Jefferson City — Some of this legislative session’s most anticipated measures received final approval from the Missouri Senate this week. Illegal immigration reform, MOHELA and comprehensive transportation legislation were all passed by the Senate and now move to the House for similar consideration.
Among those measures to receive final approval was Senate Bill 967, sponsored by Sen. Rob Mayer (R-Dexter), which allows the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority to be the originator of any federally guaranteed student loan. Currently MOHELA is one of the only state-based student loan lending institutions in the country that does not originate, or serve as the original funding source for, federally-guaranteed Stafford loans.
Also given final approval was SB 761, sponsored by Sen. Bill Stouffer (R-Napton). The comprehensive transportation bill requires motorists with suspended licenses to use special license plates. Police would be able to stop vehicles with these plates solely to check whether the driver is licensed. These special plates would be necessary when someone on the vehicle’s title has had a driver's license suspended or revoked for more than 60 days. The omnibus bill also implements a memorial sign program for the victims of drunken driving accidents, creates a defense for people who run red lights if the traffic signal isn't working and prohibits inserting advertisements into mailings about renewing license plates.
Senate Bill 858, a wide-ranging illegal immigration initiative sponsored by Sen. Scott T. Rupp (R-Wentzville), received a second vote from the Senate this week. The measure provides reform in four major areas: employment, higher education, public benefits and law enforcement. Employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants would be further penalized with stiffer fines and other consequences. Contractors would not be liable for illegal workers hired by their subcontractors if the subcontractor confirms he or she did not knowingly hire illegal immigrants. Senate Bill 858 also bans illegal immigrants from attending public universities and junior colleges, as well as prohibits illegal immigrants from receiving driver’s licenses and other state or local public benefits.
Sen. Timothy Green (D-St. Louis) proposed an amendment to the bill that requires employers to submit federal tax forms to the Department of Revenue to verify their employee’s status. It also authorizes the Attorney General to investigate any suspected misclassifications, fining employers up to $100,000 for repeat offenses. The amendment was approved by the full Senate.
Senate Bill 873, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Graham (D-Columbia), was also given final approval. Current law dictates that nine members will sit on the board of curators for the University of Missouri, with one member from each congressional district. Under this legislation, if Missouri loses a congressional district from redistricting based on the 2010 census, the ninth member of the board would be a student curator who serves a two-year term. The student curator could hail from any congressional district and could vote on any issue except for the hiring or firing of faculty or staff.
Senate Joint Resolution 34, sponsored by Sen. Jason Crowell (R-Cape Girardeau) and Sen. Maida Coleman (D-St. Louis) received final approval as well. The measure creates an exception to the Missouri Constitution that prohibits laws from being applied retrospectively. The legislation requires that, upon voter approval, certain sex offender laws would apply retrospectively. One aspect of the bill requires sex offenders to comply with the state’s registry laws even if their offense took place prior to the registry laws taking initial effect in 1995. Any law restricting sex offenders from residing within a certain distance of a school or child-care facility or any law requiring felons to have a biological sample collected for purposes of DNA analysis would also be applied retrospectively.
Senate Bill 1107, sponsored by Sen. Delbert Scott (R-Lowry City), also received a second vote. The legislation strengthens several regulations relating to watercraft operation in Missouri, primarily with regard to alcohol consumption policies for those operating a watercraft. For example, an individual with a blood alcohol content of .08, rather than the current .10, would commit the crime of operating a vessel with excessive blood alcohol content under the bill.
Many provisions in the current law relating to watercraft operation only apply to the Mississippi River, Missouri River and certain lakes. Senate Bill 1107 expands the law to include all Missouri bodies of water in many instances, such as the “negligent operation of a vessel” statute. It also applies a universal speed limit of 30 mph for watercraft between sunset and sunrise on any body of water and toughens the charges for criminal negligence that results in death caused by the person operating a watercraft.
Senate Bill 1105, sponsored by Sen. Maida Coleman (D-St. Louis), received a final vote this week as well. The initiative creates a check-off on the Missouri individual and corporate income tax forms for contributions to the breast cancer awareness fund. Money collected would be used by the Friends of the Missouri Women's Council for breast cancer services.
Receiving first-round approval this week was SB 768, sponsored by Sen. Rupp, which creates the Missouri Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The commission will advise the governor, members of the General Assembly and state agencies, as well as develop a sweeping statewide plan for an integrated system of training, treatment and services for people of all ages with ASD. The measure is the result of several recommendations made by the Blue Ribbon Panel on Autism created last year by Senate President Pro Tem Mike Gibbons (R-Kirkwood) to help formulate a plan for how the state can improve services relating to ASD. Under the legislation, the Office of Autism Services would also be formed to serve as a starting point for families and direct them to the proper diagnosis and treatment services, helping Missouri families find the proper resources quickly and efficiently.
The Senate discussed legislation that further strengthens the state’s No-Call List, adding cell phone and fax numbers to the list. Senate Bill 840, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Engler (R-Farmington), would help put a stop to unsolicited advertising that unknowingly costs the recipient money. The bill also protects those on the No-Call List from automated phone calls often used during election cycles. Automated calls for conducting polls on candidates and issues before the voters are still allowed, though “robo-calls” must include a “paid for by” statement as part of the call. Violators could be fined up to $5,000 for each violation and anyone who receives more than one banned automated call from the same entity inside of 12 months can bring legal action to end the calls and recover the cost they incurred. Senate Bill 840 needs two passing votes to move to the House for consideration.
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 Senate district, or listen to streaming audio of legislative debate as it happens.
The Missouri Senate will reconvene at 4 p.m. Monday, April 7. The Second Regular Session of the 94th Missouri General Assembly will run through Friday, May 16.
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