ACTION NEEDED TODAY!!!
SJR 31 (Senate Joint Resolution 31): A proposed State Constitutional Amendment focused on clarifying and protecting public exercise of prayer.
This bill was placed on the Senate Calendar last Thursday afternoon and could be taken up for debate as early as today. Please contact your Senator by email today or ASAP this week (2-22-10). We have been working on this legislation for several years. The biggest obstacle is the threatened filibuster in the Senate. Opposition to SJR 31 comes from a small group of liberal, social progressive Senators. We need folks to contact their Republican members of the Senate asking them to ACTIVELY support the bill by requesting that the Senate spend enough floor debate time to break any filibuster. It is very important to stress to Senators how badly we need this protection for public school students and that it is vital that the bill be passed this year!
Legislative Actions Last Week
(Week of 2-15-10)
ABORTION
HB 2145 Sponsored by Representative Gatschenberger (R), prohibits health insurance exchanges established in Missouri from offering health insurance policies or optional riders that provide coverage for elective abortions. Second read in the House on Monday.
SB 792 Introduced by Senator Dempsey (R), modifies provisions relating to abortion reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.
SB 793 Introduced by Senator Mayer (R), enacts provisions regarding informed consent for abortions. Heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.
SB 693 Introduced by Senator Wilson (D), enacts the Foster Care and Adoptive Parents Recruitment and Retention Fund. Reported truly perfected in the Senate Rules Committee on Tuesday.
HB 1327 Sponsored by Representative Davis (R), changes the laws regarding the consent requirements for obtaining an abortion and specifies that anyone performing or inducing an abortion knowing that she has been coerced will be guilty of a class C felony. Heard in the House Children and Families Committee on Wednesday.
HB 2000 Sponsored by Representative Pratt (R), changes the laws regarding the consent requirements for obtaining an abortion and creates the crime of coercing an abortion. Heard in the House Children and Families Committee on Wednesday.
SB 971 Introduced by Senator Lembke (R), requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to make available resources relating to umbilical cord blood. First read in the Senate on Thursday.
CRIME
HB 2117 Sponsored by Representative Stevenson (R), creates the crime of disturbing a worship service and creates a civil cause of action for the same behavior. Second read in the House on Monday.
HB 2127 Sponsored by Representative Kander (D), changes the laws regarding the enforcement of orders of protection. Second read in the House on Monday.
HB 2128 Sponsored by Representative Roorda (D), revises the crime of unlawful use of weapons by making it lawful for a person to possess a firearm or projectile weapon, while intoxicated, in their own residence except in certain specified circum. Second read in the House on Monday.
HB 2137 Sponsored by Representative Guest (R), allows any local governing agency to establish a work for restitution program and requires certain nonviolent offenders to participate in and complete the program. Second read in the House on Monday.
SB 946 Introduced by Senator Bray (D), changes the requirements for school anti-bullying policies. First read in the Senate on Monday.
HB 1404 Sponsored by Representative Cox (R), creates the crime of failure to adequately control an animal. Heard in the House Animal Agriculture Committee on Tuesday.
HB 1519 Sponsored by Representative Hoskins (R), changes the laws regarding the crime of assault of a law enforcement or corrections officer, emergency personnel, or highway worker by adding transit operators and employees of mass transit systems. Referred to the House Rules Committee on Tuesday.
HB 1534 Sponsored by Representative Fischer (D), establishes Sam Pratt’s Law which authorizes the Department of Health and Senior Services to prohibit unlicensed child care providers from continuing to provide services if there are pending criminal charges. Referred to the House Children and Families Committee on Wednesday.
HB 1693 Sponsored by Representative Schlottach (R), creates the crime of endangerment of emergency personnel or emergency responder. Referred to the House Public Safety Committee on Wednesday.
HB 2186 Sponsored by Representative Still (D), establishes Karra’s and Jocelyn’s Law which increases the penalty for the crime of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree when shaking a child younger than five years of age. First read in the House on Wednesday, second read on Thursday.
SB 614 Introduced by Senator Wilson (R), modifies the definition of “bullying” as used in school district antibullying policies to include cyberbullying and electronic communications. Voted do pass out of the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, reported to the floor on Thursday.
