Capitol Report for June 2

As I have done for several weeks, I will to continue to list the bills that have been Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed, and now sit on the governor's desk awaiting executive action. This week's list continues with senate bills.

Truly Agree and Finally Passed Bills (SBs)

--SB 655 - Repeals the Advisory Council to the Director of the Missouri Agriculture Experiment Station and establishes the Fertilizer Control Board

This act repeals the Advisory Council to the Director of the Missouri Agriculture Experiment Station and establishes the Fertilizer Control Board. The Board shall be composed of 13 members, 5 of which shall be nominated by the nonprofit corporation organized under Missouri law to promote the interests of the fertilizer industry, 5 of which shall be nominated by Missouri not-for-profit corporations that represent farmers, and 3 shall be at-large members. The Board shall perform certain duties as set forth in this act.

--SB 657 - Modifies provisions relating to liability for the use of incompatible motor fuel

This act allows any person who is required to have an ignition interlock device installed on such person's vehicle due to committing certain intoxication-related traffic offenses to apply to the court for a variance to drive an employer-owned vehicle without such device. This exemption has several stipulations.

--SB 660 - Modifies provisions of law relating to bidding procedures for county depositaries

Under current law, banking corporations or associations bidding to become the depositaries of the funds of a county are required to submit a certified check not less than the proportion of one and one-half percent of the county general revenue of the preceding year. This act changes that to an amount not less than $2,500.

--SB 664 - Modifies corporate registration report requirements for authorized farm corporations and family farm corporations

Currently, authorized farm corporations and family farm corporations are required to file a corporate registration report annually with the Missouri Secretary of State. Under this act, such farm corporations will have a waiver if the information required by the corporate registration report has not changed since the filing of the corporation's articles of incorporation or most recent registration report.

--SB 665 - Modifies provisions relating to agriculture

This act re-authorizes the existing Qualified Beef Tax Credit until 2021. This act modifies the definition of "baseline weight" to be based on the average weight of all beef animals sold that are 30 months or younger in the previous 2 years instead of the previous 3 years. This act changes the credit from 10 cents per pound to 10 cents per pound for sale weights under 600 pounds and 25 cents per pound for sale weights over 600 pounds. The Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority may waive no more than 25% of the 100 pound weight gain requirement.

--SB 702 - Modifies the law relating to unemployment compensation benefits

Current law states that any person who receives unemployment compensation benefits as a result of error or lack of knowledge of material fact on the part of the Division, shall have such sums of benefits deducted from future benefits, after an opportunity for a fair hearing. This act gives the Division the discretion, after an opportunity for a fair hearing, to either deduct the sums of wrongfully paid benefits from future benefits payable to the individual or require repayment to the Division the amount of benefits wrongfully received.

--SB 711 - Requires thirty minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation instruction and training during high school

Beginning with the 2017-18 school year, this act requires high school pupils in public schools and charter schools to have received thirty minutes of CPR instruction and training in the proper performance of the Heimlich maneuver or other first aid for choking prior to graduation. The act also requires the training to be included in the district's existing health or physical education curriculum.

--SB 732 - Modifies numerous provisions relating to public safety

Currently, the Missouri State Highway Patrol must include all reported domestic violence incidents for compilation in the "Crime in Missouri". This act removes the reference to "Crime in Missouri" and provides instead that the incidents must be reported for compilation in the annual crime report published by the Department of Public Safety. This act also removes time requirements in current law for the required reporting by law enforcement agencies of domestic-violence related homicides and suicides to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. In addition, this act requires the Highway Patrol to present its annual report on domestic-violence related homicides and suicides to the Governor and General Assembly by March 1 rather than Feb. 1.

--SB 735 - Modifies laws relating to the Court Automation Fund, the Basic Legal Services Fund, and public defenders

The act provides that any unexpended balance remaining in the Statewide Court Automation Fund shall be transferred to General Revenue on Sept. 1, 2023, rather than Sept. 1, 2018, as provided in current law. The act also adds the executive director of the Missouri Office of Prosecution Services and the director of the State Public Defender System as members of the Court Automation Committee. The court fee collected for the court automation fund shall expire on Sept. 1, 2023, rather than Sept. 1, 2018, and the Court Automation Committee must complete its duties by Sept. 1, 2025, rather than Sept. 1, 2020.

--SB 765 - Modifies provisions relating to law enforcement officers and political subdivisions

This act defines "first responder" as any person trained and authorized by law or rule to render emergency medical assistance or treatment. First responders may include emergency first responders, police officers, sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, firefighters, ambulance attendants and attendant drivers, emergency medical technicians, mobile emergency medical technicians, emergency medical technician-paramedics, registered nurses, or physicians.

--SB 786 - Modifies the law relating to the prosecution of election offenses

Under current law, challengers are only permitted to remain present at a polling place during the hours of voting. This act permits challengers to be present at a polling place until all ballots are cast on the day of election. The act further permits watchers to remain present at a polling place, or place at which absentee ballots are counted, until all closing certification forms are completed, all equipment is closed and taken down, the transportation case for the ballots is sealed, and election materials are returned to the election authority or to the designated collection place for a polling place.

It is an honor to serve the 51st District in the Missouri House of Representatives. Each week I will issue a capitol report to keep you informed of activities in Jefferson City. Any concerns or issues you might have are of great interest to me. I look forward to your input and thoughts, so please feel free to contact me at any time if you have questions, concerns, or ideas to improve our state government and the quality of life for all Missourians. My telephone number is 573-751-2204 or you may contact me by email at dean.dohrman@house.mo.gov. Thank you for working with me to make Missouri a great place to live.