Rep. Dean Dohrman, a Republican, represents Johnson, Pettis, and Saline counties (District 51). He was elected to his first two-year term in November 2012. In addition to his legislative duties, Rep. Dohrman is an online professor. Rep. Dohrman is a member of Warrensburg and Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce, and Sedalia Lions Club. He attends Wesley United Methodist Church. A graduate of LaMonte High, Rep. Dohrman earned his PhD from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2004. Born in Warrensburg, Rep. Dohrman currently lives in LaMonte.

Capitol Report: June 8, 2017

Posted Friday, June 9, 2017, at 3:47 PM

The Governor announced yesterday that lawmakers will once again return to Jefferson City to convene for an extraordinary, special session. The special session is set to begin Monday, June 12. This time the governor has called the House and Senate back to address several issues meant to “protect the lives of the innocent unborn and protect women's health.” Governor Greitens issued the call Wednesday for multiple pro-life issues he said the legislature needs to work to address immediately. The two chambers will now look for legislative solutions to a city ordinance the governor says has turned St. Louis into an abortion sanctuary city, while also working to implement new standards that will better ensure the health and safety of women who visit an abortion clinic.

In the meantime, now that both the regular and first special legislative sessions have come to an end, the legislature stands at a little over 75 bills that have been Truly Agreed to and Finally Passed (TAFP). These bills now await the Governor’s approval or veto. These TAFP bills span a variety of topics. Below is a brief summary of three TAFP’d bills. As promised, more TAFP’d bill summaries will follow in the weeks to come. Finally, before Veto Session in September, the governor’s actions on all bills will be reviewed.

HB 93- Changes the laws regarding job training.

The bill, among other provisions, establishes four adult high schools to be operated by a Missouri nonprofit organization. An "adult high school" is defined as a school for an individual who is at least 21 years old without a high school diploma, offers industry certification programs that include a high school diploma and provides on-site child care for students. This bill requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to grant a license to a Missouri-based nonprofit organization before January 1, 2018, to establish and operate four adult high schools with locations as specified in the bill.

This bill also modifies the definition of "new capital investment" by allowing costs incurred by a qualified company at the project facility prior to acceptance of the proposal for benefits to be considered new capital investment. The bill allows the Department of Economic Development to contract with other entities for the purpose of advertising, marketing, and promoting the Missouri Works Training program. Such marketing shall not exceed $50,000 annually.

This bill also allows the department to provide assistance through the Missouri Works Job Development Fund to a consortium of companies if a majority of the consortium are qualified companies. Currently, Missouri Works Training projects are funded by redirecting withholding taxes remitted by a qualified company for new or retained jobs created by the company. Subject to appropriation, the bill allows the department to provide up-front funding from appropriations from the General Revenue Fund. For projects that utilize such funding, the amount of withholding taxes redirected for the project shall be reduced by the amount of funds received through the general revenue appropriation.

HB 115 - Modifies provisions relating to the sale of intoxicating liquor in airports.

This bill regulates intoxicating liquor. Its main provisions include:

(1) Exemptions for ignition interlock device requirements shall not be granted to individuals who are self-employed or who wholly or partially own or control an entity that owns an employer-owned vehicle;

(2) Allows distillers under Section 331.070 to offer for the promotion of tourism liquor drink sales from 6:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Monday to Saturday and 9:00 a.m. to midnight on Sundays;

(3) Creates an exception to current law requiring liquor sold by the drink to be purchased from licensed wholesalers. The exception is for retailers near recreational resorts. Retail establishment employees may hold specified financial interests in a distillery near a resort. Sales from those licensed as resort distilleries to wholesalers are also allowed so long as the resort license holder has no financial interest in the wholesaler (Section 311.075);

(4) Enables retail establishments selling liquor by the drink within the St. Louis Lambert International Airport or the Kansas City International Airport to apply for a permit which allows patrons to leave the licensed establishment with an alcoholic beverage and carry it into other designated areas within the airport. All such retail establishments in the airport are required to serve their alcoholic beverages in containers displaying the retailer's name or logo;

(5) Provides a five-day time limit for the Supervisor of Liquor Control inspections involving intoxicating liquor, as specified in the bill. Exceptions to inspection are allowed in certain cases where certificates are provided from federal agencies to the Supervisor of Liquor Control's office. The supervisor is granted sole authority over certain products

HB 130 – Enacts provisions relating to transportation network companies.

The bill provides that Transportation Network Companies, TNCs, and TNC drivers are not common carriers, contract carriers, motor carriers, taxicab services or associations, or for-hire vehicle services. TNC drivers need not register their vehicles as commercial or for-hire. This bill further provides that, beginning April 28, 2018, a TNC must apply for an annual license from the Department of Revenue to do business within the State of Missouri, and maintain the insurance coverage requirements. The bill allows TNCs to charge fares, but the TNC must disclose the fare or fare structure on its website or digital network. If the fare is based on actual time and distance traveled, the TNC on its website shall also provide riders the applicable rates being charged and the option to receive an estimated fare before the rider enters the vehicle.

TNCs are required to notify drivers they may have a contractual obligation to include the TNC as a loss payee on their insurance policy, and drivers are required to take any steps necessary to satisfy the requirements of their insurance contracts. This bill prescribes driver eligibility requirements, including background checks and registration with the TNC. Vehicles used by TNC drivers must meet Missouri's motor vehicle safety inspection requirements. TNC drivers, taxicab drivers, and persons performing food delivery services shall not be required to obtain a class of Missouri driver's license other than class F. TNCs shall remove drivers from their platform if they are determined to have committed certain crimes or if their insurance policy is no longer in effect. TNC drivers shall not solicit or accept street hails. TNCs shall adopt nondiscrimination policies with respect to riders, shall notify drivers of such policy, and may not discriminate against TNC drivers in a way prohibited by the Missouri or United States Constitutions.

This bill authorizes Kansas City and the Saint Louis Regional Taxicab Commission to audit a TNC, no more than twice a year, to ensure compliance with the provisions of this bill. Each licensed TNC may be charged for the costs of the audit, not to exceed $5,000 per year. If any violations are discovered, the TNC can be fined up to $500 per violation by the appropriate entity. If a TNC learns that a TNC driver has been convicted of an offense that would preclude the driver from being eligible as a TNC driver under this bill, the TNC shall immediately revoke the driver's ability to accept trip requests and notify the Department of Revenue. A TNC shall also report to the department any TNC driver involved in a traffic accident or incident that resulted in serious bodily injury or fatality. The department shall implement a process to provide such information to all other TNCs in this state.

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and I will host a town hall meeting at the Martin Community Center (1985 S Odell Ave, Marshall) next Thursday, June 15th at 9:45 AM to discuss the new photo voter ID law going into effect in Missouri this year. If possible, please plan to attend. This will be a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have. Make sure your vote counts!

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.