The 2013 legislative session came to a close Friday, May 17. The Senate and House worked together to approve a budget for the state of Missouri. The Senate is committed to passing a balanced budget, unlike Congress, which has failed to even pass a budget in more than four years. I am happy to report this budget includes a historic funding increase for education in both K-12 and higher education. We also eliminated a great deal of waste in our state government.

Below you’ll find a breakdown of some of the 13 bills that make up our state budget and notable funding items in each piece of legislation.

General Highlights

• The budget passed by the House and Senate is balanced.
• A $500 annual salary increase for all state employees beginning in January 2014.
• Across-the-board reductions for in- and out-of-state travel.
• Agencies received funding based on whichever was lower—actual spending from FY 2012 or their FY 2014 request for funding.

House Bill 2 – Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

• A $66 million increase of the K-12 foundation formula, bringing the total amount appropriated for K-12 education in Missouri to $3 billion.
• A $3.4 million increase for the Missouri Preschool Program.
• A $2.4 million increase in funding for the Vocational Rehabilitation Program.

House Bill 3 – Higher Education

• A $66 million increase to the Access Missouri Financial Assistance Fund.
• A $25 million increase in state funding for Missouri’s public colleges and universities.
• $10 million to fund the expansion of the University of Missouri-Columbia Medical School.
• A $2.4 million increase in funding for the Bright Flight Scholarship Program.
• A $1 million increase for the A+ Schools Program.

House Bill 4 – Department of Revenue and the Department of Transportation

• The final version of the FY 2014 spending plan cut the Division of Motor Vehicles’ budget by one-third, from the $3.54 million they requested to $536,275. This budget includes enough funding for 8 months. If the agency ceases copying and retaining source documents before the Legislature reconvenes in January 2014, it will receive funding for the remainder of the fiscal year.  
• A $10 million increase in Lottery funds for education.

House Bill 7 – Department of Economic Development, Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration and Department of Labor and Industrial

• A $5 million increase in funding for the Missouri Technology Corporation.
• $1.3 million in new funding for the Missouri Export Initiative.
• $200,000 of funding for the World War I memorial.

House Bill 8 – Department of Public Safety

• $85.5 million in additional federal appropriation authority for pass through disaster funding.
• A total of $73.2 million to fund Missouri’s seven veterans’ homes.
• $2 million to fund the MoSMART Board for grants related to CCW permits.
• $1.6 million to fund the Veterans Service Officers programs.
• $812,000 to the Highway Patrol for 10 full-time employees for the Rural Crimes Unit.

House Bill 9 – Department of Corrections

• An additional $150 salary increase for Correction Officer I’s & II’s, which is an increase over the House recommendation, beginning July 1, 2013.

House Bill 10 – Department of Mental Health, Department of Health and Senior

• A $43.7 million increase in funding for programs and services.
• $35.3 million in additional funding for a 3 percent provider rate increase.
• $14.6 million in additional federal funding to strengthen the Missouri Mental Health system.
• $12.6 million in funding for Medicaid Home and Community Based Services
• $1 million in additional general revenue funding for the five Regional Autism Projects.

House Bill 11 – Department of Social Services

• A $68.9 million increase in funding for a new eligibility and enrollment system.
• $66.2 million in additional funding to maintain the current Medicaid program.  
• $53.2 million in additional funding for an increase in Medicaid managed care providers’ cost-to-continue, inflation and utilization.
• $52.6 million in additional federal funding to increase reimbursement rates to Medicaid Primary Care Providers to bring rates equal to Medicare reimbursement rates.

Next week will be my last newsletter for the 2013 legislative session. It will include an update on legislative actions from this session.

Thank you for your continued interest in the issues that affect the citizens of Boone and Cooper counties. I will continue working on your behalf during the interim, and I look forward to the next legislative session. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact my office.

Did you know...?

Missouri’s Capitol was chosen by USA Today as having the most beautiful interior out of all 50 state capitols.