Capitol Briefing for the Week of April 20, 2015
Missouri Senate Sends Budget to the Executive Branch

JEFFERSON CITY — With two deadlines looming, Missouri senators spent their week debating priority legislation on the floor of the Missouri Senate with many hours in committee, hearing testimony on measures that could be next for them to decide on the Senate floor. The First Regular Session of the 98th General Assembly will conclude at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 15, 2015.

After hours of debate, the Senate on Thursday (4-23) approved a number of recommended changes made during Senate and House conference deliberations on the budget. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, handled House Bills 1-13 in the Senate and highlighted several items in the $26.03 billion operating budget. A few of the highlights include increased funding for K–12 education and healthcare provider compensation, as well as new funding for adult Medicaid dental care. 

The Fiscal Year 2016 Missouri operating budget was sent to the executive branch two weeks ahead of its deadline of 6 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2015. Fiscal Year 2016 begins on July 1, 2015 and ends June 30, 2016. The governor now has 15 days to sign the budget measures, veto the budget measures in their entirety, veto line items or let the bills become law.

The following provides several of the programs and services increased in this year’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget:

  • $84.2 million for the Foundation Formula, with $10.1 million added during the Senate process: a total of $95 million more than what we had last year;
  • $3.25 million for the MO Charter Public School Commission;
  • $2.46 million for Parents as Teachers;
  • $12 million for Performance and equity funding increase for Higher Education Institutions;
  • $5.54 million for Equity funding for community colleges;
  • $2 million increase for the A+ Schools Program;
  • $1.5 million increase for ECHO Programs;
  • $3 million for the Kansas City Port Authority;
  • $700,000 for Amtrak operations;
  • $5.97 million for Biodiesel Incentives payments;
  • $375,204 for additional resources to conduct economic impact studies prior to implementing new water quality standards revisions;
  • $2 million new funding for the Urban Youth Academy in Kansas City;
  • $6.88 million increased spending authority for Second Injury Fund payments;
  • $28 million for the Victims of Crime Act;
  • $20 million for SEMA disaster funding;
  • $400,000 for STOP Violence Against Women;
  • $544,952 for new funding for a St. Louis reentry program;
  • $100,000 increase for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program;
  • $2.34 million for adolescent health funding;
  • $21.6 million for a 3 percent rate increase for all Department of Mental Health providers;
  • $11.7 million for a 3 percent rate increase for Home and Community Based Services providers;
  • $2.7 million for a 3 percent rate increase for Private Duty Nurses;
  • $3 million for a Family Support Partnership Program;
  • $1 million for treatment services for offenders;
  • $139.45 million additional funding for current program Medicaid costs;
  • $108.6 million additional funding for Pharmacy inflation and increased utilization;
  • $18.4 million additional funding for 2 percent provider rate increase for long-term care providers;
  • $14.9 million additional funding to restore dental benefits for prevention, restoration, maintenance and extraction for Medicaid eligible adults currently NOT receiving these services;
  • $14.9 million additional funding for Children’s Division Child Welfare Programs for cost-to-continue;
  • $10.9 million additional funding to increase reimbursement rates to Medicaid Primary Care providers; and
  • $10.8 million additional funding for a 3 percent provider rate increase for Children’s services and MO HealthNet providers.

Senators Send Legislation to the Executive Branch

On Tuesday (4-21), state representatives agreed with Missouri senators’ changes to House Bill 150, legislation that would modify the duration of unemployment compensation, the method to pay federal advances and raise the fund trigger causing contribution rate reductions. The proposal is sponsored by Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick, R-Shell Knob, and was handled in the upper chamber by Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City.

Currently, the maximum total amount of benefits any insured worker may receive during any benefit year must not exceed 20 times his or her weekly benefit amount, or 33 1/3 percent of his or her wage credits, whichever is lesser. This bill repeals that provision, instead tying the number of weeks a person may receive benefits to Missouri’s average unemployment rate: a maximum of 20 weeks if the unemployment rate is 9 percent or higher to a minimum of 13 weeks if the unemployment rate falls below 6 percent.

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Click here to listen to The Senate Minute from Monday, April 20, discussing House Bill 150.

