Neth: Elections Committee Approves Bill Concerning County Office Vacancies

We finally got some winter in Missouri. On Monday, after first heading to my "normal" job at the farm to scoop snow and load out some cattle I got on the road to Jefferson City. The storm at that point had lessened around Liberty and driving conditions were pretty good until I reached Boonville, in which I caught back up with the storm- white out conditions and slow speeds. Not great, but much better than all the snow we had to face last year. We'll see what winter has in store for us yet.

We are hearing more and more bills in the House. A lot of Consent bills. Consent bills are ones that are "non-controversial", have no fiscal note and do not involve a penalty. Good examples are naming roads and minor technical changes to existing statute. In order to pass consent they must "Do Pass Consent" unanimously out of committee and pass the House with a simple majority. Admittedly, there are some bills that come to the floor and there is controversy whether it should be consent or not. Sometimes the concern is very legitimate. If it is, people are sure to make that known in debate.

Visitors to the Capitol

A few folks from the City of Liberty were at the Capitol to meet with other city leaders from around the state. Stopping by to see me were Mike Snider, Liberty Fire Chief; Shawnna Funderburk, Asst. to the City Administrator; and Paul Jenness, City Council.

Gordon Hadden and Vicki Vance from Historic Downtown Liberty (HDLI) were in Jefferson City with the Missouri Main Street Connection, an organization dedicated to the vitality of downtown communities in cities around Missouri. Liberty was recently given the distinction of being an Accredited Main Street Community,one of just few around the state.

This Week in Committee

Elections

HCS HB 1340: Specifies that the county commission must appoint an interim county official when there is a vacancy in the office of county clerk, collector, or assessor (Do Pass Consent).

HCS HJR 47: Proposes a constitutional amendment changing the number of voter signatures that are required to place an initiative petition or a referendum on a ballot (Do Pass)

Elementary and Secondary Education

HB 1425: Requires each school district to establish a comprehensive program for student academic progression (Hearing only)

HB 1629: Allows a student to enroll in a school district other than the student's school district of residence for the purpose of attending virtual courses or programs (Hearing only)

This Week in the House

The following are bills that 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

HB 1251 sponsored by Rep. Don Ruzicka (R-68), 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.

The following were passed Consent:

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 1192 sponsored by Rep. Andrew Koenig (R-88), changes the laws regarding investment contracts of the Missouri Higher Education Saving Program, by requiring the state Treasurer to have more investment options.

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.