SJR 20 Introduced by Senator Bartle (R), creates an exception to the prohibition against laws retrospective in operation by allowing certain laws pertaining to DNA profiling analysis to be applied retrospectively. Reported truly perfected in the Senate Rules Committee on Wednesday.
HB 2197 Sponsored by Representative Munzlinger (R), revises unlawful use of a weapon by mandating that no person who has previously received a suspended imposition of sentence for certain felony violations can receive one for unlawful use of a weapon. First read in the House on Thursday.
HB 2207 Sponsored by Representative Keeney (R), expands the crime of making a false declaration for the purpose of misleading a public servant in the performance of his or her duty. First read in the House on Thursday.
SJR 20 Introduced by Senator Bartle (R), creates an exception to the prohibition against laws retrospective in operation by allowing certain laws pertaining to DNA profiling analysis to be applied retrospectively. Referred to the Senate Oversight Committee on Thursday.
DRUGS & ALCOHOL
SB 887 Introduced by Senator Schaefer (R), adds certain substances to the list of controlled substances, which include lacosamide, tapentadol, Fospropofol, 5-MeO-DMT, Carisoprodol, and spice cannabinoids. Heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.
HCS HB 1472 Sponsored by Representative Franz (R), adds 1-Pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole to the list of Schedule I controlled substances. Voted do pass out of the House Public Safety Committee, and referred to the Rules Committee on Tuesday.
HB 1491 Sponsored by Representative Gray (D), allows certain organizations who sell intoxicating liquor by the drink on the premises to obtain a special permit to remain open until 3:00 a.m. each day and to open on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. Referred to the House Small Business Committee on Wednesday.
HB 1674 Sponsored by Representative Lipke (R), requires all law enforcement agencies and the prosecutor to report all alcohol-related traffic arrests and court actions to the State Highway Patrol’s DWI Tracking System. Heard in the House Crime Prevention Committee on Wednesday.
HB 1695 Sponsored by Representative Stevenson (R), changes the laws regarding driving while intoxicated. Heard in the House Crime Committee on Wednesday.
HB 1742 Sponsored by Representative Stevenson (R), changes the laws regarding driving while intoxicated. Heard in the House Crime Prevention Committee on Wednesday.
EDUCATION
HB 2175 Sponsored by Representative Stream (R), modifies provisions relating to charter schools. First read in the House on Tuesday.
HB 1905 Sponsored by Representative Kevin Wilson (R), establishes the Professional Relationships Between Teachers and School Districts Act which specifies the procedures under which local school boards can meet and negotiate with employee organizations. Heard in the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee on Wednesday.
HB 1967 Sponsored by Representative Oxford (D), establishes class sizes for school districts in St. Louis City and St. Louis County which are lower than the minimum and desirable standards of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Referred to the House Secondary Education Committee on Wednesday.
SB 768 Introduced by Senator Bartle (R), modifies provisions relating to school districts charging tuition for non-resident children of district teachers and employees. Voted do pass out of the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, and reported to the floor on Thursday.
SB 815 Introduced by Senator Bartle (R), allows school districts to adopt a year-round educational program, implement multiple start dates for kindergarten students, and expands the Teacher Choice Compensation Package statewide. Heard in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday.
SB 943 Introduced by Senator Shields (R), requires the Joint Committee on Education to study state funding for elementary and secondary education. Second read and referred to the Senate Education Committee on Thursday.
SB 946 Introduced by Senator Bray (D), changes the requirements for school anti-bullying policies. Second read and referred to the Senate Education Committee on Thursday.
SB 956 Introduced by Senator Keaveny (D), allows foreign language immersion charter schools to enroll four year old children. Second read and referred to the Senate Education Committee on Thursday.
SB 963 Introduced by Senator Shoemyer (D), transfers the administration of the Minority and Underrepresented Environmental Literacy Program from the Department of Natural Resources to the Department of Higher Education. First read in the Senate on Thursday.
ELECTIONS & ETHICS
HCS HB 1497 Sponsored by Representative Smith (R), requires special elections to fill vacancies in the offices of Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Auditor, State Treasurer, and United States Senator. Voted do pass out of the House, and reported to the Senate, and first read on Monday.
HB 2153 Sponsored by Representative Deeken (R), changes the laws regarding elections and establishes the Election Consolidation Act of 2010. Introduced and first read in the House on Monday.
SCS SB 589 Introduced by Senator Nodler (R), bars felons from holding public office. Voted do pass out of the Senate Elections Committee on Monday.
