Jefferson City — With a constitutionally mandated budget deadline on May 9, the Missouri Senate worked this week to pass the core budget bills. The final budget, which will arrive at the governor’s desk balanced and ahead of schedule, includes increased funding for K-12 schools, public colleges and universities, transportation, agriculture, health care and life sciences, among other areas.
House Bills 2002 through 2013, along with HB 2001 (passed in April), comprise the state budget for fiscal year 2009 (beginning July 1, 2008) and each allocate funds to specific programs and departments. For instance, HB 2002 appropriates money to elementary and secondary education, and provides a $121.3 million increase to fully fund the state’s Foundation Formula. The bill also increases funding for the A+ Schools Program by $3.5 million. House Bill 2003, the higher education budget bill, allocates an additional $43 million to help fund Missouri’s public two- and four-year colleges and universities and a $48.7 million increase for the Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program.
Other highlights of this year’s proposed budget include a 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment for state employees, a $7.5 million increase in spending for biodiesel subsidies, a $21 million increase for life sciences research, and a $483.3 million increase in funding for the Department of Transportation’s construction program to maintain our roads and infrastructure. Funding for health care services, such as an additional $7.4 million for autism services and $13 million to provide better access to health care for low-income women, was also included in the overall budget. As it stands, the total budget is $22.4 billion.
House Bill 2393, the “mega-project” tax credit initiative, was passed by the Legislature this week and now moves to the governor. The measure creates a “mega-project’ component under the Enhanced Enterprise Zone program, which provides tax credit incentives for companies to locate to Missouri. Bombardier, a Montreal-based company, is considering building a $400 million airplane assembly plant at Kansas City International Airport, which would employ approximately 2,100 workers paying an average annual wage of $63,000. Companies that qualify as a mega-project, such as Bombardier, would be allowed an income tax credit equal to a percentage of its new annual payroll for employees. To qualify, the company’s investment must be projected to exceed $300 million dollars and create at least 1,000 new jobs over a period of eight years. House Bill 2393 caps tax credits at $240 million over an 8-year period and requires the company to repay any tax credits issued by the state.
Senate Bill 830, sponsored by Sen. Maida Coleman (D-St. Louis), received final approval from both chambers. The measure limits the tuition a public Missouri university or college may charge to certain combat veterans to no more than $50 per credit hour for programs that culminate in either the earning of a certificate, or an associate or bachelor’s degree. For veterans to be eligible to participate in the program, they must have served in armed combat after September 11, 2001, been Missouri residents when they first entered the military, and been discharged from their service under honorable conditions.
House Bill 1779, a bill that deregulates the telecommunications industry, was also passed by the General Assembly. The bill seeks to increase competition in the telecom industry through limiting governmental control and offering non-traditional phone services such as voice over Internet protocol (VOIP), an Internet-based phone service mainly available through cable companies.
Senate Bill 724, sponsored by Sen. Delbert Scott (R-Lowry City), was passed by the Senate after a conference committee consisting of House and Senate members provided its recommendation. The bill gives qualified advanced practice registered nurses authority to prescribe controlled substances in schedules III, IV, and V while operating under a collaborative practice agreement. Senate Bill 724 also contains anti-meth provisions that further limit the sale of pseudoephedrines, a key ingredient in meth. Under current law, pharmacies are required to maintain a paper log and document any transactions where the customer purchases pseudoephedrine products — SB 724 requires pharmacies to upgrade to an electronic, rather than written log. The act also specifies that the photo ID provided by the buyer of pseudoephedrine products be issued by a state or the federal government and shown prior to the purchase. The bill now moves to the House for final approval.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 35, sponsored by Sen. Wes Shoemyer (D-Clarence), was adopted by the Senate this week. The resolution urges Congress to support the continuation of horse processing in the U.S. and offer incentives to help create horse processing plants throughout the country. It also encourages Congress to oppose two federal bills, S. 311 and H.R. 503, which relate to the slaughtering of horses and other equine animals for human consumption.
House Bill 1384 was passed by the Senate and now moves back to the House for approval of any changes made by the upper chamber. The initiative allows consumers who suspect they are victims of identity theft to request a “security freeze” or “lock” on their credit file to prevent anyone from trying to receive credit, loans or services in their name. Consumers would then be able to temporarily lift, or “thaw,” freezes when they want to make use of their own credit files, such as when applying for credit or loans. It also specifies that identity theft victims have the right to contact local law enforcement and request that an incident report regarding the identity theft be prepared and filed.
Wide-ranging legislation relating to weapons, House Bill 2034, was passed by the Senate and now heads back to the House for approval. A primary component of the bill protects owners of firearm ranges by shielding them from civil and criminal liability for noise emission. Another major provision removes residency requirements for concealed carry permits. Under current law, new residents must live in Missouri for six months before they can receive a permit. The new legislation waives the six-month requirement for those who already have a valid permit from another state. It also closes the records of those who filed with their county sheriff to receive a concealed carry permit, makes it a Class C felony for any felon to posses any firearm, and further defines “explosive weapons.”
Legislation that legalizes midwifery, SB 1021, was given first-round approval from the Senate this week. The bill, sponsored by Sen. John Loudon (R-Chesterfield), creates a Board of Professional Midwives within the Division of Professional Registration that has the power to issue professional midwife licenses. It also defines the practice of professional midwifery, requires that midwives carry medical malpractice insurance, and prohibits midwives from prescribing medications. A second vote sends the bill to the House for similar consideration.
Another bill receiving initial approval this week was SB 1099, which designates a portion of Missouri Route WW in Boone County as "Carl Edwards Drive.” The bill is sponsored by Sen. Chuck Graham (D-Columbia).
Several Senate Bills were passed by various House committees this week and are now eligible to be taken up for debate on the House floor:
- SB 761, an omnibus transportation bill sponsored by Sen. Bill Stouffer (R-Napton), was passed by the House Transportation Committee. Among other provisions, the bill issues restricted license plates for any person whose driver's license has been suspended, revoked, or disqualified for more than 60 days. It also establishes a drunk driving victim memorial sign program.
- SB 767, sponsored by Sen. Jack Goodman (R-Mt. Vernon), was passed by the House Judiciary Committee. The bill offers relief to Missouri’s overextended public defender system by implementing caseload maximums.
- SB 781, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Smith (D-St. Louis), was passed by the House Judiciary Committee. The bill modifies a variety of laws relating to property and landlord-tenant actions.
- SB 858, sponsored by Sen. Scott T. Rupp (R-Wentzville), was passed by the House Special Committee on Immigration. The bill institutes sweeping regulations regarding illegal immigration, particularly as it relates to employers who hire illegal workers, and drivers’ licenses, public benefits and public education for illegal immigrants.
- SB 1107, sponsored by Sen. Delbert Scott (R-Lowry City), was passed by the House Special Committee on State Parks and Waterways. The bill strengthens safety standards for operating watercraft on bodies of water in Missouri.
- SB 1181, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Engler (R-Farmington), was passed by the House Special Committee on Utilities. This wide-ranging energy efficiency and conservation bill requires the state to adopt a stricter minimum energy efficiency standard and imposes deadlines for the state regarding renewable energy. Beginning in 2016, at least 10 percent of the electricity used by state government must come from renewable energy sources, and beginning in 2026, at least 20 percent must come from renewable energy sources.
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 2 p.m. Monday, May 12. The Second Regular Session of the 94th Missouri General Assembly runs through Friday, May 16.
# # #
