General Column March 10, 2008

General Column – Week of March 10, 2008

Biodiesel Standard, Child Care Program Ratings Initially Approved by Senate

Senate passes expanded DNA testing and anti-meth bills on to House before leaving for mid-session recess

Jefferson City — The Missouri Senate worked on several key pieces of legislation this week, giving final approval to some measures and first-round approval to others. Among the topics discussed were biodiesel standards, ratings for child care programs and agricultural incentives.

Bills that received first-round approval include:

Senate Bill 759, sponsored by Sen. Bill Stouffer (R-Napton) requires most diesel fuel sold in Missouri to contain a 5 percent biodiesel blend. To ensure the cost effectiveness of implementing the standard, the Missouri Department of Agriculture must first determine that the average price of biodiesel has been equal to or less than the average price of traditional diesel for a full year. This bill is similar to last year’s ethanol standard that went into effect Jan. 1, 2008, and requires most Missouri gasoline to contain a 10 percent ethanol blend.

Senate Bill 726, sponsored by Sen. Charlie Shields (R-St. Joseph), creates a quality rating system for early childhood and before- and after-school programs. Parents can use the system to guide them toward the best care for their children. Senate Bill 726 would implement a quality rating system in addition to the current health and safety standards. The system would also provide a guideline to the state for awarding funding to the most qualified programs. By 2011, licensed child care facilities receiving quality improvement funds and services could be rated using the quality rating system. Quality improvement funds and services would be awarded according to a tiered system of reimbursement that would also be set by the General Assembly.

Senate Bill 898, sponsored by Sen. Dan Clemens (R-Marshfield), is an omnibus agriculture bill that promotes and expands Missouri’s ag industry. The bill creates tax incentives for farming operations participating in odor reduction activities, and tax breaks for costs related to agriculture, such as farm fencing and fuel. It also adds tax credits for constructing alternative fuel vehicle refueling centers, and for the purchase of E-85 gasoline and biodiesel, as well as a tax deduction for buyers of hybrid vehicles. Sen. Victor Callahan (D-Independence) introduced an amendment to SB 898 during floor debate that was later adopted. The amendment adds school buses to the list of items exempt from motor fuel tax.

Senate Bill 1116, sponsored by Sen. Rita Heard Days (D-St. Louis), issues an additional $40 million in bonds for certain water-related grants and loans: $10 million in bonds for water pollution control, improvement of drinking water systems, and storm water control projects; $10 million in bonds for rural water and sewer grants and loans; and $20 million in bonds for grants and loans for storm water control in first-class counties and St. Louis City.

Senate Bill 822, sponsored by Sen. Wes Shoemyer (D-Clarence), allows cities, towns, villages and counties to impose a property tax to fund cemetery maintenance.

A second vote moves these bills to the House for similar consideration.

Legislation that received final approval from the Senate this week includes:

Senate Bills 1034 & 802, sponsored by Sen. Rob Mayer (R-Dexter), seeks to curb the increase of copper theft in the state by requiring scrap metal dealers to obtain driver’s license and vehicle information from the people who sell them copper.

Senate Bill 732, sponsored by Sen. Norma Champion (R-Springfield), strengthens drug-monitoring regulations for pseudoephedrine products, a key ingredient in meth. This act mandates that pharmacies switch to an electronic, rather than written, log and that the real-time log include the signature of the buyer, the name of the product, and the date and time of the purchase.

Senate Bill 747, sponsored by Sen. Luann Ridgeway (R-Smithville), attempts to deter underage drinking in Missouri by placing tougher restrictions on minors and those who provide them alcohol. The act also prohibits the possession or use of alcoholic beverage vaporizers, devices that allow alcohol to move more quickly through the bloodstream.

Senate Bills 754 & 794, sponsored by Sen. Rob Mayer (R-Dexter), expands the state’s DNA profiling system by requiring juveniles found guilty of certain sex crimes and other felonies to provide a sample to the state’s DNA depository. The DNA profiling system is a tool that assists law enforcement agencies with the identification, investigation and prosecution of criminals.

Senate Bill 1059, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Engler (R-Farmington), creates civil and criminal penalties for mortgage fraud as well as imposes sanctions on certain licensed professionals and unlicensed individuals who commit the crime.

These bills now move to the House and if approved, to the governor’s desk for signing into law.

To follow these and other issues facing the Missouri Senate, visit www.senate.mo.gov. Visitors can track legislation as it passes through the General Assembly, learn more about their Senate district, or listen to streaming audio of legislative debate as it happens.

The Missouri Senate will reconvene at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 25. The Second Regular Session of the 94th Missouri General Assembly will run through Friday, May 16.

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