Nance: Bills that are now law, In the District

August 28^th just passed and is the day that most bills take effect unless specifically dated or emergency clauses are attached. Many bills passed with great bi-partisan support.

Some of those bills include:

HB 1311
Establishes provisions regarding health insurance coverage for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders and the licensure of behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts.

HB 1408
Changes the time period before interest is paid on an overpayment of income tax from four months to 90 days after the last date to file a return, including an extension, or the date the return was filed.

HB 1472
Changes the laws regarding the designation of controlled substances (K-2).

HB 1695
Changes the laws regarding intoxication-related traffic offenses.

HB 1893
Changes the laws regarding the distribution of gaming funds for early childhood education and veterans' programs and requires an annual audit to be conducted on the fund accounts for three years.

Referendum

HB 1764
Prohibits persons, employers, or health care providers from being compelled to participate in any health care system and allows certain domestic insurance companies to dissolve under certain conditions. (Prop C)

HB 2
The Manufacturer's Job Act in an attempt to keep full employment of jobs in the automotive industry.

In the District

I was honored to receive the "Friend of Agriculture Award" from Farm Bureau on Monday evening. It is to recognize legislators serving in the Missouri House of Representatives who have been especially supportive of agriculture.

On Monday the 23^rd, I shared the Bill of Rights and Constitution with 19 scouts at the Methodist Church in Excelsior Springs.

I was the speaker at the Ray County Retired Teachers meeting today.

On Tuesday, September 7^th at 10:00 a.m., there will be a ribbon cutting for Route A Bridge in Hardin. At 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 7^th, there will be a ribbon cutting on N Hwy, south of Excelsior Springs.

Kraus: Protecting Our Children

Finally! The weather is warm, the skies are blue, and it will soon be officially summer.  It's time for many of us to get outside to take care of the garden, get in some outdoor exercise, or just sit outside on the patio for rest and recreation after a busy day.

It's time for our children to be outside, too.  Out of school for the summer, it's their time to wander in the park, play ball, hit the swimming pools, and gather with friends away from parents. It is – and should be – a great time for them.  However, as parents, we must also be aware of the dangers that can lurk around our parks, our swimming pools, and other places where children gather.  Child sex offenders, if they are allowed, know where to seek their prey.

We've long had laws on the books that prohibit sex offenders from living or working near schools.  However, only since 2009, when I sponsored HB 105, have we had laws that prohibit them from being within 500 feet of public parks and swimming pools where children congregate in the summer.  I worked to limit their proximity because caring teachers and parents have a harder time keeping an eye on children in these places.  At the same time, I also sponsored legislation, HB 106, to prohibit convicted sex offenders from serving in capacities such as a coach or athletic trainer for youth teams.  When a constituent contacted me about this happening and its horrible consequences, I vowed to not let it happen again.  Both of these provisions passed in HB 62.

Sex Offender Registry

As a parent, you can help to safeguard your children by knowing where convicted sex offenders live in your neighborhood.  Convicted child sex offenders are required to register with the state, and information is available online at www.mshp.dps.mo.gov. Once you have accessed the website, you can look up offenders by entering your address and selecting a search area anywhere within one thousand feet to fifteen miles from your home. The site will map out where all the offenders in your vicinity live. When you scroll down and click on the offender's name, it will bring up a picture, physical description and convictions.  If you do not have access to the internet, you can call the Missouri Sex Offender Registry toll free at (888) 767-6747.

New Legislation

We must remain ever vigilant in protecting our children from these heinous predators.  If protection fails, we must also work to improve health care for child victims of sexual assault. This year, in response to the lack of health care professionals trained to evaluate child sexual assault victims in Missouri, we passed HB 2270.  It improves health care for child victims by educating more health care professionals on how to evaluate and communicate with abuse victims. The legislation also will allow doctors to get a second opinion by consulting with other doctors using advanced video technology. Currently, doctors are barred from sharing information about their patients with anyone, excluding law enforcement.

We as legislators must continue to identify any shortcomings in our system of protections against child sexual abuse, and we must continue to fix those problems with our actions in the legislature.

Legislation Becomes Law

Stiffer Penalties for Drunken Drivers Signed

According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, below are the numbers of alcohol-related driving events in Jackson County.

• In 2009, 24 fatal crashes occurred, killing 28 people.
• In 359 accidents, 531 people were injured in 2009.
• For all law enforcement agencies, DWI arrests totaled 3409 in 2009.
• In the roughly five-year period from 2005 to date, 123 people have been killed.

These deaths are fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, children, and relatives.  The problem touches us all, and we must do what we can to discourage drunk driving.

This session, the General Assembly passed HB 1695, which strengthens laws regarding intoxication-related traffic offenses, and Governor Nixon signed this bill on June 2.

