Kelley: Pharmacy Inventories, Special Vanity Plates Among Consent Bills Advanced To Senate

Bookending the week with wintry scenes of snow laden trees followed up with a return to early spring like chilly mornings, we are reminded that we are but spectators to Mother Nature’s whims. I do hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine’s Day with their loved ones and those who are most special in our lives…

“Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.”--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Legislative Update

The following bills were Perfected and Third Read this week and head now across the Rotunda to the Senate for consideration:

HB 1041 is sponsored by Rep. Mike Thomson (R-04). Currently, only the Board of Governors of Missouri Western State University may transfer property, except in fee simple, without an authorizing act of the General Assembly. This bill restores that ability to the board of governors of the other state universities and changes the expiration date of those provisions from August 28, 2014 to August 28, 2017.

HB 1103 sponsored by Rep. Sandy Crawford (R-119), relates to certain banks, savings institutions, and credit unions which are exempt from the Missouri Appraisal Management Company Registration and Regulation Act as it applies to the assignment of an appraisal request to an appraiser who is an independent contractor to the institution are required to file a notice with the Missouri Real Estate Appraisers Commission within the Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration that includes the same information that the registered real estate appraisal management company must file. This bill repeals that requirement.

HB 1251 sponsored by Rep. Don Ruzicka (R-[132]), extends the authorization for the Department of Natural Resources to impose fees regarding the federal Safe Drinking Water Act from September 1, 2012 to September 1, 2017.

Consent bills (bills that contain a zero fiscal note, no penalty provisions and are non-controversial in nature) that were Third Read and Passed on the House Floor this week include the following:

HB 1075 sponsored by Rep. David Sater (R-68), prohibits a licensed pharmacy from being required to carry or maintain in inventory any specific prescription or non-prescription drug or devise.

HB 1093 sponsored by Rep. Kevin Elmer (R-141), allows for a special license plate for a person who is a recipient of the Navy Cross.

HB 1141 sponsored by Rep. Chuck Gatschenberger (R-13), changes the laws regarding the “Don’t Tread on Me” special license plate.

HB 1156 sponsored by Rep. Lyle Rowland (R-143), designates a portion of U.S. Highway 160 in the City of Gainesville as the “Matthew J. England Memorial Highway.”

HB 1179 sponsored by Rep. Kent Hampton (R-163), prohibits large water users from conveying water withdrawn or diverted from the Southeast Missouri Regional Water District to a location outside of the district if it interferes with another major user.

HB 1192 sponsored by Rep. Andrew Koenig (R-88), changes the laws regarding investment contracts of the Missouri Higher Education Saving Program.

HB 1185 sponsored by Rep. Mark Parkinson (R-16), adds citizenship information to the sexual offender registration form and requires the State Highway Patrol to report to the federal government any non-U.S. citizen on the sexual offender registry.

HB 1250 sponsored by Rep. Don Ruzicka (R-132), allows certain third class cities to cancel any primary election for the office of mayor and councilman.

HB 1269 sponsored by Rep. Rick Brattin (R-124), revises the laws regarding the Cass County – The Burnt District special license plate.

For more information regarding any specific piece of legislation, visit www.house.mo.gov.

Local News and Events

Scholarship Opportunity for High School Senior Women

As in the past, members of the Women Legislators of Missouri will sponsor a scholarship award for graduating high school senior women in our state. They will be awarding nine $500 scholarships to 2012 graduating women. One recipient will be chosen from each of the nine Missouri U.S. Congressional Districts for a scholarship award. For more information and the application, please e-mail Denia Fields at denia{dot}fields{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov.

Important Tax Information

Taxpayers making $57,000 or less can visit www.irs.gov/efile to prepare and E-File federal tax returns for FREE, a landmark partnership between the IRS and tax software providers.

Visiting the Capitol

I always enjoy it when constituents visit the Capitol, and this week I was thrilled to greet a group of students from the Lamar Vo-Tech, Dr. Erik Miller and his PA student as well as my sister-in-law Beth. If you ever find yourself in or around Jefferson City at any time during the year, please feel free to visit us! Stop by the Office in Room 201E and we will be happy to meet and greet you!

Personal News & Notes

If you know anyone who would be interested in receiving this Capitol Report, they can click the “Capitol Report Signup” button on my member home page at www.house.mo.gov and enter the appropriate information to receive the Capitol Report.

Please contact me with any suggestions that you may have for Missouri legislation. Also, if you should experience problems in contacting or resolving an issue with a Missouri state agency, please feel free to call my Capitol office at (573) 751-2165 or email at mike{dot}kelley{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov. Thank you for the honor to serve as your Representative in the Missouri House of Representatives. Until my next update, I am, and remain, in your service.