Jefferson City — Health insurance for low-income Missouri families was the primary focus this week as senators gave a first-round vote to a comprehensive health care bill.
The Senate’s omnibus health care bill, Senate Bill 1283, sponsored by Sen. Tom Dempsey (R-St. Charles), now needs a second vote to move to the House for similar consideration. This much-anticipated legislation gives low-income Missouri families better access to affordable health care by allowing the state to subsidize health insurance for those who are eligible, as well as focusing on preventative healthcare.
The state would pay the health insurance premiums for working parents who earn up to the federal poverty level, or $21,200, for a family of four. Custodial parents earning up to 225 percent of the poverty level, or $47,700 for a family of four, could have their premiums paid if they contribute a percentage of their income, totaling no more than $1,000 a year, to a health savings account. Senate Bill 1283 also implements a pilot program for access to Web-based primary care and telehealth (phone-based) practitioners, emphasizing the importance of preventive care rather than reactive, emergency treatment.
Other provisions in the bill include increasing and expanding tax credits for homeowners to make their houses handicapped accessible; creating more transparency within the system to allow consumers to compare healthcare services; requiring funds from a tobacco settlement to go toward tobacco prevention and cessation programs; and encouraging further cooperation among state departments by creating a Health Cabinet that would oversee the Missouri HealthNet Oversight Committee.
Also receiving first-round approval this week was Senate Bill 1181, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Engler (R-Farmington). This is a wide-ranging bill relating to energy conservation and efficiency. A major component of the initiative strengthens the state’s minimum energy efficiency standard so it is at least as stringent as the latest version of the International Energy Conservation Code rather than the current standard of American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers Standard 90. Another component would require that the state, by 2016, use at least 10 percent renewable energy. By 2026, at least 20 percent of the electricity used by state government would come from renewable energy sources.
The bill also creates the "Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday,” which will take place between April 19 and April 25 each year. All sales of Energy Star-certified new appliances will be exempt from state sales tax and municipalities and counties may opt in at their choosing. Also, beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, every high school in the state is required to provide its students with instruction in certain environmental-related topics.
Senate Bill 738, sponsored by Sen. Gary Nodler (R-Joplin), also received a first-round vote. The bill places tougher penalties on recycling companies that convert animal parts into petroleum for repeat violations of Missouri’s air or water pollution laws. Any recycling company that violates any state pollution standard six or more times in a 12-month period or 12 times in a 36-month period would forfeit any air or water-related permits issued by the Department of Natural Resources.
The Senate adopted SCR 36, sponsored by
Sen. Tim Green (D-St. Louis), this week. The resolution condemns the actions of the United States Air Force in outsourcing jobs by failing to award the contract to replace the refueling tanker fleet to an American company.
Receiving final approval this week was Senate Bill 1172, sponsored by Sen. Jack Goodman (R-Mt. Vernon). Under current law, it is a class C felony for certain people, including dangerous felons, to possess a concealable firearm. The legislation expands the crime to prohibit such individuals from possessing an explosive weapon. Firearm silencers are also addressed in SB 1172, which allows licensed importers, manufacturers, dealers, or collectors to possess, manufacture, transport, repair, or sell a firearm silencer as a curio, ornament or keepsake. Also, the silencer does not have to be in nonfunctioning condition as it does under current law.
Senate Bill 1040, sponsored by Sen. Dan Clemens (R-Marshfield), also moves to the House after a second vote. Current law allows sewer districts and water districts in large counties and the city of St. Louis to receive grants and loans for storm-water control projects. This legislation limits grant and loan eligibility for sewer and water districts to only those considered "public." It also changes the requirements and procedures for grant and loan disbursement and allows the money repaid on loans to go toward future storm water control plans, studies, and projects.
Several bills already approved by the Senate were passed by their respective House committees this week. They include:
- Senate Bill 714, sponsored by Sen. John Loudon (R-Chesterfield), was passed by the House Crime Prevention & Public Safety Committee. It expands information included in the state’s sex offender registry, strengthens the severity of charges for sex crimes or attempted sex crimes against children and provides more protection for children from sexual predators.
- Senate Bill 748, sponsored by Sen. Luann Ridgeway (R-Smithville), was endorsed by the House Special Committee on Tax Reform. Last year, the General Assembly passed a law that put an end to tax breaks for non-residents who work in Missouri. Until then, non-residents, were able to deduct the property taxes they pay on their out-of-state homes when they itemize their Missouri income taxes. Senate Bill 748 narrows last year’s law by allowing property tax deductions for non-residents, but with one exception — the state of the non-resident must reciprocate for Missouri residents.
- Senate Bill 818, sponsored by Sen. Scott T. Rupp (R-Wentzville), was approved by the House Crime Prevention & Public Safety Committee. The bill expands the definitions of stalking and harassment, as well as emphasizes that such communication could be delivered by any means, including through computers or other electronic devices. Stiffer penalties would also be put in place for stalking and harassment — particularly for repeat offenders. Another provision requires school boards to create written policies to be used for reporting instances of harassment and stalking on school property.
- Senate Bill 931, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Purgason (R-Caulfield), was passed by the House Special Committee on Agri-Business. The bill makes participation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Animal Identification System voluntary and prohibits the Missouri Department of Agriculture from mandating that Missouri farmers are required to ID their livestock.
- Senate Bill 762, sponsored by Sen. Yvonne Wilson (D-Kansas City), was approved by the House Special Committee on Student Achievement. It expands the definition of “bullying” as it is used in school districts’ anti-bullying policies to include cyberbullying and electronic communications.
- Senate Bill 718, sponsored by Sen. Harry Kennedy (D-St. Louis), was passed by the House Special Committee on Job Creation and Economic Development. The bill extends the life of the Missouri Quality Jobs Act. The original legislation suspended the issuance of tax credits through the program as of last summer; SB 718 extends the tax credit program through August 30, 2013. It also increases the maximum amount of tax credits that can be issued under the act from $40 million to $60 million, as well as increases the tax credit maximums for several other state programs.
The Senate Judiciary Committee passed SB 1194, sponsored by Sen. Goodman, this week. Under current law, a person found guilty of forcible rape or sodomy of a child under the age of 12 receives a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole for 30 years. Senate Bill 1194 increases the penalty and makes the crime punishable by either death or life in prison, without parole, with one exception — an offender under the age of 18 would not receive the death penalty, but instead, life in prison without parole. The legislation also changes the procedures for any trial deciding a child rape case.
Also this week, five senators were appointed by Senate President Pro Tem Mike Gibbons (R-Kirkwood) to serve on the Appropriations Conference Committee, which will further discuss the state budget for fiscal year 2009. Senators Gary Nodler (R-Joplin), Robert Mayer (R-Dexter), Scott T. Rupp (R-Wentzville), Joan Bray (D-St. Louis), and Tim Green (D-St. Louis), will all serve on the conference committee that is charged with helping to reach a compromise between the two chambers on the Missouri budget. House Bills 2002 through 2013 will be discussed in the conference committee, which will also include five House members. The committee’s suggestions will then be sent to the General Assembly for approval by May 9 before moving to the governor’s desk.
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 28. The Second Regular Session of the 94th Missouri General Assembly will run through Friday, May 16.
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