Penalties, including jail time, have been increased for persons who are arrested for driving while intoxicated.  The bill would require drivers with blood-alcohol levels of at least 0.15 percent to spend 48 hours in jail and those with at least 0.2 percent to spend at least five days in jail, unless the person completes the requirements of a DWI court or docket that can require treatment.   In addition, it specifies that drivers with blood-alcohol levels of at least 0.15 percent cannot be granted a suspended imposition of sentence.

The bill also makes greater provision for offenders to choose treatment by allowing any circuit court to set up a DWI docket for repeat offenders or those whose blood-alcohol content exceeds 0.15 percent.  The court may assess costs for participation in a DWI court against the participant.

Legislation That Affects Military Personnel

On May 27, Governor Nixon signed the four pieces of military legislation that I discussed in my last Capitol update.  These were:

• HB 1524 – Enacts several changes regarding veterans and members of the military,
• HB 1893 - Changes the laws regarding the distribution of gaming funds for early childhood education and veterans' programs and requires an annual audit to be conducted on the fund accounts for three years,
• HB 2147 - Exempts certain students who are dependents of recently retired military personnel from the three-year attendance requirement under the A+ Schools Program, and
• HB 2262 - Exempts certain students who are dependents of recently retired military personnel from the three-year attendance requirement under the A+ Schools Program.

I'm very glad to see the successful conclusion of these bills.

Flag Day

Next Monday, June 14, is Flag Day.  After the creation of the flag by seamstress Betsy Ross 233 years ago, Francis Scott Key was inspired to write our national anthem as he saw it still flying in the light of dawn after a night of battle with the British.  To see it still flying continues to be the glory of those who fight for it.  June 14 is the special day for everyone to fly the flag with pride in the history and nation that it represents.

Also on June 14, 1775, the Second Continental Congress issued a resolution that formally established the United States Army.  Happy Birthday!

With the ending of the 2010 Legislative Session, the Capitol Report will be issued about twice a month. During this time, if you have an event that you would like me to attend or speak at, please contact my office at 1 (573) 751-1459 or e-mail at will{dot}kraus{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov.

Kraus: Remembering Our Fallen Soldiers

Next Monday, May 31, is Memorial Day – a day of remembrance for those who have died serving our country. As I go about the business of daily life, I remember that our freedom, our independence, and our way of life is, quite simply, due to those who have served in our armed forces, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice of life itself. We all owe these men and women so much.

It is the ultimate sacrifice to lose life so that others can live in freedom. But for those who put themselves in harm’s way, they see their service, not as a sacrifice, but as a job that must be done. I honor this ethic in our military personnel. As a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve who has witnessed our military men and women get up and go to work every day, I never cease to respect their unwavering effort.

As a legislator, I can honor this effort by fighting for legislation to help our military personnel. Last session, I passed HB 82. Starting in 2010, this legislation exempts 15 percent of a military pension from state income tax. The size of the exemption will grow each year until it reaches 100 percent in 2016. It is a small way to give back, but one that I was very glad to sponsor.

This session, I also introduced legislation to help the children of retired military personnel benefit from the A+ School Program after a constituent contacted me. After retiring from military service, he moved back to Missouri with his family. He wanted to enroll his daughter in the A+ school program, but found that it required three years residence in Missouri. While state law specifies an exemption for active military, it does not extend to retired military families.

Therefore, I filed a bill, HB 2261, that extends the exemption to students who are dependents of retired military who relocate to Missouri within one year of the date of the parents’ retirement from active duty. This bill was combined with other legislation to become HCS HB 2147 & 2261, and it is also included in the omnibus bill described below. I was extremely pleased with successful passage of this bill in the General Assembly and hope to see it signed by the governor. Our military personnel should not have to sacrifice educational benefits for their children in order to keep us all safe back home.

As a way of remembering, I’ve listed below the most significant military-related bills that were Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed in the 2010 Session.

Veterans and Members of the Military

SCS HCS HB 1524 & 2260 is an omnibus bill passed this session that covers several military concerns. In its main provisions, the bill:

• Requires all agencies and political subdivisions of this state to give a three-point bonus preference to a service-disabled veteran business operating as a Missouri business when letting a contract for the performance of any job or service;
• Specifies that the State of Missouri recognizes the designations of Prisoner of War (POW) and Missing in Action (MIA) as valid descriptions of casualty status and category classification for military personnel;
• Requires the Secretary of State to establish procedures for absent uniformed services and overseas voters to request voter registration applications and absentee ballot applications.

Gaming Funds

Currently, early childhood education and veterans' programs are supported by gaming money. This bill, SS#2 HCS HB 1893, changes provisions of current law that governs this distribution. The changes require grant funds to be made available for service officer training for outreach programs between veteran service organizations and the Missouri Veterans Commission and add the Vietnam War to the list of conflicts for which service medals are awarded.

