Schaefer: Mizzou Women's Club Soccer Team Visits

This week, the Senate Appropriations Committee heard testimony from Department of Public Safety, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Conservation.

I greatly appreciate the time these departments spend in organizing their testimony and taking the time to meet with our committee. The commitment of these organizations and their members to help their fellow Missourians does not go unnoticed.

I also had the pleasure of introducing the University of Missouri Women’s Club Soccer team on the Senate floor Tuesday morning (2/14). Congratulations to these ladies for their first place finish at the 18th annual NIRSA National Soccer Championships. Melissa Murphy, Nicole Newell, Lauren Stockell, and Alyssa Weatherly were all awarded all-tournament honors and Mariah McClain was named all-tournament goalie at the national tournament. I believe I speak on behalf of all of University of Missouri alumni when I say thank you for representing Mizzou so well on a national level.

Pictured are Lorin Opfer, Captain; Katelyn Fitter; Andrea Boone; Ciara O’Shea; Nicole Newell; Melissa Murphy; Kelsey Whittet; Alyssa Weatherly; Mackenzie King; Stefani Burt; Sarah Sanguinet; Director of Mizzou Rec Services, Diane Dahlmann; Club Sport Coordinator, Melissa Operle; and Assistant Director of Recreation Services, Laura Salerno.

The Mizzou Club Sports Federation is committed to enhancing students’ college experience by giving students the opportunity to participate in numerous club sports and encouraging healthy lifestyles. Their official website can be found here.

The University of Missouri was given the honor of hosting the Missouri Grand Prix last weekend in Columbia at the Mizzou recreational complex. This event brought numerous international Olympic swim teams and Olympic hopefuls for the upcoming summer Olympics to be held in London. The meet held in Columbia was one of seven stops in the U.S. Grand Prix Series for these athletes. Their visit to the University of Missouri campus was met with excitement by many Mizzou students and visitors. The official website for the USA swim team and information concerning the Missouri Grand Prix can be found here.

Thursday morning (2/16), I filed Senate Bill 812, which would establish the Missouri Electronic Prior Authorization Committee. This committee would facilitate and monitor Missouri-based efforts to contribute to the establishment of national electronic prior authorization standards concerning prescription drugs.

Thank you for your continued interest in the issues that affect the citizens of Boone and Randolph counties. If you have any questions or concerns throughout this session, please contact my office.

Lampe: Education Committee Hearing On Two Measures

It was great to see outreach from so many different groups at the Capitol this week. The Missouri Retired Teachers Association made me feel right at home. It was wonderful to see former co-workers and others who share my love for education.

Another group that I met with this week was the Missouri Main Street Connection, a group that enhances the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being of historic downtown business districts in Missouri. It is impressive when so many people support upcoming legislation. Thank you to eveyone who made the trip to Jefferson City to advocate for the issues that concern you.

Elementary and Secondary Education Committee

There were two bills discussed this week in the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee. The first was House Bill 1629, Virtual Schools, which would allow students to enroll in a school district other than their own for the purpose of attending virtual courses or programs. To find out more on this legislation click here.

The second bill that was talked about in the Education Committee was House Bill 1425, Student Academic Progression. This bill requires each school district to establish a comprehensive program for student academic progression. If you would like more information on this bill it can be found here.

On the Floor this Week

House Committee Subsitute House Bills 1186 & 1147 dealing with English-only drivers examinations were discussed this week and the amendments were heard on the house floor on Tuesday. However, the legislation remains on the calendar, and will brought up again at a later date. More information about this legislation can be found here.

There were several House Consent Bills that were passed on the floor this week including HB 1188, Administration of Asthma Medication, and HB 1128, National Guard Ribbons and Awards. To find out what other Consent Bills were passed this week click here.

Former Student Spotlight

Former student Nick Henderson is now a senior at Truman State University in Kirksville. He is currently working hard as an intern in the office of the Secretary of State, Robin Carnahan, here at the Capitol.


It was great to reunite with friends from the Missouri Retired Teachers Association!

Tishaura Jones: Ethics Law Invalidated, Attorney General Asks For Hammerschmidt's Reversal

SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN 2010 ETHICS LAW

The Missouri Supreme Court on Feb. 14 invalidated a 2010 ethics and campaign finance law because it violates the state constitution’s prohibition against legislation being changed from its original purpose. The court’s action had been widely expected given that the law in question originally passed the Senate as a one-page bill related to government procurement practices before House Republicans transformed it into a 66-page ethics and campaign finance bill.

