This week marked our fifth full week in session.  Though the weather was less than cooperative, we were able to accomplish quite a bit.

Monday afternoon, senators returned to the floor to debate Senate Bill 492 which would require the development of a funding model for higher education institutions in Missouri.  The institutions would be required to work with the Department of Higher Education to develop the model that then would need to be approved by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education (CHBHE). The core funding for each institution would be set at a particular level for the 2015 fiscal year.  Each following year, that amount would be adjusted in accordance with the model developed.  At least 90 percent of the increase an institution could receive would be based on institutional performance measures, while no more than 10 percent would be distributed to address inequitable state funding on a per student or a per credit hour basis.  The bill includes a provision stating that the Coordinating Board must evaluate and, if determined necessary, revise the performance component every three years. Senators debated the legislation for several hours before laying it over for consideration at a later time.

Tuesday morning began with a meeting of the Senate Seniors, Families and Pensions Committee where senators heard three bills sponsored by Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City. The first of those bills was Senate Bill 564 which would encourage long-term care facilities to develop policies that encourage family involvement in the process to help support residents.  Senate Bill 567 was also heard in committee. The bill requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to create an adult day care program manual that would provide guidance on how to operate such programs. The third and final bill heard in committee was Senate Bill 570, a bill that would repeal several provisions of law relating to immigration in the state of Missouri. The bill generated a lot of discussion regarding the intent of the language when it was originally passed versus the current need for such language.  The discussion was very thoughtful and productive.

Following the committee hearing, senators returned to the Senate floor to consider several pieces of legislation heard by the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee. Senators gave first-round approval to several of the bills before adjourning for the day to allow committees an opportunity to meet.  

Wednesday morning began with another meeting of the Gubernatorial Appointments Committee which met to consider several of the governor's appointees to state boards and commissions. Thereafter, senators returned to the floor to debate a bill that sets forth new circumstances to use in determining when a parent is considered unfit to be a party to the parent and child relationship, thus terminating his or her parental rights, when there has been a specific pattern of parental abuse.  After an hour of discussion the bill was laid over for consideration at a later date. Following the debate on Senate Bill 530, senators took up Senate Bill 518, a bill that would expand managed care statewide. That bill was also laid over for later consideration.

Following the morning session, the Senate Jobs and Economic Development and Local Government Committee met to consider five different bills, including legislation that would allow for the sale of malt liquor, and legislation allowing counties to determine whether or not the role of prosecutor should be a full or part-time role within the county.

Following the committee hearing, I had an opportunity to meet with representatives from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and constituents in town with the St. Louis Zoo. I was happy all were able to make it to the Capitol despite the bad weather.  Wednesday evening, senators returned to the floor to further debate SB 518 which was eventually laid over for consideration at a later date.

Thursday morning, I attended a meeting of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Following the hearing, senators returned to the Senate floor where they engaged in a long debate about gubernatorial appointees and the responsibility of the Senate to confirm or deny those appointees.  Thereafter, senators took final votes on several pieces of legislation, thereby sending them to the House for similar consideration.

Before concluding for the week, I would like to take an opportunity to introduce you to the third and final intern working in my office this session.  Braden Smith is a freshman Walter Williams Scholar at the University of Missouri-Columbia where he is studying political science and journalism.  He is from Tampa, Florida, but calls Kansas City his hometown.  Braden will spend the session working on a variety of topics, including tax policy, education policy, and adoption laws in Missouri.  I am very fortunate to have such a talented group of interns in my office this session. 

Thanks for your continued interest in our work here at the Capitol.  I look forward to sending an update next week.

Sincerely,