As we reach the halfway point of session, it is hard to believe how quickly the year has gone by. Since the beginning of January, I have been busy learning the rules of the Senate. These differ slightly from the rules of the House, which I was already familiar with. I have filed several bills this year, seven of which have been voted out of the Senate and have been sent to the House of Representatives for their consideration.
On Monday, March 12, I presented Senate Bill 1020 to the Missouri Senate Professional Registration Committee. This measure changes the rules governing coroners in our state. I also presented Senate Bill 971 to the Missouri Senate Seniors, Families and Children Committee on Wednesday, March 14. My proposal seeks to change provisions relating to the termination of parental rights.
The Missouri Senate approved 68 bills during the first half of the 2018 legislative session and sent them to the Missouri House of Representatives, including:
SB 549 – Reauthorizes the Missouri Works Training Program and Missouri Works programs
SB 563 – Modifies provisions relating to the MO RX Plan
SB 569 – Provides a trustee immunity from liability for the loss of trust property due to the investment decisions of another person or investment committee
SB 573 – Allows an income tax deduction for certain military personnel
SB 574 – Modifies mandated reporting requirements for abuse or neglect victims in long-term care facilities
SB 581 – Repeals provisions requiring a landlord to keep security deposits in a trust
SB 586 – Creates the Joint Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Awareness
SB 592 – Modifies several provisions relating to elections
SB 593 – Enacts provisions relating to financial solvency of insurance companies
SB 594 – Exempts certain types of commercial insurance lines from filing requirements with respect to rates, rate plans, modifications and manuals
SB 597 – Requires licensed chiropractors to be reimbursed for the provision of MO HealthNet services
SB 603 – Modifies provisions relating to virtual education
SB 608 – Modifies provisions regarding the liability of property owners when criminal conduct occurs on their property
SB 623 – Modifies provisions relating to foreclosure proceeds
SB 625 – Modifies certain sales and use tax exemptions
SB 626 – Extends the period during which an annual fee shall be collected from businesses dealing in petroleum products
SB 627 – Modifies provisions relating to agriculture
SB 631 – Creates a tax credit for contributions to certain benevolent organizations
SB 632 – Modifies provisions relating to tax credits for contributions to certain benevolent organizations
SB 718 – Modifies a provision relating to maintenance medication filled by pharmacists
SB 727 – Requires that the comprehensive state energy plan be reviewed by the Division of Energy by Jan. 1, 2019, and biennially thereafter, and updated if necessary
SB 743 – Authorizes the treasurer of a seven-director school district to use one or more sureties when entering into a bond to the state
SB 752 – Modifies provisions relating to boat passengers
SB 768 – Allows telephone companies to select an alternate method of property tax assessment
SB 769 – Modifies provisions relating to financial transactions by public entities
SB 773 – Modifies provisions related to income tax for certain nonresidents
SB 775 – Extends the sunset on certain healthcare provider reimbursement allowance taxes and modifies the hospital reimbursement allowance tax
SB 780 – Allows certain people to enter abandoned property to secure it, remove trash and graffiti and maintain the grounds and provides immunity from civil and criminal liability
SB 787 – Establishes the Missouri Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
SB 793 – Requires children under the age of 18 to be prosecuted for most criminal offenses in juvenile courts unless the child is certified as an adult
SB 800 – Modifies provisions relating to termination of parental rights and consent to adopt petitions in juvenile courts
SB 806 – Modifies various provisions regarding guardianship and conservator proceedings
SB 807 – Modifies provisions relating to degree offerings at public institutions of higher education
SB 814 – Modifies provisions relating to driver’s licenses for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing
SB 818 – Modifies provisions relating to Medicaid per diem reimbursement rates
SB 819 – Modifies provisions of law relating to foster care case management and criminal background checks
SB 826 – Modifies provisions relating to pharmacy, including drug disposal, prescription limitations for controlled substances and vaccine protocols
SB 882 – Modifies provisions of the Missouri Higher Education Savings Program
SB 892 – Modifies provisions of the retirement system for prosecuting and circuit attorneys
SB 894 – Establishes a statewide STEM career awareness program and enacts new provisions of law related to computer science
SB 918 – Prohibits political subdivisions from prohibiting working animals
SB 946 – Modifies provisions regarding powers of appointment and gifts in fraud of marital rights
SB 951 – Modifies provisions relating to hospital regulations
HB 1246 – Requires certain locations and businesses to post information regarding human trafficking
HB 1465 – Modifies provisions relating to degree offerings at public institutions of higher education
HB 1504 – Allows certain counties to pass ordinances regulating land surrounding National Guard training centers
HB 1531 – Provides an insurer who deposits the limits of coverage amount with the court shall not be liable for an amount in excess of such limits in an interpleader action
HB 1665 – Authorizes the granting of a visiting scholars certificate to teachers in public schools
As next week is the beginning of legislative break, I will be back in the district working and meeting with constituents. When the Missouri General Assembly returns to Jefferson City, we will have eight weeks to finish our legislative business, including passing the budget for Missouri’s next fiscal year.
Due to the number of visitors we receive from the district each week, I encourage you to call my office ahead of your visit to schedule an appointment. Seeing that next week is legislative break, there will be no Capitol Report.
Recent Visitors at the Capitol
2018 Senate Art Exhibit Winner (District 28)
Stephanie Pate, teacher; Senator Crawford; Katelyn Dixon,
Senior at Cole Camp High School; and Christel Dixon
MPBA’s FFA Speaking Contest in Lebanon
County Treasurers Pie Day at the Capitol
Rhonda Shelby (St. Clair Co. Treasurer) and Vonna Jones (Polk Co. Treasurer)
Young Bankers Day at the Capitol
Dylan Holloway (Bolivar), Kayla Roderick (Buffalo), Darci Wilson (Buffalo),
Devan Curbow (Pleasant Hope), Senator Crawford, Amber Lowrance Foote (Lebanon),
Ashley Harpham (Lebanon) and Jennifer Webster (Camdenton)
Brent Barnes, Funeral Director, Greenlawn Funeral Homes (Springfield); Senator Crawford; and Gregory Bird, Manager, Pitts Chapel (Bolivar)
Rachel Hayward (Sedalia), NAMI-National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Senator Crawford
Jordan Valley Community Health Center (Springfield)
Nick Pfannenstiel (Springfield), Senator Crawford, Melissa Wehner (Lebanon)
and Nikki Collier (Springfield)
Janelle Reed (Ozark, formerly of Dallas Co.) and Senator Crawford
Breckenridge Scholars
Senator Crawford and Shelby Henderson (Bolivar)
Central Bank of the Ozarks
Cathy Smith, Vice President Administration (formerly of Dallas Co.),
Mike Montana (Cedar Co.) and Amy Sharp (Polk, Co.)
Not Pictured: Marita Thomas (Hickory Co.)
I am honored to serve as your senator in the Missouri Senate. If, at any time, you have questions, concerns or ideas regarding state government, please feel free to contact me at (573) 751-8793 or Sandy.Crawford@senate.mo.gov.