Senators Advance Numerous Measures to the House for Consideration

Twenty-six bills were passed and sent to the House for further consideration. Bills moving to the House for additional action included:

  • Senate Bill 87, sponsored by Sen. Ed Emery, R-Lamar, requires persons who submit petitions for political subdivision audits to reside or own property in the subdivision and allows for signatures to be rescinded;
  • Senate Bill 141, sponsored by Sen. Mike Parson, Bolivar, raises 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;
  • Senate Bill 142, sponsored by Sen. Gary Romine, R-Farmington, requires the Department of Natural Resources to take certain actions when submitting plans the Environmental Protection Agency;
  • Senate Bill 145, sponsored by Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, requires health benefit plans cover diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders;
  • Senate Bill 314, sponsored by Sen. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau, classifies short term rental merchandise as inventory and exempt from property taxes;
  • Senate Bill 321, sponsored by Sen. Dan Hegeman, R-Cosby, allows victims of sexual assault to receive protective orders and modifies the definitions of sexual assault and stalking as they relate to orders of protection;
  • Senate Bill 354, sponsored by Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville, allows Department of Health and Senior Services to supply qualifying individuals with amino acid-based elemental formulas;
  • Senate Bill 366, sponsored by Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, modifies the provisions of the Missouri higher education savings program;
  • Senate Bill 369, sponsored by Sen. Pearce, authorizes the Governor to convey certain state properties;
  • Senate Bill 386, sponsored by Senate Minority Floor Leader Joseph Keaveny, D-St. Louis, modifies provisions relating to hemp extract;
  • Senate Bill 405, sponsored by Sen. Hegeman, raises the outer threshold amount for a county to be eligible to collect a greater percentage of the total taxes collected as a fee;
  • Senate Bill 416, sponsored by Sen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa, modifies provisions of law regarding the disposition of deceased human remains;
  • Senate Bill 430, sponsored by Sen. Shalonn “Kiki” Curls, D-Kansas City; requires cities, towns, and villages proposing to annex a portion of a state highway to also annex a specified portion of the area on either side of the highway;
  • Senate Bill 457, sponsored by Sen. Sater, modifies provisions relating to licensees under the Board of Pharmacy, contracts regarding maximum allowable cost lists used by pharmacy benefit managers, and the dispensing of emergency supply medication;
  • Senate Bill 474, sponsored by Sen. Wallingford, expands the Heroes Way Interchange Designation Program;
  • Senate Bill 476, sponsored by Sen. Kehoe, modifies provisions relating to the Department of Natural Resources;
  • Senate Bill 488, sponsored by Sen. Mike Cunningham, R-Rogersville, modifies provisions relating to mortgage loan originators;
  • Senate Bill 500, sponsored by Sen. Jeanie Riddle, R-Callaway County, modifies provisions relating to honey;
  • Senate Bill 517, sponsored by Sen. Wasson, modifies death certification laws to include advanced practice registered nurses, assistant physicians, and physician assistants;
  • Senate Bill 539, sponsored by Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla, allows the county commission, or a county officer designated by the county commission, to provide passport services if the circuit court clerk does not provide the services;
  • Senate Bill 561, sponsored by Sen. Wasson, allows certain offenses to be prosecuted in the county in which the victim resides or conducts business or where stolen property was located;
  • Senate Concurrent Resolution 13, sponsored by Sen. Curls, declares November 14, 2015, as Neuroblastoma Cancer Awareness Day;
  • Senate Concurrent Resolution 21, sponsored by Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield, applies to Congress for the calling of a convention to propose certain amendments to the United States Constitution which place limits on the federal government;
  • Senate Concurrent Resolution 24, sponsored by Sen. Jason Holsman, D-Kansas City, urges Congress to call an Article V Convention for the purpose of proposing amendments to the United States Constitution;
  • Senate Concurrent Resolution 35, sponsored by Sen. Schmitt, designates May 13, 2015, as Jump Day; and
  • Senate Concurrent Resolution 36, sponsored by Sen. Schmitt, discourages the Environmental Protection Agency from promulgating any rule regulating the use of individual propane gas barbecue grills.

For committee actions and to follow these and other issues before the Missouri Senate, visit www.senate.mo.gov. Visitors can track legislation considered by the General Assembly during the 2015 session, learn more about their legislative district and listen to streaming audio of legislative debate as it happens on the Senate floor.

The Missouri Senate’s Capitol Briefing will be distributed and posted weekly throughout session. 

For more legislative news, please visit the Senate newsroom at www.senate.mo.gov/newsroom, where you will find various audio and video programs and other informational services, such as:

This Week in the Missouri Senate – A weekly, audio program that wraps up the week’s news in the Missouri Senate. Programs are posted online every Friday in .mp3 format.
The Senate Minute– A condensed, one-minute audio report of current Senate news. Programs are posted in .mp3 format and are available through podcast.
This Date in Missouri Senate History – A feature that looks back at the impact made by the Missouri Legislature throughout the history of the Show-Me State. This feature is offered on a regular basis.

Daily Audio/Video Clips – Throughout the year, the Senate Newsroom posts broadcast-quality audio and video highlights from Senate committee hearings, floor debate, press conferences and other legislative events. Please note: Clips linked to this Capitol Briefing are only available for the legislative week referenced in the publication.