Nance: S-CHIP Enrollment Encouraged, Senate Bills Approved By House, In The District

"State finances are still in rough shape, but in early April someone paid their taxes. It resulted in $121 million to the treasury. Thank goodness for capitalism."

At The Capitol

I was able to amend two bills with legislation to have DESE and Social Services to work together for the benefit of kids that qualify for S-CHIP. Thousand of kids qualify but have not been signed up for the program. The amendment gives an excellent opportunity for parents to provide coverage for their children.

I have attached a comparison of education funding for 2010and 2011.

The House Truly Agreed and Finally Passed the following Senate Bills. These bills require only the governor's signature. The governor has until July 14^th to sign or veto.

• SB 928, which would modify provisions of law regarding the sales tax treatment of sales for resale.
• SB 984, which would repeal the provision of law which makes it a class B misdemeanor for any gaming licensee to exchange tokens, chips, or other forms of credit used on gambling games for anything of value.

The Senate Truly Agreed and Finally Passed the following House Bills:

• HB 1270, which would change the name of the Crippled Children's Service to the Children's Special Health Care Needs Service and specifies the services are for a child who has a physical disability or special health care need.
• HB 1840, which would change the membership of the Rice Advisory Council and creates the Missouri Rice Certification Fund.
• HB 1898, which would establish the Women's Heart Health Program to provide heart disease risk screenings to certain uninsured and underinsured women.
• HB 2081, which would specify that a pregnant woman may use deadly force if she reasonably believes that deadly force is necessary to protect her unborn child against death, serious physical injury, or any forcible felony.
• HB 2182, which would specify that, as used in Missouri statutes, "agritourism" means the act of visiting a working farm or any agricultural operation for the enjoyment, education, training, or involvement in its activities.
• HCS SB 851 requires the governing body of any county, city, town, or village or any entity created by these political subdivisions to give notice four business days prior to voting on certain items.

In the District

In addition to the Mushroom Festival this past week end, I attended the Job Corps Open House. I have been fortunate to work with the Center over the last 30 years. The Corps gives an opportunity for job training and placement to many of our youth. They do much more than job training.

Teacher Nancy Herring and the Hardin Central 4^th graders [at left] visited the Capitol on Wednesday. I appreciate their yearly trip to see how government works.

If there are any bills that you want information on by bill number or subject, you can access information from the following sites:
House Bills www.house.mo.gov
Senate Bills www.senate.mo.gov.

"No gift to your mother can ever equal her gift to you –life" –Author unknown

Happy Mother's Day!