Lichtenegger: One Day To Go In Session

Today is the last day of session, and the House calendar is full of bills yet to be debated and voted upon. Since this Capitol Report will be distributed before our work is complete, the first Capitol Report that I will send out in June will contain the End-of-Session report published by the Missouri House of Represetatives. In that report you will find short summaries of significant bills that were passed out of both the House and Senate along with those that were defeated.

The following list represents a few of the most recent legislative activities:

• It was very gratifying to get my first bill, HB 591 -the dental teaching license, passed with no other amendments attached. I’ve been told that it’s rare for a Freshman legislator to get a bill passed in a “clean-bill” condition.
  
• HB 73 is known as the "TANF Child Protection and Drug Free Home Act". It requires Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) applicants and recipients to be drug tested when a case worker has a reasonable suspicion of illegal drug use. Individuals who fail or refuse the test would receive benefits only by completing a substance abuse treatment program and not failing another test.
  
  Representative Ellen Brandom of Sikeston has sponsored this bill for the past three years. It has always passed in the House but failed in the Senate. This year she got it through! I believe this is a very important piece of legislation. We will be protecting the children in a drug-problem household plus making the parents with the drug problem get their lives straight for the sake of their families. I was very excited that this bill passed by both houses.
  
• HB 340 should be of particular interest to Cape Girardeau County leaders. This bill was passed with a Senate amendment specific to Cape Girardeau. It allows counties of any classification to erect and maintain a jail or holding cell facility at a site other than the county seat. (Currently, only fourth classification and certain third classification counties are allowed this option.)
  
• The House Committee Substitute for SB 243 -which modifies provisions relating to educational resources and services- passed the House and is on its way to the Governor to sign. This bill is important to the schools in our state that are struggling in the current educational system. We are blessed in that the Cape Girardeau and Perry Counties’ schools are excellent schools, graduating well-prepared students.
  

STATE–WIDE NEWS

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is making life easier for Southeast Missouri flood victims by providing two waivers: One waiver gives residents and communities affected by flooding additional flexibility in cleaning up. It will allow vegetative waste, such as brush and yard waste, which normally is excluded from permitted sanitary landfills, to be taken to such landfills if the landfill agrees to accept the waste.

The other will waive all camping fees for displaced families. Camping fees will be waived at the Trail of Tears State Park near Jackson and Lake Wappapello State Park. This first-come-first-served, 30-day waiver applies to those with access to a camper and their own camping equipment. Persons requesting the fee-waiver need to provide documentation form a governmental or charitable organization certifying that they have been displaced by flooding in a declared Missouri county. Such persons are encouraged to contact the park superintendent at either Trail of Tears State Park (573-290-5340) or Lake Wappapello State Park (573-297-3232) to make arrangements for camping.

The department also is encouraging residents to recycle appliances damaged in the storm, but in cases where it is impractical to separate the appliances from other storm debris, the department is also allowing these items to be taken to a landfill. However, the landfill must be willing to accept the appliances.

DNR is calling on cities and counties to coordinate collection of damaged appliances so refrigerants can be legally recovered from air conditioners, freezers and refrigerators before recycling.

The waiver also allows for the burning of vegetative waste resulting from the storms as long as it is burned on the property where it originated. For additional information regarding the wavier -which will be in effect until May 23- link here to view the Executive Order and for a fact sheet on proper disposal of storm debris and other related information use this link: Natural Disaster Resources.

Residents or businesses involved in storm debris cleanup should call the Department of Natural Resource’s Southeast Regional Office at 573-840-9750 for additional information or clarification of the waiver.

Constituent Corner

There will be a MODOT public forum 4-6 p.m., May 18 at the Perryville Park Center to discuss the transportation department’s 5-year plan which includes closing several maintenance facilities in Southeast Missouri.

Nance: Last-Minute Work On Four Bills

At right: Representative Chris Carter, St. Louis City, and I sharing a happy moment with the passage of a bill we worked on together.

