School Transfer Bills Moving

This week, the Senate and House each debated measures relating to our state’s student transfer law. The legislation seeks to address ongoing student transfer issues and how the state handles failing school districts, among other provisions. The issue was pegged as a top priority by the Senate and education advocates this year. In 2014, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle came together, worked through numerous differences and passed bipartisan legislation that contained answers to many of the problems regarding unaccredited school districts. Unfortunately, the governor vetoed the measure and that’s why lawmakers are spending so much time on the issue this year. I’m certain the General Assembly will pass a bill again this session, and hopefully the governor will approve the legislation so our students and school districts can recover.

We began debate this morning on S.B. 330. This bill would allow bonds, issued by the State Board of Public Buildings, to be used for new construction state projects.  Senate Bill 330 gives Missouri a chance to fix and upgrade some of our state’s most valuable resources, our state buildings and parks.

Additionally, Senate Bill 131 previously approved by the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee was approved be the full Senate on Thursday morning. The bill simply adds livestock to the current milk exemption for weight limitations on our highways and gives our agriculture community some extra room to operate in a highly competitive market.

One of my sponsored bills, Senate Bill 141, was voted do pass by the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee this week. The bill would raise the amount the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund can pay to eligible victims and provides that the Public Safety Department can negotiate costs on behalf of victims. The bill is now ready for debate on the Senate floor, and I look forward to having a discussion about the measure.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, or if you would like to find out what’s going on in your State Capitol, feel free to contact my office.