Last Week In Review

From the week of April 30th, 2012

All budget bills have passed both the House and Senate but with variations to one another (as every year).  This coming week a Joint House & Senate “Conference Committee”

will be meeting multiple times in order to work out compromises on those portions of the budget that is different in the two versions.  A final consensus must be reached on each bill

which must then be passed by both bodies before going to the Governor by the May 11th deadline.  If this deadline is not met, the budget will have to be set aside during the last week

of the Legislative Session (which ends at 6 pm on May 18th) and the entire budget is shelved until the General Assembly reconvenes in a Special Session just to focus on the budget. 

(This process is all guided by the Missouri State Constitution and cannot be varied.)

 

 

ABORTION

SB 749 Introduced by Senator Lamping (R), provides protections for religious beliefs as to the imposition of certain health care services such as abortion, contraception, or sterilization. The hearing was finished on Tuesday.

 

HB 1933 Introduced by Representative McCaherty (R), establishes the Abortion Ban for Sex Selection and Genetic Abnormalities Act of 2012 to prohibit an abortion solely due to the sex of the unborn child or a genetic abnormality diagnosis. Heard in the House Health Care Policy Committee on Wednesday.

 

HJR 64 Introduced by Representative Curtman (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 House Rules Committee on Thursday.

 

ANIMAL RIGHTS & AGRICULTURE

SS SCS HB 1073 Introduced by Representative Sater (R), modifies provisions pertaining to agriculture. Third read in the Senate on Tuesday.

 

HB 1254 Introduced by Representative Ruzicka (R), modifies provisions relating to agriculture. Second read and referred to the Senate Agriculture Committee on Tuesday.

 

SCS HB 1324 Introduced by Representative Loehner (R), declares the right of persons to raise livestock in conformance with state and local laws that are in effect as of a certain date. Voted do pass out of the Senate Agriculture Committee on Thursday.

 

HB 1363 Introduced by Representative Schieffer (D), requires the Missouri State Fair and other fairs and animal shows held in the state to allow the exhibition of certain animals. Heard in the Senate Agriculture Committee on Wednesday.

 

HB 1364 Introduced by Representative Schieffer (D), prohibits laws or ordinances that prohibit the conducting of or participation in rodeos. Heard Senate Agriculture Committee on Wednesday.

 

HB 1444 Introduced by Representative Jason Smith (R), modifies requirements relating to confiscated animals. Heard in the Senate Agriculture Committee on Wednesday.

 

HB 1513 Introduced by Representative Franz (R), prohibits state laws from assigning equal or greater rights, privileges, or legal status to animals than to people. Heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.

 

HB 1860 Introduced by Representative Guernsey (R), modifies provisions relating to agriculture. Heard in the Senate Agriculture Committee on Wednesday.

 

HB 1934 Introduced by Representative Torpey (R), modifies provisions relating to licenses to house or breed dogs and cats. Heard in the Senate General Laws Committee on Tuesday.

 

HB 1977 Introduced by Representative Oxford (D), would turn all mandatory child abuse and neglect reporters into reporters of animal abuse and neglect. Heard in the House Emerging Agriculture Issues Committee on Tuesday.

 

HCS SB 631 Introduced by Senator Parson (R), modifies provisions relating to animals and agriculture. Reported do pass out of the House Rules Committee on Thursday.

 

SCR16 Introduced by Senator Stouffer (R), urges the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to modify its river management protocol to make flood control a top priority. Reported do pass out of the House Rules Committee on Tuesday.

 

SCR25 Introduced by Senator Mayer (R), urges the federal government to manage the Mississippi River to protect against devastating flood events. Reported do pass out of the House Rules Committee on Tuesday.

 

CRIME

HB 1108 Introduced by Representative Lauer (R), requires telecommunications and cell phone providers to provide call location information to law enforcement in emergency situations. Truly agreed to and finally passed on Wednesday.

 

HB 1171 Introduced by Representative Franz (R), requires juvenile courts to have jurisdiction over a child up to 15 years of age involving state or local traffic offenses rather than up to 15 1/2 years of age. Voted do pass out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.

 

HCS HB 1344 Introduced by Representative Nasheed (D), authorizes a person to apply to a court for the closure of certain criminal records. Voted do pass out of the House   Committee on Monday.

 

HB 1515 Introduced by Representative Schad (R), modifies provisions relating to crime and criminal procedure. Heard Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.

 

SCS HB 1525 Introduced by Representative Fuhr (R), modifies laws relating to criminal offenders under the supervision of the Department of Corrections. Third read and passed through the Senate on Monday, truly agreed to and finally passed on Wednesday.

