HS/SCS/SB 561 - UTILITY BILLS - This act requires any utility providing telephone, sewer, water, gas or electric service to provide bills in Braille or large type upon request.

Similar provisions are contained in the TAT version of HB 1088.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY - This act transfers control of the Missouri Assistive Technology Council to the Office of Administration when federal funds are reduced by 25%. The council is required to work with the Office of Information Technology to assure that all technology information is accessible to individuals with disabilities.
OTTO FAJEN

HA 1 - ADDS HB 1086 WHICH REQUIRES THE DIVISION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE VISION SPECIALISTS AT EACH REGIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER. THE VISION SPECIALIST WILL SERVE VISUALLY IMPAIRED CHILDREN, MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO SCHOOLS USING ASSESSMENTS PROVIDED BY THE STATE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND OVERSEE A SHORT-TERM LOAN PROGRAM FOR ASSISTIVE EQUIPMENT.

THE HA ALSO ADDS HB 1087 WHICH PERMITS BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS TO RECEIVE INSTRUCTION IN COMPUTER-AIDED READING AS PART OF THEIR INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLANS (IEPS). INSTRUCTION IN ASSISTIVE COMPUTING TECHNOLOGY MUST BE SUFFICIENT TO ENABLE STUDENTS TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY AT THE LEVEL OF COMPARABLE SIGHTED STUDENTS. A STUDENT'S IEP MUST SPECIFY HOW SUCH TECHNOLOGY IS TO BE EMPLOYED, THE PERIOD OF INSTRUCTION, AND THE GOAL FOR READING COMPETENCY.

HA 2 - ADDS LANGUAGE SIMILAR TO THE TAT PROVISIONS OF SS/SCS/HB 1038 REGULATING HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING (HVAC) SERVICES PROVIDED BY REGULATED UTILITIES AND THEIR AFFILIATES.

HA 3 - REMOVES CERTAIN DUTIES OF THE MISSOURI ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COUNCIL INCLUDING ESTABLISHING ACCESS STANDARDS AND REVIEW PROCESSES AND CHANGES THE COUNCIL'S DUTY FROM "ASSURE" TO "FACILITATE" FOR OTHER DUTIES.

HA 4 - ADDS SB 566 WHICH REVISES CERTAIN PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS BY REGULATED UTILITIES. THE STATE PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE FEDERAL NATURAL GAS PIPELINE SAFETY ACT OF 1986 IS INCREASED TO MATCH THE FEDERAL PENALTY WHENEVER SO REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW. THE MAXIMUM FEDERAL PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS OF SUCH SAFETY STANDARDS IS A FINE OF UP TO $10,000 PER VIOLATION, LIMITED TO $500,000 PER RELATED SERIES OF VIOLATIONS.

HA 5 - ADDS LANGUAGE SIMILAR TO SB 628 AND HB 1143 WHICH PERTAINS TO ENHANCED 911 (E911) TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDED BY WIRELESS (CELLULAR) SERVICE PROVIDERS. THE AMENDMENT ESTABLISHES THE WIRELESS SERVICE PROVIDER ENHANCED 911 ADVISORY BOARD. THE AMENDMENT ESTABLISHES THE WIRELESS SERVICE PROVIDER ENHANCED 911 SERVICE FUND. THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION MAY ESTABLISH A FEE, IF APPROVED BY VOTERS, OF FIFTY CENTS PER MONTH UPON EVERY WIRELESS TELEPHONE NUMBER IN THE STATE. THE OFFICE SHALL DISTRIBUTE THE FUNDS TO WIRELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS AND PSAPS TO IMPLEMENT AND OPERATE THE ENHANCED 911 SYSTEM.

A BALLOT MEASURE SHALL BE PLACED BEFORE THE VOTERS OF THE STATE FOR APPROVAL OF A FEE OF UP TO FIFTY CENTS PER MONTH UPON ALL WIRELESS TELEPHONE NUMBERS IN THE STATE. THE ISSUE SHALL BE SUBMITTED UPON THE NOVEMBER 1998 GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT OR AT A SPECIAL ELECTION CALLED FOR THAT PURPOSE BY THE GOVERNOR. IF APPROVED BY VOTERS, THE FEE SHALL TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 1, 1999 OR ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE FIRST MONTH BEGINNING AT LEAST THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE APPROVAL OF THE BALLOT ISSUE.

THE AMENDMENT CONTAINS AN EMERGENCY CLAUSE.

HA 6 - ADDS SB 613 WHICH, WITH VOTER APPROVAL, WOULD ALLOW CERTAIN FIRST CLASS COUNTIES, CURRENTLY INCLUDING ST. LOUIS COUNTY, TO IMPOSE A FEE NOT TO EXCEED ONE DOLLAR PER MONTH UPON WATER SERVICE LINES PROVIDING WATER SERVICE TO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY HAVING FOUR OR FEWER DWELLING UNITS TO FUND REPAIRS OF SUCH LINES. THE FUNDS COLLECTED SHALL BE DEPOSITED IN A SPECIAL ACCOUNT AND USED ONLY FOR PAYING FOR THE COSTS OF WATER SERVICE LINE REPAIRS AND, IF FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE, PAYING THE COSTS OF SERVICE LINE REPAIR, REPLACEMENT OR RELOCATION MADE NECESSARY BY PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY IMPROVEMENTS.

THE COUNTY MAY CONTRACT WITH ANY PROVIDER OF WATER SERVICE TO BILL AND COLLECT THE FEES. THE COUNTY MAY ESTABLISH REGULATIONS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM. THE COUNTY MAY ADMINISTER, OR CONTRACT TO ADMINISTER, ANY PART OF THE PROGRAM.

A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION WHICH IMPOSES A FEE FOR SEWER SERVICE LATERAL LINE REPAIR MAY USE SUCH REMAINING REVENUES, AFTER ALL SEWER LATERAL LINE REPAIRS ARE MADE, TO OFFSET THE WATER SERVICE LATERAL LINE REPAIR FEE FOR CUSTOMERS IN THAT POLITICAL SUBDIVISION.

HA 7 - ADDS SB 921 WHICH PROVIDES THAT WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS CONTRACTS FOR COLLECT CALL TELEPHONE SERVICE FOR CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, THE BID WHICH IS ACCEPTED MUST BE THE LOWEST AND BEST BID BASED UPON THE COST TO RECIPIENTS OF THE CALLS. THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS MAY RENEGOTIATE EXISTING CONTRACTS TO REDUCE COSTS TO CALLED PARTIES.

HA 8 - ADDS HB 1923 WHICH REQUIRES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER BY WHICH CITIZENS MAY CONTACT THEIR STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS.