I am so excited to finally announce the opening a new aluminum smelter facility in New Madrid! Magnitude 7 Metals is currently in the hiring process and is looking to fill nearly 400 new positions.
House Budget Proposal Begins to Take Shape
The chairman of the House Budget Committee this week unveiled his versions of the appropriations bills that will make up the Fiscal Year 2019 state operating budget. The bills include some key changes from the recommendations made by the governor.
One such change calls for the K-12 School Foundation Formula to be fully funded. The governor has called for a $50 million increase to spending for elementary and secondary education. The budget proposed by the committee would add another $48 million to the governor’s funding recommendation for an increase that is $98 million above the Fiscal Year 2018 appropriation level.
Because of uncertainty with the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at the federal level, the Budget Committee took a fiscally responsible approach last year by opting to protect Missouri’s at-risk children without relying on federal funds. Now that funding for the program has been extended through Fiscal Year 2023, there are approximately $80 million in state revenues available for use in the Fiscal Year 2019 budget.
The chairman of the House Budget Committee is recommending that a portion of these funds be used to restore the governor’s recommended core cuts to higher education. Right now, House leaders are working with the state’s institutions of higher learning to ensure tuition isn’t raised for students and families. If no agreement can be reached, the chairman is recommending the additional dollars be used to boost funding for need-based scholarships.
The House Budget Committee will now work through each of the appropriations bills and decide if any changes need to be made to the current proposal. The Budget Committee will then give its stamp of approval to the spending plan and send it to the House floor for discussion, which should take place when the House returns from its Legislative Spring Break.
Raising Awareness of Multiple Sclerosis
In an effort to raise awareness of multiple sclerosis, many members of the Missouri House of Representatives wore orange this week. It was in 2015 that the legislature approved HB 861 to designate the first full week of March as Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week in Missouri. The week is designed to call attention to the need for additional research, care, and support for those living with multiple sclerosis. According to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, the disease affects more than 400,000 people in the United States, and about 2.5 million people worldwide. Approximately 200 new cases are diagnosed each week in the United States.
Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are leading to better understanding and moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease.
House Goes Blue to Raise Awareness of Colon Cancer
Many House members and staffers could be seen wearing blue on Tuesday as they worked to raise awareness of colon cancer. It was in 2011 that the Missouri General Assembly approved HB 182 to establish the first Friday in March as “Dress in Blue for Colon Cancer Awareness Day”. Because the House was not in session on that Friday, members chose to wear blue on Tuesday, March 6.
The day is designed to encourage Missourians to wear blue and conduct activities to raise awareness about the risks of colon cancer and the importance of early detection. Colon cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States, but is one of the few cancers that can be prevented with early screening.
HB 2238 would establish the “Social Innovation Grant Program” to find alternative solutions for serving the state's vulnerable populations. Supporters say all people need adequate housing, food, medical care, and education. The bill would allow public/private partnerships to expand state dollars to help provide more money for basic needs.
HB 1618 would allow unused controlled substances to be accepted from the public through collection receptacles, drug disposal boxes, and other means provided through drug take-back programs by a DEA-authorized collector in accordance with federal regulations, regardless of whether the authorized collector originally dispensed the drug. It would require the Department of Health and Senior Services to develop an education and awareness program about drug disposal. Supporters say the bill would help get prescription drugs off the street. The goal is to allow collection in as many places as possible to make it easy for people to dispose of unused prescription drugs.
HB 2079 would establish the "Missouri State Coroners' Training Fund" and create a $1 fee for all death certificates issued in the state, which would be deposited into the fund. Supporters say the bill would bring the Coroners' Training Fund into the 21st century as many of the statutes relating to coroners are well over 80 years old. There are many areas in which coroners need more training, and the legislation could help provide that.
HB 1265 would require all declarations of candidacy to contain the candidate's legal last name. Supporters say the bill would help prevent voter confusion based on the use of identical or similar names to incumbent candidates or nicknames. The use of birth or maiden names would provide voter access to case.net and other resources to research candidates.
HB 1797 would establish the Nuclear Power Plant Security Guard Act and establish the offense of trespass on a nuclear power plant. Supporters say the bill would help to resolve conflicts between Missouri and federal law, and allow security guards at these plants to use deadly force to protect the plant if necessary.
HB 1525 would change the laws regarding unclaimed property. Supporters say the bill would prevent fraud and excessive billing in the unclaimed property recovery process, while still allowing legitimate recovery actions to proceed efficiently.
HB 1250 would establish the Missouri Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, which would allow fiduciaries to access electronic records of the account holder. Supporters say this type of legislation has been enacted in 38 other states. This legislation is comprehensive and it covers decedent estates, as well as guardians and conservators. It is necessary for people to have access to online accounts, because they might contain necessary information. This would allow users to put limitations on the access to the accounts.
