JEFFERSON CITY—When the 2009 legislative session came to a close last Friday (5/15), lawmakers had passed 162 of the more than 1,700 bills introduced in the Legislature this year (48 were Senate bills). As legislators return to their districts for the interim, the governor will consider each bill that has crossed his desk for signing into law in the coming weeks.
The General Assembly successfully passed legislation addressing some of the biggest issues of the year in the final days of session. By far, the most debated topic was economic development; lawmakers spent hours and days discussing a jobs bill designed to boost the state’s economy while instituting tax credit reform. On the last day of session, House Bill 191, handled in the Senate by Sen. John Griesheimer (R-Washington), was passed and sent to the governor.
The bill contains several provisions designed to create jobs and spur economic development while at the same time implementing tax credit changes, including increasing the annual cap on the Quality Jobs program from $60 to $80 million and increasing the annual cap on the Business Use Incentives for Large-Scale Development (BUILD) Tax Credit and New Markets Tax Credit programs from $15 million to $25 million.
The bill also expands the eligibility for the Neighborhood Assistance program, which provides assistance to community-based organizations, enabling them to implement community projects in the areas of community service, education, crime prevention, job training and physical revitalization.
Tax credit reform is also a large component of the bill, which contains a provision that limits the amount of tax credits the Missouri Development Finance Board can issue in a calendar year without outside approval at $10 million, while instituting a hard cap of $25 million, regardless of approval. House Bill 191 also caps historic preservation tax credits at $140 million, though smaller projects (those receiving less than $275,000 in tax credits) are not included in the cap amount. Finally, tax credit recipients will be required to report any jobs created resulting from the use of tax credits. Also, tax credit information must be made available to the public on the Missouri Department of Economic Development’s website and through the Missouri Accountability Portal .
Another portion of the bill helps encourage small business development by prohibiting increases for a four-year period in the user fees imposed by the state for obtaining small business licenses.
Education was another big issue this year with lawmakers sending a wide-ranging education bill that institutes some major reforms to the governor. Senate Bill 291, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields (R-St. Joseph), started as a single provision that allows school districts to offer virtual courses and receive state funding. The passed version of the bill is much more comprehensive.
One part of the bill fixes an error in the proposition passed last year that repealed the casino loss limits and provided extra revenue to public schools. The fix ensures that the money voters intended for schools to receive is properly distributed.
Senate Bill 291 also creates the Missouri Senior Cadets Program, which will provide opportunities for 12th graders in public schools to mentor kindergarten through eighth grade students; establishes the School Flex Program to allow eligible students to pursue a timely graduation from high school; and creates the Persistence to Graduation Fund and establishes a procedure for school districts to apply for grants to implement drop-out prevention strategies.
One of the more dramatic reforms included in the bill requires each public school to develop standards for teaching by June 30, 2010. This language was drawn from a bill originally sponsored by Sen. Yvonne Wilson (D-Kansas City). Another big change allows school boards to establish a four-day school week instead of a five-day school week by a majority vote of board members. Finally, the bill allows teachers in the St. Louis City School District to elect to be paid for performance.
For the first time in several years, the General Assembly passed an omnibus crime bill. House Bill 62, handled by Sen. Matt Bartle (R-Lee’s Summit), includes provisions that prohibit the use of a false or misleading college degree in connection with employment; create penalties for owners of dogs that cause injury and give an absolute defense against civil liability or prosecution for killing or injuring certain threatening dogs; and prohibit the use or possession of an alcoholic beverage vaporizer designed for rapid alcohol consumption.
One of the more heavily debated portions of the bill prohibits the use of beer bongs or other devices used for rapidly consuming alcohol on the state’s minor rivers. It also prohibits people from bringing kegs and other large volume alcohol containers on a river or possessing certain coolers within 50 feet of a river.
House Bill 62 expands the crime of cattle rustling by requiring any person who steals animals or livestock worth more than $3,000 and who has pleaded guilty to this offense before to serve at least 80 percent of the sentence before being eligible for probation or parole.
Finally, the legislation contains language from a bill sponsored by Sen. Ryan McKenna (D-Crystal City) that would prohibit those under the age of 21 from text messaging while driving on Missouri roads.
Other major bills that passed during the 2009 legislative session will be discussed in future columns.
The Missouri Senate General Column is written on a regular basis. To follow these and other issues being addressed by the Missouri Senate, visit www.senate.mo.gov . Visitors can research legislation, learn more about their Senate district, and watch video or listen to audio highlights of the First Regular Session of the 95th General Assembly.
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