The court unanimously struck down all of the provisions of the 2010 legislation, SB 844, except for the original section relating to government procurement. The invalidated provisions include those giving the Missouri Ethics Commission increased investigative authority, prohibiting the transfer of campaign contributions between campaign committees and requiring candidates to publicly disclose contributions in excess of $500within 48 hours when the donation is made during the legislative session. In the wake of the court’s decision, lawmakers are considering new legislation to reinstate many of those provisions.

Starting with its landmark 1994 ruling in Hammerschmidt v. Boone County, the Supreme Court has vigorously enforced previously ignored provisions of the Missouri Constitution that lawmakers from changing bills from the original purpose or lumping together unrelated issues in the same legislation. Under Hammerschmidt and the numerous related cases that followed, the court’s decision invalidating SB 844 had been considered a foregone conclusion.

Attorney General Chris Koster, however, added a new twist to the case on appeal when he asked the court to uphold SB 844 by reversing its nearly two-decades of precedent on the issue and returning to pre-Hammerschmidt interpretations that mostly allowed lawmakers to ignore constitutional limitations on legislative procedures. In its opinion in the latest case, Legends Bank v. State of Missouri, the court made no mention of the attorney general’s request and continued to follow its recent precedent.

TRIAL JUDGE REJECTS HOUSE REDISTRICTING CHALLENGE

Cole County Circuit Court Judge Patricia Joyce on Feb. 14 ruled that a new redistricting plan for the state House of Representatives passes constitutional muster, prompting an immediate appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court, which hasn’t yet accepted the case. If the high court upholds the redistricting plan, it will be used beginning with this year’s election cycle.

The bipartisan group of plaintiffs argued the House redistricting plan created late last year by a commission of six state appellate judges violated state constitutional requirements that districts be compact, contiguous and as equal in population as possible. The plaintiffs also argued the appellate commission violated the state’s open meetings law by conducting its work in secret. Joyce rejected all of those claims.

SENATE PASSES BILL TO POSTPONE CANDIDATE FILING

With a new state Senate redistricting plan already invalidated and the fate of new congressional and state House districts still to be determined, the Senate on Feb. 16 gave final approval to legislation that would delay the start of the candidate filing period for the August party primaries from Feb. 28 to March 27. The bill, SB 773, now goes to the House of Representatives.

Even if the bill passes and is signed into law by the governor before Feb. 28, it is uncertain if new districts for the Senate and, if necessary, the other offices will be finalized by the end of March. Population shifts under the 2010 U.S. Census required that legislative districts be redrawn to reflect those changes.

A commission consisting of equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans will meet on Feb. 18 to begin the process of creating new Senate districts but that process could take months. The Supreme Court heard arguments in a challenge to the congressional districts on Feb. 16 and is expected to rule quickly. If it strikes down the new congressional map, the General Assembly would have to enact a new plan that meets constitutional muster. A trial judge upheld the House redistricting plan on Feb. 14 but an appeal to the Supreme Court is pending.

Korman: Appropriations Committees Conduct Bill Mark-Ups

Welcome to the Missouri 99^th District’s report on activities of the seventh week of the Session. This week in the Appropriations Committees we worked on what is referred to as “mark-up of the bills”. This process involves making changes to departmental budgets presented to Legislators by the Governor. Both the Appropriations-Agriculture & Natural Resources and Appropriations-Transportation & Economic Development Committees completed their mark-up. I had a few amendments in committee that passed. The appropriations bills now move to the Budget Committee for their review.

With two of my committees completing their work this week, I will be able to focus more attention on proposed legislation. My bill (HB 1395) to improve the quality of the Land Survey Program is currently in the General Laws Committee and I hope will make it to the House Floor for debate in the coming weeks.

MoDOT’s dialogue about local transportation issues and concerns will be held on Thursday, February 23, from 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Warrenton High School in the commons area. I plan on attending and encourage you to also attend.

We had several visitors to the Capitol this week including members of Missouri Retired Teachers Association, Friends of Missouri Midwives, Second Amendment Coalition of Missouri and Missouri Propane Association.

I am happy to be here serving the constituents of Montgomery and Warren counties. Please feel free to stop by or contact your 99^th District office at:

201 West Capitol Avenue
Room 114C
Jefferson City, MO 65101
573-751-2689
Bart{dot}Korman{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov

Mayer: Measure Making College Student Transfers Easier and More Affordable Advances

Bill Improves Transfers Between Two- and Four-Year Colleges and Universities

JEFFERSON CITY— It may soon be easier and more affordable for Missouri college students to transfer college credits between two- and four-year universities based on legislation the Missouri Senate today advanced to the House. Senate Bill 455 would also enhance the retention of college students and improve remediation practices. Sponsor Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, said the changes were important to help students obtain their associate and four-year degrees.

