Capitol Report September 7th, 2017

Last Tuesday, I was fortunate enough to attend the Missouri Innovation Center grand opening in Lee’s Summit. The new building represents another milestone illustrating the progress in STEM education and an accelerated, cost-saving pathway to a four-year college degree in our state.

The new facility includes the Missouri Innovation Campus program, a nationally recognized program that reshapes the way students experience education; Summit Technology Academy (STA), a unique high-school program that prepares students for careers in areas such as engineering, computer science, health care and the creative sciences; and UCM-Lee’s Summit, the university’s main off-campus learning facility, offering graduate- and undergraduate-level completion programs to metro-area students. Students enrolled in Summit Technology Academy, as well as the Missouri Innovation Campus, are from 14 metro- area school districts. This cooperative approach is reinventing education to accommodate a rapidly changing economy that challenges those who are attempting to be work-ready.

Back at the Capitol, as mandated by the Missouri Constitution, the General Assembly will meet Wednesday, September 13 to consider bills that were passed by the House and Senate but vetoed by the governor. The annual Veto Session gives legislators a final opportunity to enact their ideas into law despite the governor’s objections. In both chambers, a two-thirds vote is required to override a veto. In the House that amounts to 109 votes. Twenty-three votes are needed in the Senate to successfully complete an override motion.

The 2016 Veto Session activity brought the total number of veto overrides in state history up to 119. Prior to the administration of Governor Jay Nixon, the total number of veto overrides in Missouri history stood at 22. In total, the legislature managed to override the governor 97 times during his eight years of service. Heading into this Veto Session it appears unlikely that the legislature will add to the veto override total as the new governor and the current General Assembly have worked together on most of the issues addressed in 2017. The current governor’s veto totals are far lower than those of his predecessor. Of the bills sent to his desk by the legislature, Governor Greitens vetoed only one House Bill, one House Committee Bill, one House Concurrent Resolution, and two Senate Bills. He also issued line item vetoes in three appropriations bills. More will be discussed on these bills after the results of veto session next week.

Finally, as promised, this week includes the final six TAFP’d bills summarized below. These final TAFP’d bills wrap up the bill summaries just in time for Wednesday’s Veto Session.

Truly Agreed to and Finally Passed Bills

SB 395 (Signed by Governor: 6/23) - Modifies provisions relating to the practice of public accounting

The act modifies several definitions related to the profession of accountancy. The act also lowers the age that someone can become licensed as an accountant from 21 to 18. A certified public accounting firm that does not have an office in the state of Missouri may offer or perform attest or compilation services in Missouri without a permit if it meets certain requirements, as set forth in the act. All firms practicing public accounting in the state of Missouri shall register with the Secretary of State, unless they are exempted as described in the act.

Also, the act repeals a provision stating that a licensee who supervises review services or signs or authorizes someone to sign review reports shall meet competency requirements as determined by the Board. The act also repeals a provision that states prior to January 1, 2008, licensees who perform fewer than three attest services a year shall be exempt from the requirement to undergo peer review as described in the act.

SB 421 (Signed by Governor: 7/5) - Modifies provisions relating to the conveyance of state property

Currently, the Governor is not required to obtain legislative authorization for the conveyance or transfer of certain properties to certain entities, including easements for rural electric cooperatives, municipal corporations, and public utilities. Instead, under this act, the Governor need not be required to obtain such authorization for granting easements to political subdivisions, rural electric cooperatives, railroads, to accommodate utility service provided to state property or facilities, to accommodate ingress and egress on state properties, or to facilitate the use of common elements of condominium property if the state is a unit owner. The easement shall be used for purposes set forth in this act.

SB 486 (Signed by Governor: 7/11) - Authorizes the conveyance of a certain state property located in Cole County to the City of Jefferson

This act authorizes the conveyance of a certain state property located in Cole County to the City of Jefferson.

SB 501 (Signed by Governor: 7/14) - Modifies provisions relating to health care

This act requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to contract with a third party for the establishment of a health care directives registry for the purpose of providing a place to securely store an advance health care directive online and to give authorized health care providers immediate access to the directive. The third party contractor shall be solely responsible for the administration and maintenance of the registry. All data and information contained in the registry shall remain confidential and shall be exempt from the Sunshine Law. An "advance health care directive" is defined as either a power of attorney for health care or a declaration signed by an adult declarant containing the person's direction concerning a health care decision.

Among other provisions, this act allows a physician to prescribe epinephrine (EPI) auto-injectors in the name of an authorized entity for use in certain emergency situations. Pharmacists, physicians, and other persons authorized to dispense prescription medications may dispense EPI auto-injectors under a prescription issued in the name of an authorized entity. An "authorized entity" is defined as any entity or organization at or in connection with locations where allergens capable of causing anaphylaxis may be present, including but not limited to restaurants, recreation camps, youth sports leagues, amusement parks, and sports arenas.

SB 503 (Signed by Governor: 7/11) - Modifies provisions relating to emergency services

The act provides that no emergency medical technician shall be liable, if acting in good faith and without gross negligence, for the administration of a patient's personal medication when deemed necessary. This act also changes the name of the Advisory Committee for 911 Service Oversight to the Missouri 911 Service Board. The number of Board members is reduced from 16 to 15, and the composition of the Board is changed. The Board shall have no authority over certain emergency communications services providers.

No corporation or its affiliate shall have more than one member on the Board, subject to the exception that all members appointed as of August 28, 2017, shall continue to serve the remainder of their terms. Additional new powers and responsibilities of the Board are specified including compliance with federal standards, coordinating services, planning and implementing improvements to technological systems, and collaborating with other bodies of state government. The Board is required to designate a coordinator who shall be responsible for overseeing state 911 operations.

SCR 4 (Signed by Leadership: 5/22) - Applies to Congress for the calling of an Article V convention of states to propose certain amendments to the United States Constitution which place limits on the federal government

This concurrent resolution applies to the United States Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the United States Constitution, for the calling of a convention of the states for the limited purpose of proposing amendments to the U.S. Constitution that impose fiscal restraint on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for federal officials and members of Congress. This application shall expire five years after the passage of this resolution.

This week I attended the Governor’s Conference on Economic Development entitled “Not Business as Usual.” Several of the panels discussed workforce readiness and skills for the future. This year proved to be the highest attendance of this annual event in its nearly 60 year run. Missouri is Open for Business!

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.