 

HB 1690 Introduced by Representative May (R), changes the laws regarding arrearages and the expungement of certain records related to criminal nonsupport. Reported do pass out of the House Rules Committee on Tuesday.

 

HB 1790 Introduced by Representative Torpey (R), changes the laws regarding the court admissibility of the hearsay statement of a child. Reported do pass out of the House Rules Committee on Tuesday.

 

HB 1907 Introduced by Representative Caleb Jones (R), changes the laws regarding vulnerable persons, child abuse and neglect, and the crime of domestic assault. Voted do pass out of the House   Committee on Wednesday.

 

HB 2038 Introduced by Representative Wallingford (R), establishes “Jonathan’s Law” which changes the requirements for the certification and transfer of a juvenile case to a court of general jurisdiction. Referred to the House Rules Committee on Monday.

 

SB 689 Introduced by Senator Engler (R), modifies provisions relating to crimes committed against the elderly and disabled. Voted do pass out of the House Rules Committee on Tuesday.

 

SB 893 Introduced by Senator Kraus (R), requires certain offenders to undergo criminal history checks in order to have their driver’s licenses reinstated or have limited driving privileges granted. Second read in the House on Monday, referred to the Crime Committee on Thursday.

 

DRUGS & ALCOHOL

HB 1498 Introduced by Representative Hough (R), modifies provisions relating to intoxicating beverages. Referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday.

 

HB 1992 Introduced by Representative Phillips (R), specifies that a person commits the offense of refusing to submit to a chemical test when he or she refuses a law enforcement’s request for a chemical test for blood alcohol content. Heard in the House   Committee on Wednesday.

 

EDUCATION

SCS HB 1042 Introduced by Representative Thomson (R), modifies the duties prescribed to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. Third read and passed through the Senate on Monday.

 

HB 1049 Introduced by Representative Allen (R), changes the laws regarding bullying in schools and establishes specific components that a district must include in its antibullying policy. Perfected in the House on Wednesday, and third read on Thursday.

 

HB 1169 Introduced by Representative Franz (R), modifies provisions relating to the investigation of an incident arising from spanking in a school or the use of reasonable force to protect persons or property. Heard in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday.

 

HCS HB 1526 Introduced by Representative Dieckhaus (R), changes the laws regarding school personnel. Perfected in the House on Wednesday, third read on Thursday and first read in the Senate.

 

HB 1789 Introduced by Representative Schad (R), modifies provisions relating to travel hardships for public school students. Heard in the Senate General Laws Committee on Tuesday.

 

HCS SB 563 Introduced by Senator Dixon (R), modifies provisions relating to higher education. Reported do pass out of the House Rules Committee on Thursday.

 

SB 576 Introduced by Senator Stouffer (R), modifies provisions relating to charter schools. Referred to the House Rules Committee on Wednesday.

 

SB 599 Introduced by Senator Schaefer (R), requires school districts to include in their school accountability report cards whether they have a gifted education program and the percentage and number of students enrolled. Reported do pass out of the House Rules Committee on Thursday.

 

ELECTIONS

HB 1046 Introduced by Representative Rowland (R), requires presidential and vice presidential candidates to submit valid birth certificates. Voted do pass out of the Senate Elections Committee on Monday.

 

HB 1236 Introduced by Representative Entlicher (R), changes the laws regarding the Fair Ballot Access Act by repealing the provision which requires a petition to form a new political party to contain the name of a resident of each Congressional district. Truly agreed to and finally passed on Thursday.

 

HB 1340 Introduced by Representative Dugger (R), allows a county commission to appoint an interim county clerk, auditor, or assessor in the event of a vacancy who shall serve until the Governor appoints a replacement. Truly agreed to and finally passed on Thursday.

 

HB 1692 Introduced by Representative Entlicher (R), requires election judges to swear that they will support and defend the United States and Missouri constitutions. Voted do pass out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.

 

HB 1869 Introduced by Representative Dugger (R), modifies the laws relating to initiative and referendum petitions. Second and referred to the Senate Elections Committee on Tuesday.

 

HB 1870 Introduced by Representative Entlicher (R), specifies that by January 1, 2014, the official ballot will be a paper ballot and requires all voting methods to produce the election results from paper ballots. Heard in the House Committee on Tuesday.

 

HJR 47 Introduced by Representative Dugger (R) (R), modifies the threshold number of signatures to be collected for initiative and referendum petitions. Heard in the Senate Elections Committee on Monday.