“Our higher education students deserve every opportunity to succeed,” said Pearce. “Continuing education can be difficult enough without encountering obstacles. That is why schools should be able to offer the services students require to ease the process of transferring credits.”

Senate Bill 455 would require the creation of a library of at least 25 core courses that would be transferable between two- and four-year institutions. Those courses would be considered general education requirements, such as English, math, and science. In addition, it would call for development of a policy to encourage reverse transfer, allowing students who have collected enough hours to transfer from a four-year school to a two-year school in order to earn an associate degree.

The measure would also modify the current duties of the Missouri Coordinating Board of Higher Education by requiring the board to develop policies for all two- and four-year institutions to replicate the best practices in remediation from sources across the country.

“I sponsored this bill advocating for Missouri’s higher education students because I believe in the students of our state,” Pearce said. “This legislation is now one step closer to benefitting those hard-working students.”

Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, said making college more affordable and available to Missouri students is a priority of the Senate.

“These are common-sense steps that will ease the process of obtaining an associate or four-year degree for students whose path causes them to have to transfer, or even pause and restart their post-high school educational goals,” said Mayer. “As someone who returned to college later in life, I know firsthand how these simple changes can help more Missouri students graduate from college.”

The measure now moves to the House for similar consideration. To learn more about this bill or to track its progress, visit www.senate.mo.gov.

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.

Lant: Wading Through Muddied Waters Of Unclear Intent In Legislation, Redistricting Battles

We were busy with committee work most of the week. My committees include Workforce Development, where we heard a proposal to provide clarification to some prevailing wage provisions dealing with definitions of "maintenance work" vs. "construction". It seems that another of the unintended consequences of a bill from a few years past was to muddy the waters about what was what. We also find the need to better define the term "major alteration". These seem on the surface to be nit picking, but the interpretations of these terms can either cost or save the taxpayers many dollars. We passed it out of committee and it will now have a chance to be heard on the House floor. Another of my committees is Appropriations for Transportation and Economic Development. We held several meetings this week to finish hearing testimony from the Department of Transportation and I have to admit they were certainly entertaining. The budget process is tremendously complex in that what appears to be is not always what is! We asked the departments to remove any estimated increases in the budgets and restricted overages to 10% instead of the customary 25%. We passed the budget bill out of committee and sent it to the Budget Director for further adjustments. This is the culmination of about 50 hours of testimony and question and answer sessions. This is really only the beginning of the process of budget, as the Senate conducts their hearings and then the House and Senate committees get together to form a bill to send to the Governor. Then the Governor has the option of withholding up to 3% of the budgeted amount just because. I have to wonder how in the heck they ever came up with this process? I am also on the Professional registration Committee. Every person who holds a license issued by the State is regulated by this department. We are currently hearing testimony that deals with the "Pain Control Clinics". We have heard so far from witnesses on both sides of the issue and it looks like the solution may be in changing some of the wording so the legislation being proposed doesn't affect anyone other than those working in the pain control fields. The trick to good legislation as far as I can tell, is to word it so that anyone can understand what the intent is, and close all the loopholes to keep the lawyers out!

On the House floor, we passed several "Consent" bills. A consent bill is one that has no cost to the taxpayers and is unanimously voted out of committee. Typically, they are naming highways, declaring special days, or adding and subtracting language in an existing bill to clarify it. We passed a dozen of these on Wednesday afternoon. We have a committee whose job it is to do nothing more than get rid of antiquated bills. Some of these are fun just to read. There are still laws on the books outlawing spittoons in hotel lobbies. That had to be a good thing in its day! I was talking to a senior representative last week who told me that just eight years ago there were only about ten books of Missouri Law, today there are over twenty. I think we need to spend more time making sure our bills are written and punctuated properly to make sure we don't have to enact two new laws to correct one mistake. Even a comma placed incorrectly will make a law do something that was never intended.

Last week the Appellate Court ruled that the House Maps are correctly drawn. The Supreme Court still has to rule, but I think they will uphold the lower court decision. The Senate Maps are still unfinished and I have heard talk about extending the filing date to give the commission more time to re-draw their maps. With filing less than two weeks away, they had better get moving or they will have to extend the date. This will create a hardship on those who are running for Senate seats as they won't be able to start campaigning until they know the boundaries of their districts. I think I'll be all right for my House District as long as I don't get over into Oklahoma or Arkansas!

