Rupp: Addressing Fraudulent Motor Vehicle Contracts

On Jan. 18, I was proud to introduce Senate Bill 132 to the General Assembly, along with four other of my sponsored measures.

Senate Bill 132 addresses fraudulent motor vehicle contracts and warranties, as well as vehicle licensing, the “free look” period, deceptive practices, the suspension and revocation of licenses, and the registry of motor vehicles.

I became increasingly aware of the problem of motor vehicle warranty fraud in 2009, when Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster’s office received numerous complaints regarding the matter. In April of that year, myself, the attorney general, and several others formed a task force and met for the first time to discuss the auto service contract scams. We found that some independent marketers and salesmen were not registered with the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration, and were selling service contract coverage without providing adequate information about the coverage. Often times, these dishonest salespeople led consumers to believe that warranties they purchased for their vehicles were due to expire and would convince customers to purchase more coverage. Ultimately, consumers realized their warranties were no good, and were not able to get a refund or cancel their policy.

Knowing many Missourians have been scammed in these fraudulent marketing ploys, I filed Senate Bill 132. This legislation would confirm that fair sales of motor vehicle warranties are occurring, and that the proper documentation is being filed. This legislation would also confirm that consumers would get to view a product or service before purchasing it. It is a firm belief of mine that our citizens should have a right to know what they are receiving from a service provider, and all Missourians have the right to be protected.

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.

Committee Work Begins In the Missouri Senate

Senate Passes First Measure of the 2011 Legislative Session

Several Senate committees held their first meetings of the 2011 legislative session this week. Among those was the Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia. Committee members heard public testimony from various state departments, including Social Services; Mental Health; Health and Senior Services; Judiciary; Public Safety; Corrections; Elementary and Secondary Education; Transportation; Economic Development; Revenue; Office of Administration; Higher Education; Conservation; Agriculture; Natural Resources; Labor and Industrial Relations; and Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration.

The panel also heard an overview of the governor’s Fiscal Year 2012 budget recommendations, which he delivered during his annual State of the State address on Jan. 19. The committee will continue to consider public testimony until members of the Legislature debate the budget measures on the floor of their respective chambers. The FY 2012 state budget must be approved by the General Assembly by 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 6.

Click here to listen to “The Senate Minute.” This program highlights the Senate Appropriations Committee’s first meeting of the 2011 legislative session.

The Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee also met this week to hear testimony on Senate Resolution 27, sponsored by Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield. The resolution urges Missouri’s Attorney General to file an independent lawsuit, join the state’s lieutenant governor’s lawsuit or join the other state attorneys general from across the country in challenging the constitutionality of the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.”

The resolution was voted out of committee, moving the measure to the full Senate for debate. After discussion from legislators on both sides of the aisle, the resolution was approved. Resolutions are nonbinding measures that formally express the will, wish or direction of one or both chambers in the Legislature. Senate Resolution 27 does not require action from the House of Representatives.

Senate Transportation Committee members held a meeting to consider several measures ranging from texting while driving to motor vehicle inspections.

• Senate Bill 11 – Sponsored by Sen. Ryan McKenna, D-Crystal City, the measure would prohibit all drivers, regardless of age, from text messaging while operating a motor vehicle.
• Senate Bill 45 – This legislation would require official motor vehicle inspection and emission stations to have liability insurance to cover any possible damages to a vehicle during an inspection. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Robin Wright-Jones, D-St. Louis.
• Senate Bill 33 – Sponsored by Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton, the bill would repeal a provision of law that requires the Missouri Department of Transportation to submit to binding arbitration in negligence actions.
• Senate Bill 28 – The measure would exempt motorcyclists age 21 and older from wearing a helmet when operating a motorcycle or motortricycle. Senator Dan Brown, R-Rolla, is sponsoring the legislation.

Last week’s “Rebooting Government” work groups prepared their panels’ recommendations and presented their findings to Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, and other members of the Senate this week.

Presentations included information on how the state can reduce costs for certain programs and departments, focusing in the areas of education; social programs; general government and the Office of Administration; agriculture, outdoors, the Department of Natural Resources, and transportation; courts, corrections, and the Department of Public Safety; and tax structure.

To see a PowerPoint presentation or listen to the complete audio of the Rebooting Government recommendations for 2011, visit www.senate.mo.gov/RebootMO.