JEFFERSON CITY—With slightly more than three weeks remaining in the legislative session, the General Assembly worked this week to advance as many bills as possible. The Senate brought several House bills to the floor and returned a handful back to the other chamber for approval.
To recap the process by which a bill becomes a law, a bill cannot pass without agreement from both chambers. For instance, if a bill is passed by the Senate, it is sent to the House where it goes through a similar process involving a committee hearing and vote before it can be brought to the floor. If the bill is passed by the majority of the House and if any changes are made to the Senate’s version of the bill, it must return to the Senate for approval.
If the Senate approves of the House’s changes, the bill is declared passed, at which point it can be sent to the governor’s desk. If the Senate doesn’t approve, the bill must be worked out in a conference committee, which consists of both Senate and House members. After a negotiated version of the bill is agreed upon, the bill returns to the originating chamber—in this case the Senate—and then the House, for final passage. After it is passed, the bill moves to the governor’s desk for his signature. Some bills have specified enactment dates, but the majority take effect on Aug. 28 of any given year.
The budget bills (House Bills 2–13) were officially sent to a conference committee this week. These are 12 of the 13 bills that make up the fiscal year 2010 budget (House Bill 1 has already been passed by both chambers). Conference committee members will work to resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions of the budget before a negotiated version returns to both chambers for approval.
Senators appointed to the budget conference committee by Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields (R-St. Joseph) include Sen. Gary Nodler (R-Joplin), Sen. Rob Mayer (R-Dexter), Sen. Joan Bray (D-St. Louis), Sen. Tim Green (D-St. Louis), and Sen. Scott T. Rupp (R-Wentzville). They will join five House members to form the 10-member committee.
Listen to the Senate Minute’s report on the budget.
Several House bills were passed by the Senate this week and now return back to the House for approval. One such bill was House Bill 91 , handled in the Senate by Sen. Chuck Purgason (R-Caulfield), which establishes an interstate interchange designation program to honor the fallen Missouri military service men and women who have been killed in action while in Afghanistan or Iraq on or after September 11, 2001. It also establishes a drunken driving victim memorial sign program and designates several roads and bridges in Missouri.
House Bill 395 , handled by Sen. Bill Stouffer (R-Napton), was also approved by the Senate. The bill, which addresses several issues relating to health and senior services, requires that sprinkler systems be installed in newly renovated areas of long-term care facilities. It also increases the personal needs allowance for residents of long-term care facilities from $30 per month to $50 per month at an increase of $5 annually over a period of time.
After significant debate, House Bill 661 , also handled in the Senate by Sen. Stouffer, received a passing Senate vote. The measure allows the state to continue collecting a fee from new tire retailers that sell new tires in Missouri until January 1, 2015. Under current law, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources can use up to 25 percent of its portion of the tire fees to remove tires from illegal tire dumps and address the nuisances they create. The measure increases the percentage of funding that may be used for these purposes to 50 percent.
A Senate substitute for House Bill 259 , handled by Sen. Kevin Engler (R-Farmington), was passed by the Senate. The bill modifies the state’s prompt pay laws relating to health insurance claims. If a health carrier has not paid a claimant within 45 processing days (versus the current 45 calendar days) from the date of the receipt of the claim, the health carrier must pay the claimant interest and a penalty.
House Bill 272 , handled by Sen. Rita Heard Days (D-St. Louis), was also passed by the Senate. The bill establishes the Alzheimer's State Plan Task Force within the Department of Health and Senior Services to assess and address the impact of Alzheimer's disease and dementia on state residents.
The Senate gave final approval to a bill that requires health insurance carriers to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder to individuals under the age of 18. Senate Bill 167 , sponsored by Sen. Rupp, prohibits health carriers from denying or refusing to provide coverage to an individual or their dependent solely because the individual is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
Receiving a final passing Senate vote was Senate Bill 335 , also sponsored by Sen. Rupp. The measure makes changes to Missouri’s motor vehicle financial responsibility law, including strengthening penalties for auto insurance fraud. Any person who intentionally produces, manufactures, sells, or otherwise distributes a fraudulent document intended to serve as an insurance identification card would be guilty of a class D felony; any person who knowingly or intentionally possesses a fraudulent insurance ID card would be guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
Also this week, the Senate gave a final vote of approval to SB 363 , sponsored by Sen. John Griesheimer (R-Washington). The measure allows Missouri auto dealers to title and register the vehicles and trailers they sell and lease. The dealers would also be able to collect and submit sales tax on vehicles.