 

HCS SB 569 Introduced by Senator Kraus (R), modifies the dates available for public elections. Third read and passed through the House on Monday.

 

HCS SJR 48 Introduced by Senator Dixon (R), prohibits apportionment commission members from serving in the General Assembly for four years from the date the commission is discharged for failure to file a map with the Secretary of State. Referred to the House Rules Committee on Thursday.

 

FAMILY

HB 1137 Introduced by Representative Lauer (R), modifies provisions relating to adoption records and original birth certificates. Second read and referred to the Senate Health Committee on Tuesday.

 

HB 1475 Introduced by Representative Cross (R), requires the parent or guardian of any person younger than 17 years of age prior to the minor using a tanning device in a tanning facility to appear in person giving consent to the minor’s use of a device. Third read and passed through the House on Monday.

 

HB 1577 Introduced by Representative Largent (R), requires school districts to implement criteria for the enrollment and educational success of foster care children. Voted do pass out of the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday.

 

HB 1758 Introduced by Representative Long (R), allows a person with a parent/child relationship with a child to petition for custody/visitation rights. Second read and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, referred to Rules Committee on Thursday.

 

HB 2042 Introduced by Representative Stream (R), changes the laws regarding the granting of grandparent visitation. Voted do pass out of the House   Committee on Wednesday.

 

HCS SB 448 Introduced by Senator Rupp (R), modifies provisions relating to child care providers. Voted do pass out of the House Children and Families Committee on Wednesday.

 

HCS SB 648 Introduced by Senator Dempsey (R), expands the list of qualified persons who may accompany temporary instruction permit holders who are under 16 to include licensed persons who are 25 years of age or older who have been licensed for a minimum of three years and have received written permission. Referred to the House Rules Committee on Wednesday.

 

HCS SB 711 Introduced by Senator Lamping (R), modifies provisions relating to the prohibition of racial considerations in adoption proceedings. Referred to the House Rules Committee on Monday.

 

HCS SB 739 Introduced by Senator Keaveny (D), modifies provisions relating to administrative child support orders. Heard in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, referred to the House Rules Committee on Thursday.

 

HCS SB 758 Introduced by Senator Wasson (R), changes the laws regarding hotline calls and investigations of child abuse and neglect to the Children’s Division. Voted do pass out of the House    Committee on Wednesday.

 

SJR 51 Introduced by Senator Lembke (R), modifies the composition of Appellate Judicial Commission and number of nominees for vacancies. Referred to the House Judicial Reform Committee on Wednesday.

 

GAMBLING

SCS HB 1731 Introduced by Representative Day (R), modifies how funds from the Lottery and the Gaming Commission Fund are distributed. Voted do pass out of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on Thursday.

 

GOVERNMENT ETHICS

HB 1051 Introduced by Representative Allen (R), requires the State Auditor to conduct a one-time comparative audit of selected state agencies and eliminates an audit for law enforcement agencies. Referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Monday.

 

HB 1405 Introduced by Representative Michael Brown (D), establishes the Missouri Universal Health Assurance Program to provide a publicly financed, statewide insurance program for all residents of this state. Heard in the House Health Care Policy Committee on Wednesday.

 

HB 1512 Introduced by Representative Curtman (R), specifies how courts may rule in contractual disputes involving the law of other countries and jurisdictional issues involving other countries. Heard in the Senate General Laws Committee on Tuesday.

 

HCS HB 2107 Introduced by Representative Marshall (R), changes the laws regarding blighted areas and eminent domain. Voted do pass out of the House   Committee on Wednesday.

 

HCR 3 Introduced by Representative Scharnhorst (R), submits to the U.S. Congress a request for a federal balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Heard in the Senate Rules Committee on Tuesday.

 

HCR 36 Introduced by Representative Asbury (R), reaffirms the relationship between the United States and Israel. Adopted by the Senate on Thursday.

 

HCS SB 467 Introduced by Senator Munzlinger (R), requires agencies that receive federal grants to track and disclose the usage of the funds and the Governor to report withholdings. Third read and passed through the House on Wednesday.

 

SS#3 SCS SB 710 Introduced by Senator Engler (R), establishes a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. Perfected in the Senate.

 

HCS SB 722 Introduced by Senator Lamping (R), bars entities that invest in the energy sector in Iran from contracting with the state and political subdivisions. Referred to the House Rules Committee on Thursday.

 

HCS SB 911 Introduced by Senator Ridgeway (R), prohibits employers from using the last four digits of an employee’s Social Security number as their employee identification number. Referred to the House Rules Committee on Monday.

