Entering the Final Stretch

The General Assembly has entered the final stretch of the 2023 legislative session, with just 21 remaining days of activity scheduled between Easter and adjournment on May 12. There’s a lot of work yet to be done as we finalize the Fiscal Year 2024 budget and try to get legislation passed and sent to the governor’s desk.

This week, several of my bills advanced through the legislative process. The House Special Committee on Tourism held a hearing on Senate Concurrent Resolution 7, my legislation to create a special commission to plan, promote and implement statewide celebrations and commemorations of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the United States of America. The House of Representatives has passed its own identical resolution creating the America 250 Missouri Commission.

Also receiving a hearing in the House this week was my Senate Bill 20. The House Committee on Pensions took testimony on this legislation, which modifies the terms of service for members of the Board of Trustees of the Missouri Department of Transportation and Highway Patrol Employees’ Retirement System.

As chairman of the Senate General Laws Committee, I invited testimony on four legislative proposals this week. One of those measures would not require the governor’s signature, but would go directly to the people. Senate Joint Resolution 42 would put a constitutional amendment before voters related to the office of county sheriff. It may be surprising to learn that the constitution does not currently describe the duties of sheriffs. If approved by voters, sheriffs would be established as the chief law enforcement officer of counties that elect them. The amendment says sheriffs would oversee all federal and state investigations in the county; and “quell and suppress assaults, batteries, riots, routs, affrays and insurrections.” Sheriffs would also “apprehend and commit to jail all felons and traitors.”

The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 402, which modifies the definition of “hospital” to include rural emergency hospitals designated by the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and House Bill 417, which allows the Department of Economic Development to disburse grants to qualifying employers that facilitate employees obtaining upskill credentials. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 647, legislation I sponsored to modify provisions of law relating to the Sheriff’s Retirement System.

As always, it is an honor to serve the 6th Senatorial District. If my office can be service to you, please feel free to contact us at 573-751-2076. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Bernskoetter.