In the District

MoDOT has a meeting scheduled for May 18^th at the Richmond High School. Discussion will pertain to the closing of the Excelsior Springs and Millville Facilities and the moving of a Resident Engineer from the Ray County Facility. Meeting begins at 5:00. The complete list of community briefings can be found at www.modot.org.

We are working at a very fast pace this week passing numerous bills before the session ends on Friday. Below are some bills that passed this week as of Thursday.

Bills that I have proposed that passed on other bills as amendments were

RESIDENTIAL CONTRACTORS SB 101
Prohibits a residential contractor from advertising or promising to pay or rebate all or any portion of an insurance deductible as an inducement to the sale of goods or services. This will protect consumers from “fly by night” contractors.

SMALL CLAIMS COURT ACTIONS HB 386
Increases the amount in controversy from less than $3,000 to less than $5,000 for a case where the judge of a small claims court will have original jurisdiction. This bill will give people an opportunity to have their case heard in court without having to hire a lawyer.

CHILDREN'S PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENEFIT HB 793
Requires the Department of Social Services to establish an administrative renewal process for a child eligible for MO HealthNet or State Children's Health Insurance Program benefits. This allows more efficiency in keeping our children healthy.

COMMUNITY CENTER SALES TAX HB 853
Authorizes the City of Excelsior Springs to impose, upon voter approval, a retail sales tax of up to 1% for the purpose of funding a community center and retiring any bonds issued for funding the center. This will give the Council and citizens an opportunity to decide on the need of a community center.

Other Truly Agreed and Finally Passed Bills

The Missouri House has given final approval to several pieces of legislation. Some of the bills sent to the governor’s desk would require drug testing for TANF recipients and applicants, ban K2 alternatives and synthetic cocaine being sold as bath salts, and increase penalties for human trafficking.

House members approved HB 73 by a vote of 113-34. Known as the "TANF Child Protection and Drug Free Home Act", the bill would require Temporary Assistance for Needy Families applicants and recipients to be drug tested when a case worker has a reasonable suspicion of illegal drug use. Individuals who fail or refuse the test would receive benefits only by completing a substance abuse treatment program and not failing another test.

House members also approved HB 641 that would add to the list of schedule I controlled substances several forms of stimulants, including "bath salts," and hallucinogenic synthetic cannabinoids (K2 alternatives). Possession of more than 35 grams of the substances would be a class C felony. The House approved HB 641 by a vote of 143-13.

In addition, the House gave final approval to legislation that would increase the penalties for individuals guilty of human trafficking. The bill would increase the penalties and add a monetary fine not to exceed $250,000 for all of the human trafficking crimes. It also would enhance the penalty for the crimes of trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation and sexual trafficking of a child if the crimes were affected by force, abduction, or coercion. HB 214 was approved by a vote of 154-0.

Mayer: Legislature Sends Two Bills Preventing Late-Term Abortions to the Governor

Senate Bill 65 & HB213 Protects Viable Fetuses of 20 Weeks or More

JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri General Assembly today advanced two identical measures to the governor’s desk for his consideration. Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, sponsored the Senate bill and handled the House bill that would change provisions relating to abortions in Missouri with respect to viability. Senate Bill 65 and House Bill 213 would prevent the abortion of unborn babies of the gestational age of 20 weeks or more that are determined by a physician to be viable outside of the womb.

“This measure is particularly important to me in that it serves to ensure that babies capable of sustaining life outside of the womb are not subject to such an unnecessary and horrific end to their life,” said Mayer.

The legislation would, with the exception of a medical emergency, require the physician to determine the gestational age of the unborn child before performing an abortion. If the doctor determines the baby is 20 weeks or more, the physician would test for viability. If viable, no abortion could be performed unless it is necessary to preserve the life of the woman.

If the unborn child is 20 weeks or more, not determined viable, and an abortion is performed, the bill requires the doctor to submit a report to the Department of Health and Senior Services.

“At 20 weeks, a baby is approximately the length of a banana, she can hear sounds and even covers her ears with her hands if things are too noisy, and her twisting, turning, punching and kicking movements can start to be felt by the mother,” said Mayer. “State law already requires mothers to be informed about other alternatives to abortion. These bills go further by preventing an abortion from being performed later in the gestation period if the unborn baby is able to live outside the womb.”

Penalties for violating the provisions of this bill would include a Class C felony, and physicians who plead guilty to or are convicted of performing or inducing an abortion in violation of this act could be subject to having their license to practice medicine in Missouri suspended for three years. Also, any hospital or ambulatory surgical center that knowingly violates this act could be subject to suspension or revocation of its license.

Both bills now move to the governor’s desk for his consideration.

Mayer: Lawmakers Send Concussion Awareness and Brain Injury Prevention Act to the Governor

HB300 Endorsed by the NFL, Including Former St. Louis Ram Mike Jones

Jefferson City – Students athletes must sit out of play after suffering a concussion until a doctor signs off on their return thanks to an awareness and prevention initiative the General Assembly today approved and sent to the governor. Several state lawmakers and the National Football League (NFL) championed House Bill 300 that would create the “Interscholastic Youth Sports Brain Injury Prevention Act” to educate and protect student athletes from the risks of concussions and other brain injuries.

Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, handled the bill in the Senate where it passed by a vote of 33 to 1.

“Today, we know that some brain injuries are the result of young athletes continuing to play a sport after they have suffered a concussion,” said Mayer. “By educating them, their parents and coaches, we can better protect these students from life-altering brain injuries.”

“With up to 18 percent of all high school sports being contact sports and with up to 19 percent of all the athletes in those contact sports receiving a concussion (over 62,000 of them),” said the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Chuck Gatschenberger, R-Lake St. Louis. “I feel it is high time our coaches, athletes and parents know the symptoms of a concussion - when in doubt set them out.”

Under the bill, student athletes suspected of sustaining a concussion or brain injury must stop play for at least 24 hours and could not return without written permission from a medical professional trained in the evaluation and management of concussions. Plus, student athlete’s parents would be required to sign a concussion and brain injury information sheet prior to participation in any practice or competition.

The act also requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to work with school boards, the Missouri State High School Activities Association, and an organization that provides support services for brain injuries to implement educational information for youth athletes on the risks of concussions and other brain injuries. The department and organizations must develop guidelines, and forms to educate coaches, student athletes, and their parents or guardians on the nature and risks of concussions and other brain injuries by the end of the year. The materials they produce must include information on continuing to play after a concussion.

Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, sponsored a similar bill in the Senate and said the sooner these common sense guidelines are put in place, the sooner we will reduce the number of brain injuries stemming from contact sports.

“Education is half the battle,” said Schaaf. “The more our student athletes, their parents and coaches know, the better decisions they will make when faced with the symptoms.”

The NFL is supportive of the awareness and prevention effort, helping champion similar legislation in at least ten other states this year.

“The league has strict return-to-play guidelines that apply to some of the best athletes in the world,” Kenneth Edmonds, Director of Government Relations and Public Policy for the NFL, told a Senate committee earlier this month. “We believe a similar approach is necessary when dealing with some of the youngest athletes. This legislation does that.”

Former linebacker for the World Champion St. Louis Rams and current Lincoln University Head Football Coach Mike Jones also testified in support of the bill earlier this month.

“We are learning today that returning to play with a sprained ankle or a swollen knee is one thing; returning to play before being fully recovered from a concussion or other head injury is a great deal more serious,” Jones said to senators at a hearing. “Young athletes and their parents need to be educated on the symptoms and dangers of concussions and should not be allowed to return without medical clearance. That is what this bill is about.”

If signed by the governor, the bill would take effect August 28.

Engler: Legislative Session Draws to a Close

At this writing, we are getting into the end of the legislative session. However, that does not mean that work is drawing to a close. As in past years, there is a mad dash by many in the Capitol to get legislation passed in the final hours and even minutes of the session. At this hour, it is hard to say if negotiations will be successful on several key pieces of legislation.

In these final days of session, we have been busy working on legislation. This includes one of the measures I drafted. The national Republican and Democratic parties have requested that several states move the date of their 2012 presidential primary. Senate Bill 282 would move the Missouri primary from Feb. 7 to March 6. The bill now needs the governor’s signature to become law.

Another piece of legislation I worked on this year is Senate Bill 226, which relates to ambulance districts. Specifically, the bill would allow members of ambulance districts to be recalled. The bill would also allow an ambulance district to choose whether to go to the voters with a sales tax or property tax to fund a new district. Currently, the district can only go to the voters with a property tax and has to go back to the voters a second time to change to a sales tax.

Several other important measures have been approved by the Legislature and sent to the governor’s desk. These include:

• House Bill 641, which would outlaw certain controlled substances. There has been some confusion about this bill because it outlaws “bath salts.” These substances are not the Epson salts that are actually used in a bath, instead they are synthetic forms of cocaine and methamphetamine that are marketed as “bath salts” to avoid the need for Federal Drug Administration approval. Under the legislation, these substances will be treated as the dangerous drugs that they are.
• House Bill 73, which would allow the state to screen and test suspected drug-users receiving cash from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Under the measure, if a recipient is suspected of using drugs, the Department of Social Services could test the individual. If they are found to be using drugs and do not go into treatment, they would lose their TANF benefits.
• House Bill 648, which continues work I started several years ago. Up until recently, many state agencies were still using the terms “retarded” or “retardation.” These terms are now considered offensive to the developmentally disabled, and after I proposed legislation to change this, the governor signed an executive order to strike the use of these terms from state agencies. The provisions of HB 648 takes this further by changing any references to these terms in current state law.

Session officially ends Friday, May 13th at 6:00 pm. We will send out an update next week on the Truly Agreed and Finally Passed bills.


Senator Engler’s Capitol office staff for the 2011 legislative session includes (from left) Brian Bunten, Shelly St. Clair, Karen Jacquin, Sen. Engler, Winston, and intern Keaton Ashlock.

Kraus: The Last Week

Completing the 2011 Session

Last week, the state budget consumed most of our time and energy. During a week of frantic activity, we passed the budget a day ahead of its constitutionally mandated deadline of May 6.

The last day of the 2011 session is Friday, May 13. The last week of session always generates another flurry of activity as legislators make a final push to get their legislation passed.

If not already passed in at least one chamber, the majority of legislation has little chance of making it through both chambers at this point. In addition, many bills have not yet made it out of committee. Therefore, legislators are watching closely to see if they can add their legislation as an amendment to a bill currently under consideration in the Senate or the House.

Senate Joint Resolution 2, passed on Tuesday, addressed one major issue left for lawmakers to approve during the last week of session. It allows enabling legislation for advance voting and photo ID for voting. This constitutional amendment, if approved by voters, would require a person to show a valid, government-issued photo ID to vote. The joint resolution would also allow early voting eleven days in advance of the election date. Final passage means that this issue goes directly to the voters. Earlier this week, we also passed enabling legislation that lists photo ID requirements, if SJR 2 is approved by voters. I am glad that we passed these measures that will allow Missouri voters to protect the voting process.

With less than two days left, several major legislative issues have yet to be settled. These are measures that would:

• Extend the sunset to fund the MoRx Program, which provides funds to low-income seniors to help purchase prescription medicine not covered by Medicare. While funds have been designated for this program, the sunset needs to be extended to use the funds.
  
• Establish a fix to the Second Injury Fund, which is going broke. If neither this fund nor MoRx are fixed in the regular session, there is a possibility that Gov. Nixon would call a special session in order to deal with these two issues.
  
• Spur economic development and address various tax credits. The combined House Bills 116 and 316, passed out of the Senate last week, remain in the House, where they have run into some opposition from House leadership. There has been some movement toward a compromise in the last day and I hope to see these measures passed this session.
  
• Change the date on which Missouri holds its presidential primary. Senate Bill 282 would change the primary election from the first Tuesday after the first Monday in February to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March. This measure would allow Missouri’s delegates to be seated by both major parties at their conventions.
  

There’s still a full day of session left, and a lot can be accomplished before 6:00 p.m. on Friday. I look forward to that final day of activity.

Changes to Highway 50

Recently, several crossover vehicle collisions have occurred on US-50. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has a number of changes planned for US-50 Highway within Lee's Summit to improve safety, some of which have already been implemented.

Improvements include:

• Reduction of speed limits from 65 mph to 60 mph on Route 50 from Todd George Road to the Interstate 470 interchange.
  
• Designation of a stretch of the route from Route 291 north to the north side of the I-470 interchange as a Travel Safe Zone. The designation allows for increased enforcement to curb aggressive, distracted and careless driving, including speeding, failure to signal lane changes, following too close and failure to yield. Fines in the area are also doubled.
  
• Installation of guard cables along this same section to minimize the danger of crossover crashes.
  

All projects are expected to be complete by the end of May. These improvements are paid for with MoDOT dollars.

Welcome Visitors

Three schools from District 8 came to the Capitol this week to learn about state government - Lee’s Summit, Summit Pointe, and Woodland Elementary schools, all from Lee’s Summit. I was happy to be able to talk with some of their students.

Sater: Open house planned May 19 at Roaring River State Park

JEFFERSON CITY, MO., MAY 11, 2011 – The public is invited to bring their ideas to an open house on Thursday, May 19, at Roaring River State Park near Cassville. The open house will be held at 6 p.m. in the Emory Melton Inn and Conference Center (River View Room) and the public is invited to attend. The meeting with discuss ideas for both Roaring River State Park and Big Sugar Creek State Park near Pineville.

Recent accomplishments and future plans at the both parks will be highlighted at the open house. Accomplishments include remodeling the fourplex; the partial roof replacement at Camp Smokey; construction of the new Civilian Conservation Corps monument, and significant stewardship accomplishments. In addition, information will be presented on how the parks have and will continue to benefit from the efforts of the State Parks Youth Corps. Representatives from the Missouri Department of Conservation, which operates the hatchery, and MO PARKS Inc., which runs the park concessions, will also be on hand to share comments with the attendees. Visitors are welcome to ask questions or comment on the park’s facilities and services.

This open house is part of an ongoing effort to ensure the public has input on services provided in state parks and historic sites.

Roaring River State Park is located eight miles south of Cassville on Highway 112 in Barry County. People requiring special services or accommodations to attend the open house can make arrangements by calling the park directly at 417-847-2539 or by calling the Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf). For information about state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com.

Davis: Legislator of the Year

Rep. Charlie Davis honored with the Freshman Legislator of the Year Award

Jefferson City - To honor and recognize the efforts of Rep. Charlie Davis, R-128 of Webb City for his work this year on Protecting Personal Freedoms, Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives Steven Tilley, R-Farmington, awarded him the Freshman Legislator of the Year Award for 2011.  "I firmly believe actions speak louder than words and as an elected official, those actions are crucial to the well-being of our constituents.  I commend Rep. Davis on his actions regarding the protecting of Missourians' personal freedoms showing firsthand that his actions demonstrate leadership for the people of his district," said Speaker Tilley.

Through his role as the Vice Chair of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Rep. Davis helped promote legislation that would protect and help those who protect and help the citizens of our state.

Rep. Davis sponsored House Resolution 33 to honor our fallen veterans with the Honor and Remember Flag.  He also co-sponsored legislation that helped our veterans by extending the Missouri Military Family Relief Fund.  Rep. Davis also served on Small Business, Utilities, and Tax Reform Committees.

"I believe we have accomplished a lot this year without taking away the personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.  We also passed a difficult budget without raising the taxes on our citizens," said Rep. Davis; and "I look forward to next year's legislative session."

Neth: Photo ID Required for Voting

In the 2005 legislative session, Missouri passed into law the requirement that individuals present photographic identification when they vote in person [SB1014].  This was in response to the public perception that something odd had happened in St. Louis during the 2004 presidential election when it was noted that there were more individuals on the registered voting lists than there were people who actually lived there. In addition, there was a recent irregularity in a primary race in Jackson County.

Missouri Supreme Court said that this requirement was unconstitutional under state law, because voting is a fundamental right under our state constitution, and one or two named individuals in the case may have a hard time getting the photographic identification required to vote.  I agree that voting is a fundamental right. It should be protected to the fullest extent of the law. One way we can ensure the protections of an individual's right to vote is to make sure that everyone's vote counts equally. When individuals vote illegally, it reduces the value of the legally cast ballots.

I am an active member on the House Elections Committee which heard all the testimony on this subject. A common theme by those opposed to photo ID was that there are no cases that have ever been tried in regards to this type of voter fraud, thus there is no need for this measure. While there may be no formal cases that have been tried, there have been enough irregularities that requiring a photo ID is not onerous. Many things we do in our everyday life requires the use of a photo ID. I consider voting to be more important than any of these other things; I do not see why it should be exempted from such a requirement.

At the next statewide election in 2012, you will have the opportunity to vote on whether our state requires citizens to show a valid photo ID when they go to the polls.  It will appear on the ballot as a constitutional amendment [SJR2] that would allow early voting, and would grant the legislature the power to require voters to present photographic identification at the polls.  We did our best to prevent discrimination against those who are unable to acquire a photo ID due to a misplaced birth certificate or disability; moreover, if an individual cannot afford a photo ID, the state will pay the cost. I am proud to support this legislation that prevents illegal voters from watering down our system while protecting individuals who are having trouble acquiring an ID from being discriminated against.

I believe requiring identification protects those of us who vote legally from those that don't. Voting is our greatest privilege as Americans, which is why we are leaving it up to you to decide on the protections necessary to preserve the validity of this time honored duty.

Mayer: Lawmakers Support DESE's Decision to Forgive School Days for Flooded Districts

JEFFERSON CITY – School districts serving communities in Southeast Missouri impacted by massive flooding in recent weeks will not have to make up school days missed due to the flooding, according to information provided by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, and Reps. Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, and Kent Hampton, R-Malden, recently notified the department that they would support a decision to forgive school days in a number of schools in their districts.

"The intense weather conditions we experienced led to breached levees, covered roads, and destroyed property," said Mayer. "Many of my constituents have even been forced to evacuate their homes. In light of these extreme circumstances, I believe our local schools that were forced to close should not have to make up that lost time."

The lawmakers noted several schools in the districts they serve were forced to close due to severe flood conditions. They added that on April 25, the governor issued Executive Order 11-08, authorizing the National Guard to assist the state in providing relief to affected areas as a result of flash floods and other weather conditions.

The following list of schools requested the department authorize a reduction of the required number of hours and days their students must attend school this school year: Doniphan (6 days), Greenville R-2 (9 days), Naylor R-II (7 days), Neelyville (7 days), New Madrid (1 day), Poplar Bluff R-1 (7 days), Puxico R-III (9 days), and Twin Rivers R-X (9 days).

"The people of Butler County have suffered through some of the most severe weather in recent memory with thousands displaced from their homes," said Richardson. "The schools in our district have been out of session as a result and with the end of the school year drawing near, I believe it would place an undue burden on the district to make up those lost days. I am glad Commissioner Nicastro did the right thing for our area by forgiving the days lost due to the flooding."

