Rupp: Senate Gives First-Round Approval to Autism Insurance Bill

Staying consistent with their commitment to make Autism insurance reform a top Senate priority in 2010, Senate Leadership put the Autism Insurance Bill as the FIRST bill on the Senate Calendar for the 2010 session.  Debate began on Tuesday, but was limited due to scheduling of Senate committees, so most of the debate was carried over to yesterday.  I'm happy to report that the bill received first round approval by the Senate yesterday afternoon - and we were able to fight off amendments that would have weakened the bill.  We are one step closer to providing help and relief to Missouri families and children with Autism

You can view the floor debate by logging onto my website at http://www.senate.mo.gov/10info/members/mem02.htm - click the Multimedia tab.  On my website you can also sign up for my weekly newsletter.

And you can also sign up for Autism bill updates at www.MoAutismBill.com.

OTHER BILLS RECEIVING SENATE APPROVAL

The Senate also gave preliminary approval to SB 586, sponsored by Sen. Matt Bartle (R-Lee's Summit). The bill would strengthen regulations for sexually oriented businesses in Missouri, including prohibiting anyone from establishing a sexually oriented business within 1,000 feet of a pre-existing school, house of worship, state-licensed day care, public library, residence, or other sexually oriented business. The bill would also require such establishments to close between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.; prohibit the sale, use and consumption of alcohol on the premises; and regulate the activities that may take place inside sexually oriented businesses.

Also receiving first-round approval this week was SB 604, sponsored by Sen. Rob Mayer (R-Dexter). The measure would prohibit large users of water resources from excessively disrupting the normal irrigation activities of certain large farms in the Southeast Missouri Regional Water District. If a disruption occurs, the attorney general may seek an injunction.

Both SB 586 and SB 604 need a final Senate vote to move on to the House.

SENATE COMMITTEES

The Senate Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Committee passed Senate Joint Resolution 25, which I co-sponsored. The measure would, upon approval by voters, prohibit any laws from interfering with Missourians' health care choices.  Hopefully, it will be sent to the Senate floor soon for debate.

Ethics reform continues to move swiftly through the legislative process as Senate Bill 577, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields (R-St. Joseph), was passed out of the Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee this week and is now eligible for floor debate. The bill would create the position of an independent investigator within the Ethics Commission, bar certain contributions to incumbent officials during session and expand income reporting requirements to include legislative staff.

Also passed out of committee this week was SB 594, sponsored by Sen. Rita Heard Days (D-St. Louis). The Senate Health, Mental Health, Seniors and Families Committee approved the bill, which would allow adopted individuals age 18 and over to obtain copies of their original birth certificates under certain circumstances.

The committee also voted to send a bill to the Senate floor that would allow drug testing of recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits. Senate Bill 607, sponsored by Sen. Bill Stouffer (R-Napton), would require the Department of Social Services to develop a program to test work-eligible TANF applicants or recipients when a case worker believes, based on reasonable suspicion, that a person is using illegal drugs. Similar measures were rolled into SB 607, including SB 602, sponsored by Sen. Jason Crowell (R-Cape Girardeau); SB 615, sponsored by Sen. Jack Goodman (R-Mt. Vernon); and SB 725, sponsored by Sen. Scott T. Rupp (R-Wentzville). Senator Gary Nodler (R-Joplin) is also sponsoring a similar bill, SB 821, which is awaiting a committee hearing.

According to SB 607, if the drug test is positive, the individual would be ineligible for TANF benefits for three years and would also be referred to an approved substance abuse treatment program. Also, if a parent is deemed ineligible for TANF benefits because of illegal drug use, his or her child's eligibility for the benefits would not be affected. Instead, a protective payee would be designated to ensure the child receives the benefits. Senate Bill 607 may now be taken up for debate by the full Senate.

Senate Bill 596, sponsored by Sen. Victor Callahan (D-Independence), was passed by the Senate Progress and Development Committee. The bill would allow the governing bodies of any Missouri city to designate Show-Me Small Business Districts within a city for no longer than 23 years. During the designation period, eligible small businesses within these areas could receive tax-favored status for a term not to exceed 15 years.

In addition to sending measures to the full Senate, committees also continued to hear testimony on legislation this week. For instance, some of the bills receiving a hearing in the Senate Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee were SB 589, sponsored by Sen. Gary Nodler (R-Joplin), which would bar felons from holding public office; SB 629, sponsored by Sen. Tom Dempsey (R-St. Charles), which would establish the Missouri Healthy Workplace Recognition Program; and SB 673, sponsored by Sen. David Pearce (R-Warrensburg), which would create the Office of Job Development and Training and would modify the reporting requirements for obtaining unemployment benefits.

JUDICIARY STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS

On Wednesday, Feb. 3, Senators gathered for a joint session with the House of Representatives to hear the chief justice give the annual State of the Judiciary address. Click here for the full text of the speech.

The Missouri Senate reconvenes at 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 8. The Second Regular Session of the 95th Missouri General Assembly runs through Friday, May 14, 2010.

As the 2010 legislative session unfolds, I will continue to keep you, my constituents, apprised of all major developments, and I look forward to continuing to serve your needs and priorities in Jefferson City. As always, if you have any questions about this week's column or any other matter involving state government, please do not hesitate to contact me. You can reach my office by phone at (866) 271-2844.