanent Joint Committee on Administrative Rules to review the promulgation of rules by state agencies.  The committee would be responsible for reviewing all rules formally put into operation by state agencies and may recommend the General Assembly to disapprove and annul any rule based on certain grounds.  The joint resolution further outlines the disapproval process of these rules in the General Assembly.

The Senate also considered legislation sponsored by Sen. Lager, which addresses the state’s whistleblower protection laws.  Senate Bill 490 would bar employers from firing or retaliating against individuals when their actions are a motivating factor in the firing or retaliation.  This includes when individuals report an unlawful act of their employer to higher authorities in order to receive reports from employees regarding unlawful activities; report to their employer serious misconduct of their employer that violates public policy; refuse to carry out orders issued by their employer that would, if carried out, violate the law; or engage in behavior that is otherwise protected by statute or regulation that does not provide for a private right of action.

Senator Walsh is sponsoring legislation this session that would create a right to unpaid leave for employees who are affected by domestic violence.  Senate Bill 712 would entitle employees to unpaid leave if they, their family or household member is a victim of assault, battery, coercion, harassment, sexual assault, unlawful imprisonment, and stalking to prepare for or participate in a civil or criminal legal proceeding relating to the violence.  An amendment added to the bill removes a provision that would bar employers from discriminating against employees who utilizes or attempt to use their unpaid leave.

Debate continues on Senate Bill 739, sponsored by Sen. Romine.  The bill would make numerous changes to the state’s MO HealthNet Program, which purchases and monitors health care services for low-income and vulnerable citizens throughout the state.  Senate Bill 739 would:

• Modify the asset limits increase for seniors and disabled citizens allowed to retain in order to qualify for MO HealthNet benefits;
• Change the eligibility level for MO HealthNet benefits under certain circumstances for those diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer, pregnant women, and infants under 1 year old;
• Address notification requirements for those who may be eligible for health care services due to spenddown;
• Change the eligibility requirements under the Children’s Health Insurance Plan;
• Permit rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, or other primary care practices to set up on the premises of low-income public schools;
• Establish the Show-Me Health Babies Program as a separate children’s health insurance program for any low-income, unborn child; and
• Extend the current MO HealthNet Managed Care Program statewide for all eligibility groups currently enrolled in a managed care plan as of Jan. 1, 2014, among other provisions relating to the state’s health care program.

 
The Senate’s Daily Audio/Video Clips for April 2 feature Sen. Romine (Cut 4) stating the reason why he’s sponsoring Senate Bill 739. 

Senator Pearce offered a concurrent resolution on the Senate floor this week that would designate November 2014 as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) awareness month in Missouri.  Senate Concurrent Resolution 41 would encourage the Department of Health and Senior Services to include COPD as a chronic health condition in its current efforts to educate Missourians about the effects of smoking. 

Lawmakers also spent time on the Senate floor debating Senate Bill 555, sponsored by Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis.  Her bill would bar members of the General Assembly, their staff, and their family from accepting travel and tickets for sporting events and concerts provided by lobbyists.  The legislation would also prohibit lobbyists from delivering these items to legislators.  However, the latest bill substitute would remove provisions relating to campaign contribution limits.

 
The Senate’s Daily Audio/Video Clips for April 3 include Sen. Nasheed (Cut 2); Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville (Cut 3); and Sen. Paul LeVota, D-Independence (Cut 4), discussing Senate Bill 555 on the Senate floor.      

Committee Work Continues in the Senate

In the Senate Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee Monday afternoon, members heard testimony on legislation that would require Missourians to show a photo ID before placing their ballot at the polls.  Under House Bill 1073, those seeking to vote would have to establish their identity and eligibility to cast their ballot as a U.S. citizen who is lawfully living in Missouri by presenting a photo ID.  All costs incurred by election authorities to implement the photo ID law would be reimbursed by the state.  However, if there are no funds available, the election authority could not enforce the photo ID requirement.  The bill also lays out the provisions for casting a provisional ballot and addresses mechanisms in place for disabled and elderly citizens to vote. The legislation also requires the state to provide, at no cost, at least one form of personal ID required to vote to qualified voters if they do not already have the necessary ID. 

House Bill 1073 would only take effect upon voter approval of House Joint Resolution 47, a proposed constitutional amendment that would enact provisions found in House Bill 1037 regarding photo ID requirements for elections.  This measure also received a hearing in the Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee. 

The committee also conducted hearings on two other House bills.  House Bill 1136 is an election bill that would address the inspection of voter records, update the description of voting machines and ballot styles, allow youth assisting an election authority to receive compensation for their time, and repeal obsolete references to election procedures for previous years.  House Bill 1902 would change the presidential primary date in Missouri from the first Tuesday after the first Monday in February to the second Tuesday after the first Monday in March.  This measure is identical to Senate Bill 892, sponsored by Sen. Kraus.

The Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee conducted a hearing on Senate Bill 911, sponsored by Sen. Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff.  His legislation would stop tenants who willfully damage rental property from raising the defense of claim of right — in which they genuinely believe that they are entitled to the rental property — in cases that involve certain property claims. 

On Tuesday, the Senate Seniors, Families and Pensions Committee heard testimony on several bills relating to adoption and parental rights.  Senate Bill 685, sponsored by Sen. Paul LeVota, D-Independence, outlines the procedure in which adopted individuals 18 or older born in Missouri may obtain a copy of their original birth certificate.  Senate Bill 943, sponsored by Sen. Justus, would change several provisions in state law relating to adoption and parental rights, including the definition of a parent; consent or waiver of consent for termination of parental rights; establishment of a consistent father-child relationship; out-of-state adoptive petitioners; post-adoptive contact agreements; and the temporary placement of a prospective adoptive child pending the transfer of custody.  Senate Bill 990, sponsored by Sen. John Lamping, R-Ladue, is similar to the previous measure, but includes provisions regarding the residency requirement for adoption.

Members of this committee also gave its approval to several bills this week, including:

• Senate Bill 759, sponsored by Sen. Sifton, which would establish the Missouri Parent/Teacher Involvement Program to provide grants to schools to contribute to the academic and social success of students.
• Senate Bill 823, sponsored by Sen. Dixon, which would make public employees ineligible for retirement benefits if they are found guilty of certain crimes.
• Also sponsored by Sen. Dixon, Senate Bill 844, would change Missouri’s Shared Work Unemployment Compensation Program, which serves as an alternative to layoffs for employers that are faced with a reduction in available work.
• Senate Bill 869, sponsored by Sen. Schmitt, which would give the Children’s Division within the Department of Social Services the right to renegotiate adoption subsidy agreements between the division and adoptive parents, and temporarily suspend the subsidy if children are removed from the home when there is evidence of child abuse or neglect.
• Senate Bill 873, sponsored by Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla, which would make changes to background checks conducted for child placement and add pornography to the list of prohibited offenses used when determining if children, who have been taken into custody of the state or the jurisdiction of a juvenile court, can be reunited with their parents or placed back into a certain home.

The Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee held a hearing on Senate Bill 992, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles.  His bill would make the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tem of the Senate voting members of the Board of Public Buildings.  Currently, those serving in these leadership positions are non-voting members of the board, which has general supervision and charge of state facilities at the seat of government.  The board also has the authority to issue revenue bonds for the construction of state office buildings and certain other facilities. 

Senate Concurrent Resolution 39, sponsored by Sen. Parson, also received a hearing in the committee.  The measure would authorize the issuance of bonds for certain state and university projects and pledge the state to make future appropriations to repay the full costs of bonds for such proposes.  The concurrent resolution is the companion bill to Senate Bill 723, also sponsored by Sen. Parson, which would raise the cap on the amount of revenue bonds that may be issued and limit the use of funds to renovation of existing buildings.  Senate Concurrent Resolution 39 was later voted out of the committee. 

 
The Senate’s Daily Audio/Video Clips for April 1 include Sen. Parson (Cut 3) testifying on behalf of his measure before the Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee.

The Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee also conducted a hearing on House Joint Resolution 72, which, upon voter approval, would prohibit the governor from using the projection of new revenue from proposed legislation yet approved by the General Assembly when determining the general revenue estimate for the governor’s budget recommendations to the Legislature.  In addition, the resolution would prohibit the governor from reducing any appropriation designated for public debt and require the state’s highest executive office to notify the General Assembly when there is a specified payment change of appropriations.

Members of this committee also gave their approval to several House bills and resolutions on Tuesday:

• House Concurrent Resolution 5 would urge Congress to support importation of Canadian oil sands and ask for the approval of the TransCanada Keystone Coast Expansion pipeline.
• House Concurrent Resolution 11 would encourage the Missouri Veterans Commission to work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to address the needs of women veterans and formally honor the heroic service of women veterans.
• House Concurrent Resolution 20 would require Congress to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency to quickly approve crops that are tolerant to herbicides 2, 4-D and dicamba.
• House Bill 1079 would allow insurance companies to deliver, save, store and manage life insurance documents electronically. The legislation would also permit these companies to make available policies online instead of mailing or delivering paper copies as long as the documents do not contain personally identifiable information.
• House Bill 1173 would cap damages against a health care provide for personal injury arising out of the rendering or failure to render health services at $350,000.

In the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee, members held a hearing on a bill that would make changes to provisions relating to self-service storage facilities.  Currently, a self-service storage facility operator may sell personal items within a storage facility under certain circumstances.  In the advertisement issued seven days before the sale, self-storage facility operators must include the time, place, and terms of the sale.  Senate Bill 837, sponsored by Sen. Sifton, would also require the advertisement to list the storage facility occupant’s name.

The committee also heard testimony on legislation sponsored by Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville.  Currently, private and public utilities have the power of eminent domain, the power to take private property and convert it into public use.  Senate Bill 839 would restrict this power in cases where a transmission line originates and terminates in a single state other than Missouri, in this instance, while traversing either McDonald or Barry counties.

The Senate General Laws Committee wrapped up committee work on Tuesday by listening to Sen. Jason Holsman, D-Kansas City, testify on behalf of his measure, Senate Bill 951.  The bill would allow medical marijuana for medical use with severe restrictions.  The substance would be taxed at 8 percent of the purchase price. 

 
The Senate’s Daily Audio/Video Clips for April 1 feature Sen. Holsman (Cut 4) testifying on behalf of Senate Bill 951 before members of the Senate General Laws Committee.

In the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday, members heard testimony on Senate Bill 876, sponsored by Sen. LeVota.  His bill would designate the bridge on East Stadium Drive over Interstate 435 in Jackson County as the “Len Dawson Bridge.”  Dawson was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1999 for his contributions while playing football for the Kansas City Chiefs, including being named the Most Valuable Player for the Chiefs in the team’s 1969 Super Bowl championship.

Members of the Senate Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee conducted a hearing on House Bill 1495.  The measure would require Missouri Technology Corporations (MTCs) — public-private partnerships created by the General Assembly to promote entrepreneurship and foster the growth of new and emerging high-tech companies —to distribute money to specified early-stage business development corporations for grants to newly formed businesses that have the potential for sales or development of new technologies. 

The committee also gave its approval to Senate Bill 912, sponsored by Sen. Wasson.  Also related to the Missouri Technology Corporation, his legislation would change the powers and duties of the MTC.  In addition, it would create a tax credit equal to 50 percent of a donation to the MTC.  The tax credit would be non-refundable, but transferable, and may be carried forward for four years.  The Department of Economic Development would have to receive from the MTC an amount equal to the tax credit before the credit could be issued. 

The widely attended Senate Education Committee this week continued its hearings on Senate Bill 514, sponsored by Sen. Lamping, and Senate Bill 798, sponsored by Sen. Ed Emery, R-Lamar.   Both bills would prohibit the State Board of Education from implementing the Common Core State Standards, among other provisions.  These educational standards focus on the areas of math and English language arts/literacy and outline what students should know before they advance to the next grade level. 

The Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee concluded its hearing schedule on Wednesday after listening to testimony on Senate Bill 966, sponsored by Sen. Brad Lager, R-Savannah.  The measure addresses the ethical behavior of public officials and lobbyists by barring members of the General Assembly and candidates for the House or Senate to act as paid political consultants for House or Senate candidates; imposing a two-year cooling-off period for members of the Legislature before they can become lobbyists; and changing the definition of “elected local government official lobbyist,” among other provisions that outline various required reports.  Senate Bill 966 was later voted out of committee. 

On Thursday, the Senate Ways and Means Committee held two hearings on legislation regarding income tax.  House Bill 1253 would establish the Broad-Based Tax Relief Act of 2014 designed to reduce the tax on corporate business income and business income from sole proprietors, partners and shareholders in S-corporations.  House Bill 1295 would, after a personal income tax deduction is fully phased in, reduce the rate on personal income tax to 5.3 percent.  The bill would also create a 50 percent business income tax deduction phased in over a number of years.  Both deductions would only occur if previous fiscal year general revenue collections exceed a certain amount: at least $150 million for personal income tax deduction and $100 million for business income tax deduction.  In addition, the measure would authorize an additional personal exemption of $1,000 for individuals who have a Missouri adjusted gross income of less than $20,000.

The committee also voted out Senate Bill 513, sponsored by Sen. Lamping.  The bill would create an income tax credit of $400 per child for individuals able to claim a dependency deduction for a qualifying child on their federal income taxes.  Those with a Missouri adjusted gross income over $46,100 and married couples with a combined Missouri adjusted gross income of more than $92,200 would be ineligible for the tax credit, which would be nonrefundable, nontransferable, and cannot be applied to any previous or future tax year.

With the Senate Gubernatorial Appointment Committee’s approval mid-week and then the full Senate’s confirmation on Thursday, Sen. Rupp will now serve as a member of the Missouri Public Service Commission.  This now brings the total number of those lawmakers serving in the Missouri Senate to 32; 23 Republicans and nine Democrats.  Since the House passed its version of the FY 2015 budget this week, members of the Senate Appropriations Committee will soon begin examining the 13 budget bills that make up the state’s spending plan for the next fiscal year.  Senators will return to the upper chamber Monday, April 7, 2014.