MO HealthNet data may soon become more easily accessible after SB 549 , sponsored by Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Glendale), was sent to the House. The bill creates the MO HealthNet Data Transparency Program, which requires MO HealthNet to provide the public data about plan participants (in line with federal medical privacy laws) via its website.
Receiving passage to the governor this week was Senate Bill 355 , sponsored by Sen. Tom Dempsey (R-St. Charles). The measure allows car, boat and powersport dealers to charge administrative fees associated with the sale or lease of certain vehicles and vessels. It also allows dealers to prepare standardized paperwork in connection with a sale or lease as long as the dealer does not charge the customer for preparing the documents.
Also passed by the General Assembly was House Bill 382 , handled in the Senate by Sen. Delbert Scott (R-Lowry City). This measure further regulates the licensing of residential mortgage brokers in Missouri. Each licensed broker must register with and maintain a valid unique identifier issued by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry. Also, they must verify their identity for the purpose of a background check and meet a certain set of requirements, such as demonstrating financial responsibility and passing a written test.
The measure also prohibits mortgage brokers from engaging in certain activities, including obtaining property by fraud or misrepresentation and directly or indirectly defrauding or misleading borrowers or lenders. House Bill 382 was passed with an emergency clause, meaning the bill takes effect immediately upon receiving the governor’s signature.
Listen to the Senate Minute’s report on HB 382.
Much of the General Assembly’s work this week took place in committees as lawmakers are racing to get their bills heard and passed out of committee as the session winds down.
Senate Bill 425 , sponsored by Sen. Jolie Justus (D-Kansas City), was heard in the Senate Health, Mental Health, Seniors and Families Committee. The bill requires health carriers to provide coverage to pregnant women for dental care services.
Also receiving a hearing in the Senate Health Committee was Senate Bill 34 , sponsored by Sen. Yvonne Wilson (D-Kansas City). The bill allows an individual who has a drug-related felony conviction to be eligible for food stamp benefits if the person successfully participates in or has satisfactorily completed a substance abuse treatment program or complies with all court-imposed obligations. The individual would be subject to random drug testing and would be permanently disqualified for food stamp benefits if tested positive for drugs.
Senate Bill 508 , sponsored by Sen. Bray, received a hearing in the Senate Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee. The bill allows institutions of metropolitan zoological park and museum districts to impose admission fees on nonresidents of the respective districts.
Senate Bill 37 , sponsored by Sen. Jack Goodman (R-Mt. Vernon), was passed by the House Special Standing Committee on General Laws Committee. The measure makes changes, such as instituting maximum caseload standards, to the state’s public defender system to help manage the large workload public defenders are currently facing statewide.
Also passed by the House General Laws Committee was Senate Bill 140 , sponsored by Sen. Jeff Smith (D-St. Louis). The bill allows non-violent defendants in criminal non-support cases to receive education, vocational training and/or substance abuse treatment. Successful completion of these court-ordered programs may reduce or dismiss the charges or penalties against the defendant.
Senate Bill 58 , sponsored by Sen. Stouffer, was passed by the House Transportation Committee. The omnibus transportation measure prohibits drivers from sending, reading or writing text messages or electronic messages while operating a vehicle on Missouri highways. It also establishes a drunken driving risk reduction awareness program and prohibits the issuance of an automated red light camera citation unless the driver is clearly identifiable by a police officer.
The Senate Veterans' Affairs, Pensions and Urban Affairs Committee passed HB 82 . The bill authorizes an individual income tax deduction of 15 percent on any military retirement income, which increases by 15 percent annually until 2016 when the deduction would be fully implemented.
And finally, passed by the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee was SB 55 , sponsored by Sen. Rita Heard Days (D-St. Louis). The bill allows school districts to maintain permanent records in a digital or electronic format.
The Missouri Senate will reconvene at 2 p.m. Monday, April 27, 2009. The First Regular Session of the 95th Missouri General Assembly will run through Friday, May 15, 2009.
The Missouri Senate General Column is written on a weekly basis. To follow these and other issues being addressed by 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, and listen to streaming audio of legislative debate as it happens.
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