HB 1358 would create new provisions relating to password protection. Supporters say the bill would secure privacy rights by prohibiting educational institutions from requiring students to divulge their social media passwords and content.
HB 2116 would exempt certain vessels propelled by outboard jet motors and operating on non-impounded waterways from the passenger seating and guard and rail provisions currently in state law. Supporters say the bill would allow certain older model flat bottom boats in excellent condition to continue to operate.
HB 2102 would change the laws regarding property classifications for zoning so that sawmills are classified as agricultural property. Supporters say that in some counties which have planning and zoning with an agricultural exemption, saw mills are being zoned commercial and must follow the ordinances for commercial property when, in fact, the property should be zoned agricultural. This bill would clarify that saw mills are agricultural operations and should be classified as such.
HB 1895 would provide that when a death occurs under the care of a hospice, no investigation shall be required if the death is certified by the treating physician of the deceased or the medical director of the hospice. Supporters say when a person on hospice dies, an investigation is unnecessary because it should be known what the cause of death was. The bill does not prohibit the coroner or medical examiner from doing an investigation.
HB 1613 would allow residents of Missouri to have a medical alert notation placed on their driver's license to indicate that they have an emergency medical card in their possession. Supporters say the notation would help law enforcement or emergency medical personnel know that they should search for a medical information card. This method would still respect individual privacy.
HB 1456 would change the laws regarding funding for emergency 911 services, administration of 911 funding, Missouri 911 Service Board, and the cooperation and contracting between emergency services providers. Supporters say that this bill is meant to redefine what a telephone is as far as 911 services are concerned, and the statute needs to be updated to include cell phones.
HB 2110 would increase the reward a county commission may offer for the apprehension of a felon from $500 to $100,000. Supporters say the bill should help counties apprehend more suspects because it would increase the range they may offer as a reward for such apprehensions.
HB 1947 would change the law regarding sale of water or wastewater systems in fourth class cities. Supporters say they would be interested in purchasing some municipal utilities so the lower voter-approval threshold would be beneficial, especially given that very few, if any, other governmental votes require this high of a majority.
HB 2104 would restrict the use of cell-site simulator devices. Currently, there is a prohibition on the interception of oral and wire communications without prior authorization from a court. The bill would provide similar prohibitions on the use of a cell site simulator device to obtain information from a communications device, such as a cell phone, tablet, or laptop.
HB 2062 would allow law enforcement agencies located in the Joplin area to request assistance from agencies in other jurisdictions, including some jurisdictions located in Kansas and Oklahoma. Supporters say this would allow for mutual aid for counties surrounding Joplin so that aid may be sent across state lines to offer assistance. It would not make responding mandatory.
HB 1868 would establish a statewide hearing aid distribution program for low-income individuals. Supporters say the bill would help those who are deaf or hard of hearing to communicate with others and would allow them to be removed from other governmental programs because they can more easily find work.
HB 1625 would establish the Missouri Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program to provide low-income seniors with fresh, Missouri-grown produce. Supporters say that many seniors live on a fixed income and cannot afford fresh fruits and vegetables. The bill would help seniors afford fresh produce from farmers' markets across the state.
HB 1442 would set a 60-day time limit for the governor to fill a vacancy in the Office of County Commissioner with the advice and consent of the Senate. Supporters say the bill would ensure that vacancies are filled in a timely manner. It would not affect counties that already have a mechanism in place for filling vacancies.
HB 1679 would prohibit public institutions of higher education from requiring students to purchase a meal plan when a student presents medical documentation of a food allergy or sensitivity, or a medical dietary issue. Supporters say students who, for medical reasons, can't eat the food prepared by the school should not be required to pay for it. It is not fair that these students have to pay for the meal plan and then purchase their own food.
HB 1645 would modify provisions relating to actions for damages due to exposure to asbestos. Supporters say the bill would prevent a plaintiff from filing an asbestos claim against a solvent defendant, while not filing or not disclosing claims filed against insolvent defendants with bankruptcy trusts. The requirement that a plaintiff files a claim with an asbestos trust would ensure the plaintiff is compensated fairly but prevents a double recovery, which would also help the trusts remain solvent longer.
HB 1892 would modify residency requirements for deputy sheriffs. Supporters say the bill would expand the pool of candidates so it will be easier to recruit the best and the brightest. Adjoining states are able to include Missouri residents in their pools, but the same does not apply to Missouri with residents of other states. There are already residents of other states who are licensed officers in this state but they cannot be hired because of current statute.