SB 796 Introduced by Senator Bray (D), modifies requirements pertaining to petition circulators. Heard in the Senate Elections Committee on Monday.
SJR 30 Introduced by Senator Bartle (R), requires all state and local ballot measures which seek to create a new or increase an existing tax be placed before voters during general elections. Heard in the Senate Elections Committee on Monday.
HB 2153 Sponsored by Representative Deeken (R), changes the laws regarding elections and establishes the Election Consolidation Act of 2010. Second read in the House on Monday.
HB 2164 Sponsored by Representative Holsman (D), establishes a public campaign financing system for state elections which allows candidates to voluntarily agree to campaign finance limitations. First read in the House on Tuesday.
HCS HJR 45 Sponsored by Representative Gatschenberger (R), proposes a constitutional amendment limiting the total service in the General Assembly to 16 years in any proportion between the House of Representatives and the Senate. Voted do pass out of the House General Laws Committee on Tuesday.
HCS HJR 69 Sponsored by Representative Roorda (D), proposes a constitutional amendment limiting the total service in the General Assembly to 16 years in any proportion between the House of Representatives and the Senate. Voted do pass out of the House General Laws Committee on Tuesday.
HCS HJR 70 Sponsored by Representative Kingery (R), proposes a constitutional amendment limiting the total service in the General Assembly to 16 years in any proportion between the House of Representatives and the Senate. Voted do pass out of the House General Laws Committee on Tuesday.
HB 2164 Sponsored by Representative Holsman (D), establishes a public campaign financing system for state elections which allows candidates to voluntarily agree to campaign finance limitations. Second read in the House on Wednesday.
HJR 94 Sponsored by Representative Dethrow (R), proposes a constitutional amendment increasing the number of Congressional districts in which the required percentage of voters’ signatures are needed for initiative petitions. Referred to the House Elections Committee on Wednesday.
FAMILY
SB 948 Introduced by Senator Crowell (R), enacts provisions relating to an individual’s right to participate in a health care system. First read in the Senate on Tuesday.
HB 1319 Sponsored by Representative Harris (D), removes the provision regarding termination of a child custody order by the timely objection of the respondent and requires that the order be terminated after a hearing where both parties are heard. Referred to the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
HB 1713 Sponsored by Representative Sander (R), requires all health insurance policies issued to Missouri residents on or after January 1, 2011, to include coverage for adopted children on the same basis as other dependents of the enrollee. Referred to the House Rules Committee on Wednesday.
HB 2184 Sponsored by Representative Lampe (D), requires insurance coverage for habilitative services for children less than 19 years of age. First read in the House on Wednesday.
HJR 62 Sponsored by Representative McGhee (R), proposes a constitutional amendment guaranteeing a citizen’s right to pray and worship on public property and reaffirming a citizen’s right to choose any or no religion. Referred to the House General Laws Committee on Wednesday.
HB 2179 Sponsored by Representative LeBlanc (D), establishes a premium assistance program within the state health insurance pool for individuals to allow individuals to purchase health insurance coverage through the pool based on financial need. Second read in the House on Thursday.
GAMBLING
SB 940 Introduced by Senator Pearce (R), modifies various provision relating to bingo. First read in the Senate on Monday, second read and referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Thursday.
HB 1826 Sponsored by Representative Jones (R), prohibits the Missouri Gaming Commission from imposing penalties or suspending or revoking the license of an excursion gambling boat for inadequate declining performance. Referred to the Hosue Urban Issues Committee on Tuesday.
HCS HB 1893 Sponsored by Representative Kelly (D), changes the laws regarding the distribution of gaming funds for early childhood education and veterans’ programs. Voted do pass out of the House Veterans Committee, and referred to the Rules Committee on Thursday.
IMMIGRATION
HB 2140 Sponsored by Representative Gatschenberger (R), prohibits the use of language interpreters during the driver’s license examination. Second read in the House on Monday.
HB 2143 Sponsored by Representative Gatschenberger (R), revises driver’s license laws to require U.S. citizenship. Second read in the House on Monday.
HB 2144 Sponsored by Representative Gatschenberger (R), requires driver’s license examinations to be administered in English. Second read in the House on Monday.