 

HCS SJR 37 Introduced by Senator Crowell (R), requires all meetings of apportionment commissions to be conducted in public and prohibits commission members from serving in General Assembly for 10 years after service on commission. Referred to the House Rules Committee on Thursday.

 

SJR 51 Introduced by Senator Lembke (R), modifies the composition of nonpartisan judicial commissions. First read in the House on Tuesday.  Referred to the House Reform Committee on Wednesday.

 

IMMIGRATION

HB 1185 Introduced by Representative Parkinson (R), requires the State Highway Patrol to request a determination of the legal status of any non-citizen on the sex offender registry. Voted do pass out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.

 

HCS HB 1224 Introduced by Representative Brattin (R), requires all employers and business entities to enroll and actively participate in a federal work authorization program and imposes stricter penalties for employing unauthorized aliens. Voted do pass out of the House    Committee on Wednesday.

 

HCS HB 2057 Introduced by Representative Wand Brown (R), changes the laws regarding illegal aliens and immigration status verification for public assistance benefit purposes. Voted do pass out of the House   Committee on Monday.

 

HCR 54 Introduced by Representative Wanda Brown (R), strongly urges Congress to modify the eligibility requirements for SNAP food stamp benefits which result in less benefits for our citizen households than comparable noncitizen households. Heard in the House Children and Families Committee on Wednesday.

 

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

HJR 64 Introduced by Representative Curtman (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 House Rules Committee on Thursday.

 

SR 2075 Introduced by Senator Dempsey (R), national Day of Prayer. Offered in the Senate on Thursday.

 

SECOND AMENDMENT

HB 1319 Introduced by Representative Riddle (R), modifies provisions relating to weapons. Heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.

 

HJR 49 Introduced by Representative Brattin (R), affirms certain rights to posses, purchase, and manufacture ammunition and mechanical parts for firearms. Heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.

 

SS SCS SBs 489 & 637 Introduced by Senator Munzlinger (R), modifies provisions relating to weapons. Referred to the House Rules Committee on Thursday.

 

TAXES

HCS HB 1639 Introduced by Representative Nolte (R), establishes the Broad-Based Tax Relief Act of 2012, reduces the tax on business income and corporate income, and changes the laws regarding the collection of money owed to the state. First read in the Senate on Thursday.

 

HCS SB 510 Introduced by Senator Cunningham (R), requires county assessors to consider market factors in determining value of real property for tax purposes. Referred to the House Rules Committee on Wednesday.

 

VETERANS

SS HB 1128 Introduced by Representative Largent (R), authorizes the presentation of a Missouri National Guard Overseas Training Ribbon, Missouri National Guard State Partnership Program Ribbon, and the Order of Minuteman Award. Third read and passed through the Senate on Wednesday.

 

HB 1315 Introduced by Representative McCaherty (R), requires employers to grant a leave of absence to members of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary when performing authorized duties. Voted do pass out of the Senate Local Government Committee on Wednesday.

 

HB 1680 Introduced by Representative Davis (R), changes the name of the Heroes at Home Program to the Show-Me Heroes Program and includes spouses of active duty United States military personnel to those eligible to receive its services. Truly agreed to and finally passed on Monday.

 

HB 2047 Introduced by Representative Davis (R), establishes the Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. Heard in the House Elections Committee on Tuesday.

 

HCR 12 Introduced by Representative Davis (R), designates the Honor and Remember Flag as the state emblem for service and sacrifice by members of the armed forces. Voted do pass out of the Senate Rules Committee on Tuesday.

 

HCR 22 Introduced by Representative Gray (D), encourages the Missouri Veterans Commission to work with women veterans to address their needs and formally honors women veterans in Missouri. Voted do pass out of the Senate Rules Committee on Tuesday.

 

HCR 47 Introduced by Representative Allen (R), urges the US Department of Defense to protect Missouri military bases. Heard in the Senate Rules Committee on Tuesday.

 

SB 498 Introduced by Senator Munzlinger (R), prohibits cities from restricting veterans organizations from operating re-sale shops in certain areas. Third read and passed through the House on Wednesday.

 

OTHER

HB 1211 Introduced by Representative Dieckhaus (R), modifies provisions relating to local courts. Heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.

 

HB 1549 Introduced by Representative Richardson (R), modifies the state do-not-call list by allowing cell phone numbers on the list. Heard in the Senate Commerce Committee on Tuesday.

 

HCR 6 Introduced by Representative Rowland (R), strongly urges Congress and the Administration to immediately seek long-term and short-term solutions to the rapidly rising fuel costs in this country. Heard in the Senate Rules Committee on Tuesday.