I visited with several Representatives on both sides of the aisle last week about what I consider to be a broken system of dealing with neglected and abused children. The difficult part is that no one department is at fault. We are going to have to look at the entire system in order to find out what is, or is not being done. I have intentions of forming a interim study group to meet with department heads and other interested parties to look for ways to improve, or if necessary, overhaul the current system. I received an E-mail from an old friend last week which spelled out yet more problems I was unaware of. It's amazing what you find out once you start looking into problems. You will be hearing more about this as I learn more. I will also be sharing thoughts and ideas as we begin meeting with the departments.

There is going to be a Storm Spotter Training Class March 9th. at 6:30 in the McDonald County High School Cafeteria. If the past several years are any indication, we need all the storm spotters we can get. There will be more information in the Press this week, if you can go, it sure will be worthwhile. I'll have more next week, until then, I am, and remain, in your service.

Burlison: Maintaining Honest Elections

Last week, while the media lambasted the General Assembly for failing to eliminate our State's non-binding primary, Republicans fought to strengthen electoral accountability by passing a crucial election reform. In the House, we have a history of fighting to strengthen our State's elections; in fact, last session we passed two crucial pieces of election legislation. SB 282 would have tied the choosing of our delegates to the primary results by moving the election to March to ensure that all of our State's delegates were counted.

Similarly, to address fraudulent voting, we passed a Voter Identification Bill which would have created fairer elections. Unfortunately, by vetoing both pieces of legislation, Governor Nixon neglected the growing problem of fraudulent voting and required our State to face losing half of our delegates at the party conventions.

Voter fraud is not a mythical issue. In its majority opinion upholding Indiana's Voter Identification law, the U.S. Supreme Court recognized that flagrant examples of voter fraud are real and could affect the outcome of a close election. This month, the Pew Center released a study revealing that approximately 24 million active voter registrations are invalid or contain significantly innaccuracies. With1 in 8 active voter registrations flawed or invalid, there is no time for indecision. If this problem remains unchecked, it will erode the democratic principles of our elections by diluting the voice of legitimate voters. HB 1104 takes steps to protect the integrity of our elections by requiring voters to prove their identity. This ensures that all eligible votes can be cast without fear of fraud.

I sincerely hope that Governor Nixon will consider this bill on its own merits when it reaches his desk. Though he vetoed a similar bill last session, the current version takes strong precautions to prevent voter disenfranchisement. Critics of the bill argue that requiring voters to show a photo ID will suppress the vote of elderly, minority and poor citizens who they claim are less likely to have photo identification. In an effort to alleviate these concerns, HB 1104 allows all citizens without the proper photo identification to obtain one free of charge from the state or their local license bureau.

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.

Mayer and Dempsey: Senate Advances Workers’ Comp Reform Bil

Measure Would Protect Co-employees and Help Businesses Create Jobs

JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Senate by a vote of 28 to 6 advanced to the House today a measure that reforms Missouri Workers’ Compensation System. The bill, Senate Bill 572, would restore protections for co-employees from personal lawsuits for their role in honest accidents at work and return Workers’ Compensation as the exclusive remedy for workplace accidents.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, sponsored the measure and said the changes would improve Missouri’s business climate.

“This bill presents real solutions to problems facing our state’s workforce and their employers,” said Dempsey. “Ending lawsuit abuses and relieving the need for additional insurance to cover honest accidents at work are important to making sure Missouri businesses can grow and hire more employees.”

Dempsey said the bill would abrogate a 2010 appeals court decision that opened up co-employees to this risk. The bill also reinstates the Workers’ Compensation System as the exclusive remedy for workplace claims, except in cases where employers intentionally put their employees at risk of injury or death.

“It’s unacceptable that an employee injured in an honest accident at work can sue his or her co-employees,” Dempsey said. “Coworkers, most of whom do not have insurance when it comes to covering their role in workplace accidents, should not be open to lawsuits as a secondary slush fund for those injured on the job. The responsibility should begin and end with the employer and the workers’ compensation system.”

Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer said the measure is one of several priorities designed to spur job creation in Missouri.

“While Missouri’s unemployment rate has improved, it is still too high with more than 245,000 Missourians still out of work,” said Mayer, R-Dexter. “We acted quickly on this bill because it is an important step in creating a climate where businesses will want to expand.”