PORNOGRAPHY & SEX CRIMES
SS SCS SB 586 & 617 Sponsored by Representative Bartle (R), regulates sexually oriented businesses. Second read in the House on Monday.
SB 806 Introduced by Senator Bartle (R), modifies provisions relating to children who are victims of pornographic offenses. Perfected in the Senate on Thursday.
SECOND AMENDMENT
HB 2150 Sponsored by Representative Largent (R), revises the law concerning state preemption of firearms legislation. Second read in the House on Monday.
HB 1802 Sponsored by Representative Gatschenberger (R), allows a resident of Missouri to purchase rifles and shotguns in any state and allows a resident of any state to purchase rifles and shotguns in Missouri if he or she conforms to certain laws. Voted do pass out of the House Agi-Business Committee and referred to the Rules Committee on Tuesday.
HB 1756 Sponsored by Representative Dethrow (R), changes the laws regarding concealed carry endorsements. Referred to the House Agri-Business Committee on Wednesday.
HB 1787 Sponsored by Representative Kenny Jones (R), changes the laws regarding defensive use of force by a property owner or lessor, lowers the age for obtaining a concealed carry endorsement, and exempts antique firearms from certain weapons offenses. Referred to the House Agri-Business Committee on Wednesday.
HB 2181 Sponsored by Representative Munzlinger (R), requires concealed carry endorsement holders to review weapons and use of force laws every three years and extends the validity period for a concealed carry endorsement to five years. First read in the House on Wednesday, second read on Thursday.
HB 2130 Sponsored by Representative Parkinson (R), establishes the Annual Sportsman Sales Tax Holiday Act which authorizes an annual state sales and use tax exemption on purchases of certain outdoor sportsman equipment. Second read in the House on Monday.
SB 964 Introduced by Senator Barnitz (R), allows criminal investigators with the Department of Revenue to be appointed by the department director as peace officers and to carry firearms. First read in the Senate on Thursday.
SB 968 Introduced by Senator Stouffer (R), lowers the age requirement for a concealed carry endorsement from twenty-three to twenty-one. First read in the Senate on Thursday.
TAXATION
HB 1442 Sponsored by Representative Tim Jones (R), changes the laws regarding certain city sales taxes and authorizes certain cities and Montgomery County to impose, upon voter approval, transient guest taxes. Second read and referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Monday.
HCR 38 Sponsored by Representative Icet (R), urgently requests the United States Congress to cease and desist from imposing unfunded mandates on the states. Reported to the Senate on Monday, and referred to the Senate Ethics Committee on Tuesday.
HCR 46 Sponsored by Representative Funderburk (R), urges the Environmental Protection Agency to rescind its formal endangerment finding on greenhouse gases and urges our congressional delegation to vote against H.R. 2454 known as “Cap and Trade”. Heard in the House Energy Committee on Tuesday.
SCR 34 Introduced by Senator Lembke (R), reaffirms Missouri’s sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment. Reported do pass out of the Senate Ethics Committee on Tuesday.
SCR 46 Introduced by Senator Stouffer (R), urges Congress not to enact cap and trade legislation. Heard in the Senate Ethics Committee on Tuesday.
HB 1240 Sponsored by Representative Davis (R), authorizes a state income tax deduction for tuition costs for any dependent of a resident taxpayer enrolled in any elementary or secondary school or postsecondary education institution in this state. Heard in the House Tax Reform Committee on Wednesday.
HB 1800 Sponsored by Representative Gatschenberger (R), authorizes a homestead property tax exemption phased in over 15 years for certain individuals 65 years of age or older. Heard in the House Tax Reform Committee on Wednesday.
HCR 25 Sponsored by Representative Guest (R), claims sovereignty for the states under the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution for all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government under the Constitution. Referred to the House Real ID Committee on Wednesday.
HCR 29 Sponsored by Representative Nieves (R), affirms of the sovereignty of the people of Missouri under the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Referred to the House Real ID Committee on Wednesday.
HCR 39 Sponsored by Representative Gatschenberger (R), claims Missouri’s sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government under the United States Constitution. Referred to the House Real ID Committee on Wednesday.
HJR 74 Sponsored by Representative Gatschenberger (R), proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting any person, employer, or health care provider from being compelled to participate in any health care system. Referred to the Hosue Real ID Committee on Wednesday.
HJR 88 Sponsored by Representative Nieves (R), proposes a constitutional amendment guaranteeing state sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Referred to the House Real ID Committee on Wednesday.
HB 1420 Sponsored by Representative Franz (R), changes the laws regarding the sale of real property for the collection of delinquent taxes. Heard in the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday.
SB 948 Introduced by Senator Crowell (R), enacts provisions relating to an individual’s right to participate in a health care system. Second read and referred to the Senate Small Business Committee on Thursday.
VETERANS
HB 2126 Sponsored by Representative Kander (D), allows a person to use his or her military identification card as proof of identify when obtaining a driver’s or nondriver’s license. Second read in the House on Monday.
HB 1504 Sponsored by Representative Schaaf (R), expands eligibility for the Missouri Returning Heroes’ Education Act scholarship and specifies that homeschooled students must receive the same financial aid consideration as non-homeschooled students. Heard in the House Higher Education Committee on Tuesday.
HB 1672 Sponsored by Representative Zerr (R), removes the $15 fee charged to a person applying for a “U. S. VET” special license plate in addition to the regular registration fees. Heard in the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday.
HB 2114 Sponsored by Representative Hoskins (R), recognizes POW and MIA as valid descriptions of casualty status and category classification for military personnel. Referred to the House Veterans Committee on Wednesday.
HB 2189 Sponsored by Representative Smith (R), changes the laws regarding the Hero at Home Program. First read in the House on Wednesday, second read on Thursday.
OTHER
HB 2121 Sponsored by Representative Stevenson (R), amends various requirements regarding the placement of persons on the child abuse and neglect registry. Second read in the House on Monday.
HB 2124 Sponsored by Representative Schoemehl (D), establishes requirements for the licensure of naturopathic physicians. Second read in the House on Monday.
HB 2131 Sponsored by Representative Parkinson (R), establishes the Governor Nixon’s Federal Scratch-Off, Match-Off Fund to use a portion of the governor’s salary for the purchase of Missouri Powerball lottery tickets. Second read in the House on Monday, referred to the House Tax Reform Committee on Wednesday.
HB 1247 Sponsored by Representative Sater (R), requires the Department of Social Services to apply for a federal waiver to modify the eligibility requirements for the Missouri Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program. Heard in the House Healthcare Transformation on Tuesday.
HB 1402 Sponsored by Representative Cox (R), exempts certain water systems that serve charitable or benevolent organizations from certain rules relating to well construction. Heard in the House Energy Committee on Tuesday.
HB 1642 Sponsored by Representative Brown (D), authorizes a tax credit for employers who hire certain high school students for summer jobs. Heard in the House Economic Development Committee on Tuesday.
HB 1851 Sponsored by Representative Nolte (R), adds nuclear energy to the definition of “renewable energy resources” so that it can be used to meet the requirements of investor-owned electric utilities under the Renewable Energy Standard. Heard in the House Utilities Committee on Tuesday.
HB 2174 Sponsored by Representative Kelly (D), changes various provisions regarding the establishment of the parentage of a child. First read in the House on Tuesday.
SCS SB 616 Introduced by Senator Goodman (R), enacts provisions relating to faith-based community health centers. Perfected in the Senate.
SB 625 Introduced by Senator Justus (D), modifies provisions on child care subsidies. Heard in the Senate Health Committee on Tuesday.
SB 627 Introduced by Senator Justus (D), provides information regarding immunization for the human papilloma virus. Referred to the Senate Oversight Committee on Tuesday.
SB 951 Introduced by Senator Wright-Jones (D), allows certain medical consultants who contract with the Department of Social Services and the Department of Mental Health to be covered by the State Legal Expense Fund. First read in the Senate on Tuesday.
HCS HB 1311 & 1341 Sponsored by Representative Scharnhorst (R), establishes provisions regarding the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. Referred to the House Fiscal Review Committee on Wednesday, reported to the Senate on Thursday.
HCR 14 Sponsored by Representative Ervin (R), encourages President Obama to reinstate Executive Order Number 12612 regarding the division of governmental responsibilities and the principles of federalism. Referred to the House Real ID and Personal Privacy Committee on Wednesday.
HCS HJR 86 Sponsored by Representative Loehner (R), proposes a constitutional amendment affirming the right to raise animals in a humane manner. Reported do pass out of the House Agriculture Policy Committee and referred to the Rules Committee on Thursday.