This week in the Missouri Senate was truly unique as we had the pleasure of welcoming an exceptionally large number of constituents and students from the 24th District to the Capitol.  Those visits were in addition to our usual work of hearing, debating and voting on legislation.

Monday afternoon, senators debated several bills on the Senate floor. Senate Bill 282, sponsored by Sen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa, would increase the penalties for traffic offenses and moving violations that occur within active emergency zones.  The act defines an emergency zone as one in which there are emergency responders on or around a highway and where incident removal or an active emergency is occurring.  Senators also debated Senate Bill 226, sponsored by Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia. The bill modifies provisions relating to the detention of a person for purposes of a mental health evaluation and treatment.  The bill adds the definition of “gravely disabled” and defines the same as a person who lacks judgment in the management of his or her resources and in the conduct of social relations such that his or her safety is harmed without the individual knowing the same. Both bills were perfected and third read in the Senate and now move to the House for similar consideration.

Tuesday morning, the Senate Seniors, Families & Pensions Committee met to hear and discuss several pieces of legislation. Committee members heard Senate Bill 355 sponsored by Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown, which would change the court surcharge collected in civil and criminal cases from $3 to $2 dollars while adding that a similar surcharge may also be collected in cases of municipal ordinance violations.  The committee also heard Senate Bill 312, sponsored by Sen. Paul LeVota, D-Independence.  The bill would prohibit a state employee or judge from collecting retirement benefits while employed full time by a city, county, village or town following retirement from the state or judiciary. The individual may resume collecting his or her retirement upon ending employment with the political subdivision.  Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 232, sponsored by Sen. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau, which relates to teacher pensions.  The bill would extend the sunset on a provision allowing teachers to retire with less than 30 years of service while also extending the sunset on a provision allowing teachers retiring after more than 31 years of service to use a higher multiplier when calculating retirement benefits.

Following Tuesday morning’s hearing, I had the opportunity to introduce two fourth grade classes from Drummond Elementary in St. Louis County to the Senate body. It is always a pleasure to welcome students to the Capitol and teach them about the legislative process.  I am always impressed by their knowledge and their eagerness to learn more about how the process works. The students from Drummond were no exception.

Following introductions on the Senate floor, senators debated Senate Bill 205, sponsored by Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville. The bill would require that children in the foster care system or the Division of Youth Services program and who are older than 15 years of age be given the opportunity to visit a state university or community or technical college before being adopted or aging out of the foster care system.  The bill states that visits should include a discussion of the entry application process, a discussion of financial support options, a discussion of career options, a campus tour and whatever other information the child would be interested in obtaining.  The bill states that such visits are not required if waived by the youth’s family support or treatment team.  The Senate also heard Senate Bill 256, sponsored by Sen. Ryan Silvey, R-Kansas City, which relates to the Safe Place for Newborns Act of 2002.  Currently, Missouri law allows a parent to relinquish his or her child without the fear of prosecution for children up to five days old so long as the child is left in the custody of staff members at a medical facility, or left with firefighters, law enforcement officials or emergency medical technicians.  Senate Bill 256 increases the number of days from five to 45 and includes maternity homes and pregnancy resource centers as permissible places to relinquish a child.  Both bills were given final approval in the Senate and now head to the House for similar consideration.

Following morning debate on the Senate floor, I had a chance to visit with students from Marion Elementary and St. Monica, both in St. Louis County. Thereafter, I met with constituents from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society who were in town for an advocacy day, as well as constituents in town to discuss the possibility of Medicaid expansion.

Senators returned to the Senate floor Tuesday afternoon to third read several bills.  Receiving a third reading motion in the Senate is the final hurdle a bill must pass before it moves to the House of Representatives to repeat the same process.  Following several third readings, the Senate thereafter adjourned for the evening.

Wednesday morning, I began my day in the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee before meeting with a second group of students from Drummond Elementary in St. Louis.  Thereafter, the Senate went back in to session to begin debating Senate Bill 366, a bill I am sponsoring this session, to provide relief for those who suffered from the Joplin tornado.  Senate Bill 366 would create the Rebuild Damaged Infrastructure Program, a mechanism by which the General Assembly can provide funding for the reconstruction, replacement, or renovation of, or repair to, any infrastructure damaged by a presidentially declared natural disaster in this state.  Although the devastating tornado that destroyed much of the city of Joplin occurred nearly two years ago, there are still many infrastructure needs within the city.  It is my hope that this bill will help provide Joplin with the funds needed to restore some of the basic infrastructure needs that are still lacking after the storm. After several hours of debate, the bill was laid over for discussion in the afternoon so senators could break to attend committee hearings.

Before returning to the Senate floor Wednesday afternoon to continue debate on the Joplin bill, I welcomed students from the College School in St. Louis to the Capitol.  The students arrived prepared to discuss several legislative topics.  We had a great debate on the issues before I returned to the Senate floor to continue work on Senate Bill 366 which ultimately was perfected by the Senate.

Thursday was a quick morning as senators third read several bills perfected earlier in the week before adjourning to allow members of the Senate Appropriations Committee time to meet and work through budget bills, which will become a major point of discussion over the coming weeks.  In addition to his hard work and dedication to crafting the best possible budget for Missouri, Appropriations Committee Chairman Sen. Schaefer continues his work of investigating the actions of the Missouri Department of Revenue.  In fact, the Senate Appropriations Committee will host meetings this weekend in Springfield and Kansas City.  Next weekend, the committee will host meetings in O’Fallon and Cape Girardeau.  These hearings are intended to be a public forum that will provide more information regarding what has been uncovered thus far while providing members of the community an opportunity to ask questions and better understand the situation.

Before concluding the column for the week, I want to take a moment to share with you a very special event I had the privilege to attend in the district last Saturday in honor of Lance Cpl. Matthew Clark, who lost his life serving this country in Iraq.  His mother approached me last fall about sponsoring a Heroes Way sign for Matthew to be displayed at Hwy 270 and Ladue in St. Louis County to help honor and remember him.  My office took the necessary steps to have the sign approved by the Legislature thanks to the great help and constant support from Matthew’s mother, Lee.  Last weekend, Matthew’s friends and family gathered for the unveiling of the sign.  The ceremony was one I will never forget.  The many stories that friends and family told about Matthew and his life were very touching.  I wanted to share this story with you because we never hear enough about those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for this country and our freedom.  I hope that the sign will be a way for all of us to remember Matthew and others like him every time we drive by the area.

Thank you for your interest in our work in the Capitol.  Best wishes to you and your families for a wonderful weekend.