Torpey: Charter Schools measure advances, Redistricting

A Special Note

On Wednesday, I was graciously assigned a Coro-Fellow Student to shadow me throughout the day. The Fellows Program in Public Affairs is an intensive nine-month, post-graduate program. The program is experience-based and the Fellows spend most of their time working and learning full time at field placements in a nonprofit organization, local government agency, organized labor, electoral politics and business. My shadow for the day was Mary Gleich, an extremely bright and intelligent young woman who our office loved having around! Mary graduated from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota with degrees in Human Services and Political Science in May 2010. Her experiences and her upbringing as a child of teachers, has committed Mary to working for quality education. While Mary was at the Capitol, we were lucky enough to hear a bill on charter schools and join Missouri NEA for lunch a few blocks away.

2011 Legislative Session continues

Passes through the House this week:

• HB 473, sponsored by Rep. Jones (063), will change the laws regarding charter schools and establishes the Missouri Charter Public School Commission. Charter schools are public schools that take public money, but are not subject to the same regulations as other schools in the state. In exchange for this public money, they must accept students that choose to attend them, and they must meet certain performance standards. If they don't meet these standards, they lose this funding. There are several successful charter schools in the St. Louis area, and we want to expand the ability for individuals to start them. One type of these proposals is to allow universities, like MU or SLU to sponsor a charter school. Another is to let non-profit or charitable organizations start charter schools. However, while new Charter schools may offer good alternatives we also need to make sure they are accountable. Additionally, if we give money to a charter school, and they don't meet the performance requirements, this bill will allow us to revoke their status as a charter school. Additionally, local school boards must authorize the creation of any new Charter Schools. This bill passed the House by a vote of 86-70, with myself voting in favor.
• SB 161, sponsored by Senator Munzlinger, addresses the issues around Proposition B and the modifications recently passed by the House and Senate. This measure would actually make it harder to operate a puppy mill in our state. This bill, unlike the United States Humane Society's proposition (Prop B), increases the cost of obtaining a dog breeder's license in Missouri, and uses that money to increase inspections. It is my belief that bad people will always do bad things. The current "puppy mills" in Missouri are already operating in violation of our laws. Missouri's "Operation Bark Alert" has been catching hundreds of illegal breeders and rescuing thousands of dogs since its creation. This bill passed with a vote of 108-42, myself voting in favor. Yesterday, Governor Nixon gladly signed this bill, creating great compromise between everyone involved.
  
  **If you suspect someone is operating an illegal puppy mill and want to help us shut them down, PLEASE report them to state officials with "Operation Bark Alert" at: http://mda.mo.gov/animals/ACFA/barkalert/reportbreeder.php **
  
• HB 193, sponsored by Rep. Diehl, changes the composition of Congressional districts based on the 2010 census. In other words, this bill is this suggested Congressional Redistricting Map. A last minute effort was made with both the House and Senate coming together to create a new Congressional Map for Missouri. Eight out of nine members of the US House have agreed to this map and are in favor of it, including Congressman Cleaver of the 5th District and Congressman Graves of the 6th District (Congressman Carnahan did not agree to any of the suggested maps drawn). The map now makes its way to Governor Nixon to be signed into law. If the governor decides to veto this bill/map, the House and Senate have one last effort to find the numbers to over-ride the veto on the very last day of session (May 13). If the numbers are not found to be able to over-ride the veto, the map will not go into effect and redistricting will be sent to the courts. This bill passed with a vote of 97-55 in the House, and 27-7 in the Senate. I voted in favor of this measure.
• SB 366, sponsored by Senator Goodman, will create Missouri cooperative associations and will modify the law relating to the conversion of certain business organizations. Right now, if a business is in another state and they want to move their registration to Missouri, it's not a clear or easy process. This bill seeks to clarify the ways that businesses can operate, to streamline the process for a corporation to transition to a Missouri corporation. The easier it is for foreign corporations to locate here, the more likely they will, and bring new jobs with them. Additionally, right now, if a foreign corporation is a "Cooperative Association" they cannot even register in our state. Our addition of this corporate form to Missouri will allow these businesses to form, and will also allow Missouri citizens who want to start a new business under this form to do so. This bill passed overwhelmingly, with myself voting in favor.

For more information on current legislation in the Missouri House of Representatives, please contact our office or visit the House website.

Committees

Fiscal Review met Tuesday and today to hold executive session.

• HCS HB 600, 337, 413, sponsored by Rep. Schad, is an omnibus bill over the topic of public safety. This passed committee with a vote of 8-0.
• HCS HB 579, sponsored by Rep. Frederick, will change various provisions regarding the licensure and inspection of hospitals. This bill passed committee with a vote of 6-3, with myself voting in favor.
• HCS HB 366, sponsored by Rep. Silvey, would authorize local government technology business facility projects and would create state and local sales and use tax exemptions for data storage center projects. This bill passed out of committee with a vote of 8-0.
• SB 3, sponsored by Rep. Stouffer, would establish photo identification requirements for voting. This bill passed with a vote of 9-2, with myself voting in favor. SB 3 will only be made into law if the vote of the people passes SJR 2.
• SJR 2, sponsored by Rep. Stouffer, would allow enabling legislation for photographic identification for voting. This bill passed by a vote of 8-3, with myself voting in favor.
• HJR 27, sponsored by Rep. Brattin, proposes a constitutional amendment specifying that the right of every citizen to possess, purchase ammunition, and any parts or articles for the proper functioning of arms must not be infringed. This bill passed out of committee with a vote of 8-3, with myself voting in favor.
• HJR 16, sponsored by Rep. Dugger, proposes a constitutional amendment increasing the signature requirement for all initiative and referendum petitions. This bill passed by a vote of 9-1, with myself voting in favor.

Downsizing State Government met today upon adjournment to hold public hearings and executive session on two bills.

• SJR 10, sponsored by Senator Lembke, would lower the number of State Representatives from 163 to 103. This bill failed to pass committee, with myself voting in favor.
• SCS SB 323, sponsored by Senator Schaefer, will require the State Auditor to conduct a one-time comparative audit of selected state agencies. This bill passed out of committee, with myself voting in favor.

For more information on these bills, or any that have been filed in the Missouri House of Representatives, please visit the House Bill information page by clicking here.

Word of the Week

An Omnibus Bill is a single document that is accepted in a single vote by the legislature, but packages together several measures into one.

In Other News

As we draw closer to the end of session, I want to remind you to feel free to contact my office with any questions or concerns, even after we have officially adjourned on May 13.