Beginning in Fiscal Year 2011, the Veterans' Commission Capital Improvement Trust Fund and the Early Childhood Development Education Care Fund will each receive, subject to appropriations, an additional $600,000 per year if the Gaming Commission Fund reaches the 2009 appropriation level for early childhood education. Once the $1.2 million is distributed to these two funds, any additional moneys will be deposited into the Early Childhood Development Education and Care Fund.

Missouri Youth Challenge Academy

This bill, HCS HB 2262 & 2264, allows the Adjutant General to establish the Missouri Youth Challenge Academy for at-risk high school age youth. The residential military-based academy will provide work experience and training in life skills, citizenship, life-coping and academic skills, among others. The Missouri Youth Challenge Foundation Fund is created consisting of gifts, donations, appropriations, transfers, and bequests. The Adjutant General is authorized to make grants from the fund to support the academy. Language to create this academy is also contained in the omnibus bill.

With the ending of the 2010 Legislative Session, the Capitol Report will be issued about twice a month. During this time, if you have an event that you would like me to attend or speak at, please contact my office at 1 (573) 751-1459 or e-mail at will{dot}kraus{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov.

Goodman: Protecting Life and Limiting the Harmful Effects of Gambling

While the budget has been the primary focus of the 2010 legislative session so far, your Legislature is still working to address other important issues for Missouri families. Last week, the Senate General Laws Committee, which I chair, advanced two bills that I strongly support.

The first is House Bill 2081, a measure I will be handling in the Senate. This legislation would allow any pregnant woman to use deadly force to protect her unborn child. In instances where a woman and her unborn baby are seriously threatened, fear of criminal prosecution should not prevent the woman from defending herself and her child.

The bill stems from the case of a pregnant woman in Michigan who was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to prison time after using deadly force to defend her unborn baby against her boyfriend who was repeatedly punching her in the stomach. Though the case was eventually overturned, we should take proactive steps to guarantee that mothers in Missouri may defend their babies from attack.  This important legislation would make that right crystal clear in state law.

I am determined to make swift progress on this bill to ensure it has time to be discussed on the Senate floor and given an opportunity to receive a vote. The General Laws Committee received the bill on April 20, and I scheduled a public hearing for the next day, April 21. Shortly after the hearing, the committee voted to pass the bill, sending it to the Senate floor the same day. With only three weeks left in the legislative session, there is no time to lose.

Last week, I also amended a bill to include a provision that would help limit the expansion of gambling in Missouri. Essentially, my amendment to HB 1893 would make it more difficult for the Missouri Gaming Commission to quickly issue a license for a new gambling boat in our state. Prior to any new gaming license being considered, the commission would be required to conduct a comprehensive study to determine the economic and financial impact of issuing an additional gaming license. The commission should consider these findings before determining whether an additional license should be issued.

Missouri must strongly regulate and restrict the growth of the gambling industry, particularly in these uncertain economic times. Gambling can have potentially destabilizing effects on local economies, as well as disastrous consequences for individuals and families, so I hope that my colleagues in the Legislature will seriously consider this bill when it comes to the Senate floor.

As always, I welcome your ideas, questions and concerns about Missouri government. You may contact me at the State Capitol as follows: (573) 751-2234, jack{dot}goodman{at}senate{dot}mo{dot}gov or by writing to Senator Jack Goodman, Missouri State Capitol, Room 331-A, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

Nance: Education Bills Passed, Latest From The District

“Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.” –Ronald Reagan

At the Capitol:

HCS#2 HB 1543 relating to Elementary and Secondary education was debated this week.

This substitute changes the laws regarding elementary and secondary education, school employee liability, safety practices, and reporting acts of violence. In its main provisions, the substitute:

• Specifies that a suspended student who is not allowed on school property without specific permission is also prohibited from attending school events occurring off school property. It also expands employee immunity when following established discipline policies to include policies of student discipline.
• Defines "cyber-bullying" as it relates to a school district's anti-bullying policies to include the use of computers, the Internet, and phones to bully a student.
• Allows all public school districts to require a school uniform or restrict student dress.
• Requires all public schools to observe Veterans Day with appropriate activities.

Amendments that were added included Professional Development which would not be required of districts over the next two years and the schools could use the funding as they choose ($30 million a year). Normally a school must put 75% of their funding in the Teacher’s Fund, but they are not required to do so the next two years.

An amendment allowing “open enrollment” was defeated by a vote of 122-34.

The House third read and passed HB 2294 by a vote of 97-53. The bill would repeal the provision that requires a political party’s emblem to be printed on an election ballot above the party caption.

