Lichtenegger: Two House Joint Resolutions Arrive In Senate

Irish Blessing: May Trouble Neglect You!

It has been a whirlwind week of meetings and House debates, and I want to make you aware of a few important pieces of legislation that moved forward in the legislative process:

• House Bill 591 – Passed out of the Professional Registration & Licensing Committee. This is a bill I sponsored that authorizes the Missouri Dental Board within the Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration to issue a limited teaching license to a dentist employed as an instructor in an accredited dental school located in this state.
  
• House Committee Substitute 213 –Passed out of the House of Representatives (March 17). This bill specifies that no abortion of a viable unborn child –with a gestational age of 20 weeks or more- can be performed or induced except in the case of a medical emergency where the abortion is necessary to preserve the life of the pregnant woman whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury or when the continuation of the pregnancy will create a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman. A physician must certify in writing the determined medical threat or threats. A second physician (who has knowledge of accepted obstetrical and neonatal practices) determination must be obtained, and that second physician cannot have any legal or financial affiliation or relationship with the physician performing or inducing the abortion.
  
• House Joint Resolution 2 – Passed out of the House of Representatives and is reported to the Senate. Upon voter approval, this proposed constitutional amendment guarantees a citizen’s right to pray and worship in all public areas including schools as long as the activities are voluntary and subject to the same rules and regulations that apply to all other types of speech.
  
  A citizen’s right to choose any religion or no religion at all is reaffirmed by prohibiting the state or any of its political subdivisions from establishing an official state religion and from coercing any person to participate in any prayer or other religious activity.
  
  The resolution also reaffirms the right of employees and elected officials of the State of Missouri to pray on government premises and public property and ensures the General Assembly and other political subdivisions the right to have ministers and clergymen offer prayers or invocations at meetings or sessions of the General Assembly or governing bodies.
  
  Students are allowed to express their religious beliefs in assignments free from discrimination and cannot be compelled to participate in assignments that violate their beliefs. Public schools receiving state funds are required to display the text of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the United States in a conspicuous and legible manner.
  
• House Joint Resolution 29 - Passed out of the House of Representatives and is reported to the Senate. This proposed constitutional amendment requires the State Lottery Commission to develop and begin selling a “Veterans Lottery Ticket” by July 1, 2013. All net proceeds received from the sale of these tickets must be deposited solely into the Veterans Commission Capital improvement Trust Fund.

Constituent Corner

Photo Left taken during the Cape Girardeau County Coroner’s Legislative Dinner; (l to r) Representative Billy Pat Wright, me, Cape G County Coroner Dr. John Clifton and Representative Wayne Wallingford.

Photo Right (l to r) Rep. Michael R. Brown Dist. 50, me, Raymond Doswell, Interim President of the Negro League Baseball Museum and Rep. Wayne Wallingford. The museum is located in Kansas City, 816-221-1920.

Handout for HCS 131 (modification to Prop B) is available at the MU Extension Office in Perryville.

State Property for Sale: From March 28 to April 1, MoDOT will have for purchase 39 property-parcels ranging in size from one-tenth of an acre to 199 acres. The money brought in through the sale event will be used to fund highway projects. For more information about the Southeast District properties, please contact Senior Right of Way Technician Michael Smith at (573) 472-5286 or visit: MODOT Realty to Roads program.