Capitol Report for June 16

This morning on the campus of the University of Central Missouri, Governor Nixon signed SB 997 sponsored by Senator Pearce. The law has many higher education provisions, and among these is an amendment for my Statewide Student Portal legislation to help Missouri students find the correct program for their needs, the financial help they are seeking, and finally, to complete their program application and enrollment.

As I have noted before in this report, the students of Missouri need this type of service, and it is relatively simple to implement, it only takes time and money. I appreciate all the help I have received from the Department of Higher Education, as well as all the colleges and universities around the state. My fellow legislators were extremely helpful in placing the money for this project in this current budget, and passing the enabling legislation in SB 997. Thanks to all!

In other executive action, the governor signed four health bills into law. The governor signed HB 2029 to provide Missourians with chronic illnesses better access to the medications they need, SB 875 to provide citizens with better access to effective medications, HB 1534 which will extend Missouri's tax on medical providers that is responsible for billions of dollars in funding for the state's Medicaid program, and SB 579 to update the process hospitals use to report healthcare associated infections.

Also, in an effort to protect Missourians, the General Assembly approved a number of other bills that the Governor has now signed. SB 624 will make it a crime to knowingly possess fraudulently obtained credit or debit devices, SB 838 will help victims of domestic violence by allowing their cell phone number and services to be separated from the account of their abusers, and HB 1583 will help protect students from bullying and suicide.

Finally, 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 bills sponsored by senators.

Truly Agree and Finally Passed Bills (SBs)

--SB 867 - Contains provisions relating to fire protection, sheltered workshops, assessments of mining property, consolidation of road districts, and property managers

Under current law, county boards, upon voter approval, may levy a property tax for the purpose of establishing and maintaining county sheltered workshops, residences, facilities, or other related services. This act would prohibit the adoption of any tax increment financing from superseding, altering, or reducing the sheltered workshop levy. This act also allows license offices to charge a $2 fee for each electronic look-up and a $2 notary fee, among changes to other various taxes and commercial zones.

--SB 905 - Changes the effective date of the repeal and enactment of certain provisions of the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act

This act changes the effective date of the repeal and enactment of certain provisions of the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act.

--SB 915 - Designates two memorial highways in Boone County

This act designates the portion of U.S. Highway 63 from Breedlove Drive to Peabody Road in Boone County as the "U.S. Army Specialist Steven Paul Farnen Memorial Highway". This act also designates the portion of U.S. Highway 63 in Boone County from the interchange with Discovery Parkway to Interstate 70 as the "U.S. Navy Lieutenant Patrick Kelly Connor Memorial Highway."

--SB 919 - Modifies provisions relating to intoxicating liquor

Current law allows for the issuance of a license to sell malt liquor that has an alcohol level of no more than five percent by weight in cities of less than 19,000 in which voters have not authorized the sale of intoxicating liquor. This act removes the five percent alcohol limit on the malt liquor and adds a reference to a statutory definition of malt liquor, among other revisions.

--SB 921 - Modifies requirements for the reporting of crimes and domestic violence incidents by law enforcement agencies

This act designates February as the "Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month" in Missouri. This act also requires the governing board of each public institution of higher education in Missouri to engage in discussions with law enforcement agencies and to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) concerning sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking involving students on and off campus, among other provisions.

--SB 932 - Modifies provisions relating to bonded entities

Under current law, a credit union supervisory committee is required to make a direct verification of members' share and loan accounts once every two years with a reasonable statistical sampling of members accounts being made in alternate years. This act removes that provision and instead requires that a credit union supervisory committee make a verification of members' share and loan accounts in the same manner and with the same frequency as required by federal law for federal credit unions, among many other provisions.

--SB 947 - Creates regulations for insurance requirements for transportation network companies and transportation network company drivers

This act creates the insurance coverage requirements between a transportation network company (TNC) and a TNC driver who uses a personal vehicle to transport passengers for the TNC beginning April 1, 2017. Automobile insurers in Missouri may exclude or limit any and all insurance coverage provided to owners or operators of personal vehicles while logged into a TNC's digital network for the purpose of transporting persons or property for compensation. In a claims coverage investigation, TNCs and any insurer potentially providing coverage under the act shall cooperate to facilitate the exchange of relevant information with each other and any insurer of the TNC driver, if applicable.

--SB 968 - Allows current members of the Missouri National Guard and reserve components of the U.S. Armed Forces to receive in-state residency status for the purposes of tuition at higher education institutions

This act allows current members of the Missouri National Guard and members of a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States to receive in-state residency status for the purposes of tuition at any public four-year institution of higher education, or in-district residency status for any two-year public institution, as described in the act. This act also modifies the Missouri Returning Heroes' Education Act. Currently, the tuition limitation authorized by the Missouri Returning Heroes' Education Act is applied after all other federal and state aid for which the veteran is eligible has been applied. This act applies the tuition limitation before all other aid. This act also repeals a provision that limits the amount of aid a veteran shall receive to the actual cost of attendance.

--SB 973 - Provides that a pharmacist may dispense varying quantities of maintenance medication

This act requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to promulgate regulations for the construction and renovation of hospitals that will include standards that reflect the Life Safety Code standards imposed under Medicare. Hospitals shall not be required to meet the standards contained in the Facility Guidelines Institute for the Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities, but any hospital that complies with the 2010 or later version of such guidelines shall not be required to comply with any inconsistent or conflicting regulations.