The bill now moves to the House for similar consideration. The measure included an emergency clause, meaning it would take effect immediately upon the governor’s signature. To learn more about this bill or to track its progress, visit www.senate.mo.gov.

Kraus: Uninsured Motorists

Earlier this year, I filed Senate Bill 696, which increases fees, fines and penalties for uninsured motorists. For years, I have heard from one constituent or another who was hit by an uninsured motorist and found out how devastating it can be.

In doing research for the bill, I found some incredible statistics. In the year from July 2010 to July 2011, there were more than 6,000 collisions in Missouri involving uninsured motorists. In the calendar year 2010, the state issued 22,000 citations to uninsured motorists. Overall, 14 percent of Missouri drivers are uninsured. The Missouri State Auditor estimates that it costs those of us with insurance more than $90 million per year to cover uninsured motorists.

I decided it was time to crack down on this growing problem. I asked our Senate research staff to summarize all the laws related to uninsured drivers, and then I set about making them tougher.

Under SB 696, anyone caught driving while uninsured would have his or her license suspended. The measure also raises the reinstatement fee for first, second, and subsequent offenses. It also doubles the suspension period for second offenses.

Currently the court can fine an uninsured driver up to $300 and sentence him or her to jail for up to 15 days for a second or subsequent offense. SB 696 adds a mandatory $1,000 fine for a second offense, and a $5,000 fine for a third offense.

Finally, SB 696 adds two new impound capabilities. If it passes, courts will be able to impound the vehicle of an uninsured driver for up to six months on a second or subsequent offense. In addition, an officer would be able to order the impounding of a vehicle of an uninsured driver who is involved in an accident.

SB 696 was heard in the Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee this week. There was no testimony in opposition to the bill. My hope is that it will pass out of committee next week, and be heard on the floor in the near future. My intent for this legislation is to reduce the number of motorists who are uninsured and to limit the impact those uninsured drivers have on all Missourians.

District Days

We are still receiving RSVPs for our District Days on March 21 and March 27. Next week, the Capitol Report will focus on our activities for those days. I would ask you share that e-mail with anyone you know in the district who may want to attend.

New District 8 Staff Member

Linda Vogt, who has worked with me both in the House and Senate, has announced her retirement effective March 1. Linda has been a valuable asset to this office and to the residents of the 8th District. I know you will join me in wishing Linda a safe and healthy retirement.

This week, we welcomed Megan Wolfe as our new Legislative Assistant. Megan had worked as both an intern and an employee in Rep. Mike McGhee’s office in the Missouri House. Megan is energetic and ready to help in any way she can. She can be reached at megan{dot}wolfe{at}senate{dot}mo{dot}gov.

Mayer: Senate Advances Bill Curbing Excessive Rules and Regulations

Measure Would Help Tear Down Economic Barriers for All Businesses

JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri business owners moved one step closer to greater freedom from excessive and overly burdensome state rules and regulations when the Missouri Senate voted 28 to 6 today to advance Senate Bill 469. Sponsor Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield, noted it is one of several Senate bills aimed at putting Missourians back to work.

“An important part of the jobs solution is making sure Missourians can exercise their freedom to earn a living,” said Dixon. “Burdensome regulations can be barriers that stifle job growth and make Missouri less competitive. This is one way we can go back to basics and make government work for Missourians.”

In an October 2011 Gallup poll, small-business owners ranked compliance with government regulations as the most important problem facing them today.

Senate Bill 469 would require state agencies to review and reconsider regulations on a regular basis. The bill would increase agency accountability and improve legislative oversight.

Each regulation must be reviewed regularly to determine whether it is outdated, duplicative, conflicts with other rules, is burdensome or narrowly tailored and then agencies must make necessary changes while still providing adequate protection of the public.

“We can’t let small businesses be buried in red tape on the one hand and expect them to create jobs on the other hand,” said Dixon.

Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, outlined the bill as a priority to help improve Missouri’s business climate in his opening day address to the Senate. Mayer said the measure is part of a comprehensive package of bills aimed at helping spur job creation.

“Few things can bring private sector growth to a halt more quickly than overly contrived red tape. That is why we must tear down the walls that are economic barriers to all Missouri businesses,” Mayer said. “The Senate has now advanced a number of bills, including curbing excessive and overly burdensome regulations that affect all business – big and small.”

The measure now moves to the House for similar consideration. To learn more about this bill or to track its progress, visit www.senate.mo.gov.