HB 1893 was third read and passed by a vote of 146-8. The bill would change the laws regarding the distribution of gaming funds for early childhood education and veterans’ programs.

On Tuesday, the House Veterans Committee voted do pass on HB 2357, which would prohibit any public retirement plan of the state or a political subdivision from investing funds with foreign companies that have active ties to any country designated as a state sponsor of terrorism.

In the District:

The Ray County Coalition sponsored their second annual Gala at Mellon’s Banquet Hall in Lawson last Saturday.

Martha Balman and ladies with Family and Community Education gave me a doll to be shared with an agency in Ray County. The FCE work to protect our children and recently had a seminar on autism.

Martha Balman and ladies with Family and Community Education gave me a doll to be shared with an agency in Ray County. The FCE works to protect our children and recently had a seminar on autism.

Excelsior Springs students came to Jefferson City on March 18th for the State Student Council Convention.

The girls are from left to right: Tiffany Propst, Hallie Ring, Shauni Lawrence and Wendy Chuning.

Kraus: Assistance to Missouri Veterans

Last week in the House, we spent quite a bit of time on Consent Bills.  Consent bills have no fiscal impact, are non-controversial, and contain no penalty provisions.  Because it makes passage of the bill much smoother, a bill sponsor will request consent status for bills ranging from ones like my bill, HB 1691 that would set up bicycling and walking days, to minor fixes of state law that may be relevant to only one district.

The House did take on legislation that would benefit veterans, and I am always glad to be a part of that effort.  HB 1893 would provide additional funding for veterans services officers who assist veterans with obtaining available services and benefits. After serving so honorably and courageously in Iraq and Afghanistan, our veterans are returning home, and these officers can help them re-integrate into life in the states.

Showing broad support for veterans, the House approved HB 1893 by a vote of 146-8. It now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Save Money; Save Energy: Sales Tax Holiday and Rebates Starting April 19

Sales Tax

If you are thinking about replacing an old appliance and want to save money by both lowering energy costs and paying less sales tax, then Missouri's Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday is for you.  From April 19-25, people who purchase new ENERGY STAR qualified appliances in Missouri will save 4.225 percent of the purchase by not being required to pay state sales tax.

Local governmental entities can opt to participate in the holiday.  In Eastern Jackson County, Lee's Summit and Oak Grove have elected to participate, meaning that the buyer will also be exempt from city sales tax if the appliance is purchased in either city.

ENERGY STAR-certified appliances that qualify for the sales tax exemption are:

• Clothes washers
• Refrigerators
• Freezers
• Dishwashers
• Water heaters
• Furnaces
• Air conditioners
• Heat Pumps

The sales tax exemption only applies to the first $1,500 on each appliance. If an appliance costs more than $1,500, the regular sales tax rate is in effect for any of the purchase price above $1,500.

Additional information regarding the Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday can be obtained at Green Tax Holiday.

Rebates

You can increase your savings with rebates - also on ENERGY STAR^® qualified appliances. Starting April 19, Missouri residents are eligible to receive rebates that can run from $75 to $500 per appliance.

Once you have decided which ENERGY STAR appliance you would like to buy, you may reserve your rebate amount at a participating retailer or installation contractor on or after April 19. You may also reserve your own rebate online at this site beginning April 21.

Additional information about the Energize Missouri Appliance Rebate Program is now available online at MissouriApplianceRebate.com and through a toll-free consumer information line at 877-541-4848. The consumer information line will be available from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Fundraiser to Benefit Local Children with Cancer

Next Monday, April 12, the Lee's Summit High School girls' soccer teams will be hosting a fundraiser to benefit local children with cancer, called the Melanie Grace Kickin' It Against Cancer Soccer Fundraiser.  From 4:00 to 9:00 p.m., all three Lee's Summit girls' soccer teams will be playing at Lee's Summit High School.

Rebecca Hertzog was chosen to be this year's recipient.  Rebecca is a Lee's Summit resident and was diagnosed with leukemia last fall.  She is currently waiting for a bone marrow transplant.

The fundraiser began as a way to remember Melanie Grace Lindmark, who was born on August 27, 1998. She was diagnosed with an extremely rare cancer in November of 2002 at only four years of age. Melanie passed away in March, 2005 after losing her battle with cancer.  The Lindmark family selects each year's recipient of the funds.

On the day of the event, a silent auction will be held and t-shirts will be on sale.  A special effort this year is to hold a bone marrow drive during the event to look for a match for Rebecca and for countless others awaiting a bone marrow transplant.

The soccer teams are also looking for sponsors for the event.  They offer advertising on the website as well as on the game day program.  Click on www.lshstigersoccer.com for additional information and updates.

For more information, contact Beth Manley at 816-305-4124.