The Missouri Senate returned to work on Monday and went directly into a debate of the Fiscal Year 2014 state operating budget.  For hours, senators debated 13 bills, each of which contained budgets for various state departments the state funds through the general revenue it collects.  Some of the major differences to this year’s budget include a $66 million increase in funding for the state’s foundation formula which funds elementary and secondary education through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, commonly referred to as DESE.  The budget also includes an increase in funding for the state’s public colleges and universities.  The final budget also includes increases in funding for Developmental Disabilities’ providers and additional funding for regional autism projects, while eliminating some funds for the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) in light of the recent investigation into the scanning and retaining policies for licenses and carrying a concealed weapon (CCW) permits. These items are just a few of the many ideas contained in the budget passed by the Senate.  I encourage you to visit the Missouri Senate’s website at www.senate.mo.gov, or contact my office directly if you would like any additional details.  It is important to note that the budget passed by the Senate this week will have to be compared to that of the Missouri House and both budget committee chairs will have to work together to reconcile differences over the remaining weeks of session in order to achieve a balanced budget. 

After debate late into the night and early Monday morning, senators returned Tuesday morning for constituent meetings and committee hearings. I had the pleasure of meeting with several constituents from the district, including a group from the Missouri Academy of Physicians, before heading to a hearing of the Senate Seniors, Families and Pensions Committee.  The committee met to hear a full docket of five bills, including House Bill 442, sponsored by Rep. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, which would add a professional therapy dog to the definition of service dog.  A professional therapy dog is defined as a dog that is trained and tested to provide therapeutic functions under the direction of a qualified handler who works as a team with the dog as part of his or her profession or occupation.  Other bills presented included legislation relating to the retirement fund of prosecuting and circuit attorneys, the Kansas City Police Retirement System, the St. Louis Police Retirement System and legislation relating to the benefit system for employees of higher education institutions.

Tuesday afternoon, the Senate returned to debate on the Senate floor and took up House bills on third reading, meaning that the bills only require final debate and a vote in the Senate before passing the chamber.  One such bill was House Bill 68, sponsored by Rep. Mike Kelley, R-Lamar, which would designate November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in Missouri. I carried this bill in the Senate and appreciated the opportunity to discuss just how serious pancreatic cancer truly is. Though it is the fourth leading cancer killer and has a low rate of survival once diagnosed, it continues to be one of the least funded. Projections show that by 2020, pancreatic cancer will move from the nation’s fourth to the second leading cause of cancer deaths. I hope this legislation will do a part in helping to increase awareness of the cancer and hopefully encourage an increased look at possible cures. Tuesday afternoon, I also had the pleasure of introducing students from the Christ Prince of Peace Parish in St. Louis County to the full Senate body.  The students enjoyed a full-day visit to the Capitol where they had the opportunity to take a tour of the Capitol and visit the Missouri Supreme Court, among other stops.  Shortly after the introduction, the Senate adjourned for the evening.

On Wednesday morning, I attended the Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Committee meeting before returning to debate on the Senate floor which focused mostly on bills pertaining to education. After the morning debate, I attended a meeting of the Senate Jobs and Economic Development Committee before meeting with several constituents in town for the day.  When the Senate returned to debate on the floor Wednesday afternoon, senators discussed Senate Bill 437, sponsored by Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, which would create a new model for calculating how higher education institutions are funded in the state. That proposal would base the funding on both costs and outcomes.  Another bill, Senate Bill 378, also sponsored by Sen. Pearce, would modify the A+ Program, the Bright Flight Scholarship Program and the Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program. Both bills were perfected by the Senate. 

Also on Wednesday, the Senate took up and debated Senate Bill 133, sponsored by Sen. Joseph Keaveny, D-St. Louis. The bill would provide state funding through the foundation formula for students between the ages of 3 and 5 who are eligible for free and reduced lunch.  The funding would be given to a school district or charter school that has declared itself as a local educational agency.  In order to qualify, the district or charter school must provide full-day kindergarten classes and meet standards developed by the State Board of Education. The bill was eventually placed on the informal calendar to be brought up for debate at a later date.  The Senate adjourned for the evening shortly thereafter.

Thursday morning I attended a meeting of the Senate Ways & Means Committee.  The Committee heard testimony on Senate Joint Resolution 24 which would, upon voter approval, amend the constitution to prohibit the collection of franchise taxes and corporate income taxes after Jan. 1, 2017.  The bill also states that the state sales tax should be set at 4 percent.  In addition to SJR 24, the committee also heard the House Committee Substitute for House Bill 128 sponsored by Rep. Chrissy Sommer, R-St. Charles, which would allow county collectors to electronically transmit a statement of all real and tangible personal property tax due to residents within the county.  The statement would be transmitted to the address the taxpayer provides and such address would be a closed record under the Open Meetings and Records Law, commonly referred to as the Sunshine Law.

Following Thursday morning’s committee hearing, senators returned to the floor to third read bills, thereby giving them final approval so they may now move the House of Representatives for similar consideration.  After adjourning for the day, I returned to St. Louis to take part in a forum on the Common Core State Standards Initiative. For those of you who have followed previous columns I’ve written this session, I filed Senate Bill 210, relating to the Common Core State Standards.  The bill is designed to educate the public on exactly what Common Core is by providing open forums where members of DESE can explain the standards in greater detail and solicit feedback from those present.  I am hopeful the bill passes the Legislature this session so the public can get a better idea of the standards before they are fully implemented.

Before concluding I want to take an opportunity to make you aware of a meeting being held in the St. Charles area this weekend.  On Saturday morning, at 10:00 a.m., at the Christian High School Commons Area located at 1145 Tom Ginnever in O’Fallon, Mo., Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, will discuss the current status of the investigation surrounding DOR and its release of confidential personal information.  Senator Schaefer has worked very hard to investigate this issue and will be present to answer questions from those who attend.  If you have time to stop by, I highly recommend you doing so to learn more about the situation from someone who has been a great advocate for the people of Missouri.

As always, thank you for your continued interest in our work at the Capitol. I hope you and your families have a wonderful weekend.