JEFFERSON CITY — May 15, 2015, marked the end of the First Regular Session of the 98th General Assembly. In all, 55 Senate bills and 15 Senate Concurrent Resolutions made their way through the upper chamber and to the executive branch. In addition, 76 House bills and seven House Concurrent Resolutions were also successful. We will detail some of these measures this week and others next week.

Jobs

Among the measures introduced after a police shooting in Ferguson made national headlines is Senate Bill 5, sponsored by Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale. His proposal seeks to modify distribution of traffic fines and court costs collected by municipal courts.

This measure would replace the restrictions on annual general operating revenue from traffic fines. This provision would require the limit on annual general operating revenue from traffic fines to be reduced from 30 percent to 20 percent, effective Jan. 1, 2016 — except for municipalities with a fiscal year beginning on any date other than Jan. 1, in which case the reduction would begin on the first day of the immediately following fiscal year. St. Louis County and municipalities within that county would be restricted to 12.5 percent of annual general operating revenue from traffic fines.

If Senate Bill 5 becomes law, it would take effect on Aug. 28, 2015.

Agriculture

Senate Bill 12 is this year’s omnibus agriculture measure and is sponsored by Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown. This proposal features several items relating to farming in Missouri, including: updating rules relating to urban agricultural zones; the beef commodity merchandising program; the Missouri livestock marketing law; certified commercial pesticide applicators; weight limits on vehicles hauling milk and livestock; fuel labeling; foreign ownership of agricultural land; and a waiver of liability on livestock activity. Senate Bill 12 was signed by the governor on April 10 and will become law on Aug. 28, 2015.

Transportation

Several Missouri highways and bridges will receive new designations, thanks to Senate Bill 156, sponsored by Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis.

Portions of State Highway 115 in St. Louis, from the intersection of Natural Bridge Avenue and Salisbury Street west to the intersection of State Highway 115 and Jennings Station Road, would become the "Theodore McNeal Highway”; the Highway 19 bridge over the Meramec River in Crawford County, between the cities of Cuba and Steelville, would become the "Betty Vickers Memorial Bridge”; and the portion of U.S. Highway 160 in Ripley County in Doniphan would be known as the "Billy Yates Highway."

Additionally, the “Randy Bever Memorial Highway,” the “Jerry Corp Memorial Highway,” the Irwin C. Cudworth Memorial Bridge,” the “Ray-Carroll County Veterans’ Memorial Highway,” and the Veterans’ Memorial Expressway” would all become reality on Aug. 28, 2015, if Senate Bill 156 were to become law.

Small Business

Funeral expenses would be exempted from bankruptcy proceedings under a measure sponsored by Sen. Scott Sifton, D-Affton. Senate Bill 164 also seeks to modify insurance foreign investment limits, change the requirements for the valuation of reserves for life insurance and modify provisions regarding qualified spousal trusts. Senate Bill 164 would take effect on Aug. 28, 2015.

Seniors, Families and Children

Senate Bill 174, sponsored by Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, would establish the Missouri Achieving a Better Life Experience Program. Under the proposal, a participant could make tax-deductible contributions to an account established for the purpose of financing the qualified disability expenses of a designated beneficiary. Designated beneficiaries are people who are eligible individuals who are entitled to benefits based on disability or blindness under the Social Security Act and such blindness or disability occurred prior to turning 26. Those who would be certified as disabled would also qualify as eligible individuals. "Eligible individual" and "designated beneficiary" are both defined by reference to federal law. Senate Bill 174 would take effect on Aug. 28, 2015.

Senate Bill 244, also sponsored by Sen. Schmitt, would create the Senior Savings Protection Act. This measure would permit certain individuals to report the occurrence or suspected occurrence of financial exploitation of qualified adults and defines “qualified adult” as a person who is either 60 years of age or older, or has a disability as defined under current law and is between the ages of 18 and 59.

The bill would permit certain individuals to notify an immediate family member, legal guardian, conservator, co-trustee, successor trustee or agent — under power of attorney of the qualified adult — if they are of the belief that the qualified adult is, or may become, a victim of financial exploitation. It would also grant immunity from civil liability when complying with the provisions of this act with reasonable care and good faith. Senate Bill 244 has an effective date of Aug. 28, 2015, if it becomes law.

Ways and Means

A measure very important to Kansas City also awaits the governor’s signature. Senate Bill 190 seeks to remove the expiration of the Kansas City transportation sales tax and modify provisions relating to audits of transportation development districts. Currently, the Kansas City transportation sales tax will expire on Dec. 31, 2015. This proposal would extend the tax indefinitely if it becomes law.

Education

Students who attend one of Missouri’s historical colleges would benefit if Senate Bill 334 becomes law. Sponsored by Sen. Nasheed, this proposal would modify provisions relating to the boards of regents of state colleges and universities, and would broaden the degree-granting authority of Harris-Stowe State University.

This measure seeks to repeal provisions that limited state teachers colleges from conferring postgraduate degrees, except those necessary to the training of teachers or degrees other than those in education and arts and sciences. This bill would also broaden the degree programs that Harris-Stowe State University may offer. Currently, Harris-Stowe is only authorized to offer undergraduate degree programs with an emphasis on selected applied professional disciplines. This would authorize Harris-Stowe to offer baccalaureate degree programs and graduate degree programs, upon approval of the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. If approved by the executive branch, Senate Bill 334 would become law on Aug. 28, 2015.

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 May. 

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.