According to the Missouri Constitution, no law passed by the General Assembly can take effect until 90 days after the adjournment of the session at which it was enacted, unless the act contains an emergency clause. For measures passed during the 2016 legislative session, that date is this coming Sunday, Aug. 28.
Senate Bill 997 is my comprehensive higher education bill that will help transform Missouri into a more supportive, creative and ultimately successful environment for our university, college and technical school students. Senate Bill 997 establishes multiple scholarship acts like the “15 to Finish Act,” the “Guided Pathways to Success Act,” and the “Wartime Veteran’s Survivor Grant,” which provides financial aid to the spouses and children of wartime veterans who were killed or injured in the line of duty. It also addresses public service loan forgiveness and allows for Missouri’s public two-year colleges to offer postsecondary course options to high school students.
Senate Bill 638 modifies several provisions relating to elementary and secondary education. It creates the “Missouri Civics Education Initiative” and calls for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop guidelines and a task force for addressing dyslexia in schools, among other provisions.
Senate Bill 814 is another bill of interest to the 21st Senatorial District. Under this measure, after Jan. 1, 2016, any income earned by an active-duty military member through their service can be deducted from their total state taxable income. The bill also applies to active duty incomes that are filed as a combined return with a spouse.
A number of important health care measures are also set to take effect Sunday. Senate Bill 579 modifies provisions relating to infection reporting of health care facilities and also expands telehealth or telemedicine services in Missouri. Telehealth is especially beneficial for residents of rural communities who do not always have easy access to specialists and advanced medical technologies.
Senate Bill 635 modifies various provisions relating to health care, including municipal hospital funding, vaccinations, dyslexia screening and support, CPR curriculum, palliative care, occupational therapy insurance and more.
Under Senate Bill 875, pharmacists will now be able to select a less expensive interchangeable biological product when filling a patient’s prescription order for a brand name biological product. It is our hope SB 875 will make it easier for Missourians to afford their prescription drug medications.
Senate Bill 665 modifies several provisions relating to agriculture. This bill reauthorizes the Qualified Beef Tax Credit until 2021 and creates the Meat Processing Facility Investment Tax Credit Act, which eligible taxpayers may claim for all tax years between 2017 and 2021. Additionally, SB 665 changes the “Farm-to-School Act” to the “Farm-to-Table Act” in order to help Missouri’s farmers and ranchers deliver their products to more institutions (hospitals, nursing homes, military bases, etc.) within our local communities.
Finally, three ethics bills passed by the Legislature this session have been signed by the governor and will also become effective on Sunday. House Bill 1979 imposes a six-month rule for lobbying by former members of the General Assembly, former statewide elected officials and former holders of an office that required Senate confirmation; the bill applies to all current and future legislators. House Bill 1983 specifies that no statewide elected official or member of the General Assembly shall serve as a paid political consultant. And House Bill 2203 will help curb corruption of campaign funds by requiring former public officials to dissolve their candidate campaign committees before registering as lobbyists. It also restricts former lawmakers from converting campaign funds into personal gains.
These are just a few of the measures that will benefit Missouri’s citizens and economy and have a positive impact on our future. For a complete list of bills passed during this session and the governor’s action on those measures, please visit www.senate.mo.gov, and click on “Governor’s Action on Truly Agreed Bills” under the Legislation tab.
As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or (573) 751-2272, or by fax at (573) 526-7381.
Senator David Pearce serves Caldwell, Carroll, Howard, Johnson, Lafayette, Livingston, Ray and Saline counties in the 21st State Senatorial District.