"Our school districts have been put in a difficult situation because of the extreme weather conditions and we must do all we can to help them in this time of need," said Hampton. "It's in the best interest of the districts and the students to forgive these days. I appreciate the commissioner's quick action to resolve this issue."

Missouri has an inclement weather policy that has been in place since 2009 authorizing the department to make decisions regarding school attendance requirements in the face of inclement weather. Information regarding the state's school make up policy in regard to inclement weather can be found online here.

Sater: Department of Natural Resources issues waiver to aid in cleanup following major flooding in southern Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MAY 10, 2011 – The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is waiving specific solid waste and air pollution regulations to give residents and communities affected by flooding in 19 southern Missouri counties additional flexibility in cleaning up.

The waiver applies to Barry, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Dunklin, Howell, McDonald, Mississippi, New Madrid, Ozark, Pemiscot, Reynolds, Ripley, St. Francois, Scott, Stoddard, Stone, Taney and Wayne counties.

The waiver will allow vegetative waste, such as brush and yard waste, which normally is excluded from permitted sanitary landfills, to be taken to such landfills if the landfill agrees to accept the waste. The department is encouraging residents to recycle appliances damaged in the storm, but in cases where it is impractical to separate the appliances from other storm debris, the department is also allowing these items to be taken to a landfill. Again, the landfill must be willing to accept the appliances.

The department is encouraging cities and counties to coordinate collection of damaged appliances so refrigerants can be legally recovered from air conditioners, freezers and refrigerators before recycling.

The department continues to strongly encourage, but not require, composting of vegetative waste where practical. The waiver applies only to yard waste and does not allow disposal of other items normally prohibited in sanitary or demolition landfills.

The waiver also allows for the burning of vegetative waste resulting from the storms as long as it is burned on the property where it originated. Community burn sites located within the corporate limits of any municipality must receive a permit from the department.

The burning of vegetative waste from the storms must be done at least 200 yards from the nearest occupied structure and be approved by local fire officials. The department is asking community officials to consider the 200-yard buffer as a minimum and to carefully select burn locations, taking local air quality, public health and safety, and other effects on neighborhoods into consideration.

The waiver shall be in effect until May 23 unless extended and can be found at http://www.dnr.mo.gov/Waiverflood5-10-2011.pdf

Fact sheets on proper disposal of storm debris and other related information are available on the department's website: dnr.mo.gov/disaster.htm.

Residents or businesses involved in storm debris cleanup should call the Department of Natural Resource's Southeast Regional Office at 573-840-9750 or the Southwest Regional Office at 417-891-4300 for additional information or clarification of the waiver.

Mayer: Counties in 25th District Receive Major Disaster Declaration

JEFFERSON CITY – Federal assistance will now be available to communities in certain counties within the 25^th Senatorial District, represented by Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter. Butler and New Madrid are among five counties in Missouri to receive a major disaster declaration after severe storms in April and May caused devastating tornadoes and massive flooding in many parts of the state.

“It’s important that citizens in these affected areas know that help is available during a time when normalcy seems unattainable,” said Sen. Mayer. “Missourians who lost some of their most valuable possessions will be able to gather the pieces of their life back together with this federal assistance, and once again, feel at home in their community.”

Federal disaster aid is available to supplement state and local recovery efforts. The major disaster declaration, granted by President Obama on May 9, allows citizens in Butler and New Madrid counties to seek federal assistance for uninsured losses from the storms and flooding that have affected Missouri since April 19. Citizens can use the assistance for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the storm.

“I’m proud of the work first responders, officials and volunteers have done thus far in assisting those who have been victims of Missouri’s severe weather conditions,” said Sen. Mayer. “With this federal assistance, we will be able to do more to help our friends, families and neighbors begin to get back to their way of life.”

Individuals and businesses owners who sustained losses in Butler and New Madrid counties can begin applying for assistance today by registering online at www.disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-FEMA (this toll-free number will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice).