Capitol Report: May 26, 2020

During our second full month of the COVID-19 epidemic we have learned a few things. Number one, tight places are the areas of transfer. On the East Coast with high rise apartment complexes, mass transit, and close office spaces the virus seems to jump from person to person. Number two, it is especially hard on the elderly. For example, according to the Missouri Times, our state has had 11,000 positive test results and 616 deaths. Of those deaths, 447 have been 70 or older, a pattern repeated around the world. New York and New Jersey have had a significant number of deaths in nursing homes. Number three is that we need to reconsider some of economic arrangements, especially supply lines from China and our food production chain.

One thing that has become evident during the COVID crisis is that our meat processing industry is probably too consolidated. It has been in the back of some policy makers for awhile that perhaps our agricultural sector is too concentrated. Sure, this offers great advantages in cost, but there is more to cost than just dollars and cents. We can have costs in shortages, which is now appearing in the meat industry.

If you have visited any meat processing facility (we have some in the 51st District) you know that workers are elbow-to-elbow in an assembly line set up that can run 24 hours a day. Considering the environment of transfer as described above, this is the perfect place for person-to-person transfer of the virus. As a result, many have been shut down, and the fact is, no matter how much raw product we have, the food is of little value until it is processed. The bottleneck we are facing will most likely drive up prices (ground beef has already jumped in price) and perhaps some shortages of certain types of meat in the short run. This is certainly something Americans can work through, but it is something to consider in the days ahead.

Senator Roy Blunt has announced that Missouri will receive $17 million in federal funding to help increase testing capability across the state. This money is added to the $296 million announced at the beginning of the month. The goal is to provide at least 7,500 tests a day in Missouri.

Finally, Governor Parson will announce later today how the National Guard will assist in COVID testing across the state. About 1,000 Guard personnel are deployed across the state to help with the testing task. A dashboard of COVID-related information is available at http://mophep.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=8e01a5d8d8bd4b4f85....

In other news, the House and Senate Truly Agreed and Finally Passed (TAFP’d) 51 bills during this past session. Many of these had multiple pieces because of the shortened session. This week I begin summaries of these bills, and will continue until we have a complete recap for this session. You may also view bill summaries at https://house.mo.gov/LegislationSP.aspx .

2020 Truly Agreed and Finally Passed Bills

SCS HB 1330 – CONVEYANCE OF STATE PROPERTY

Authorizes the governor to sell, transfer, grant, convey, remise, release, and forever quitclaim specific properties described in the bill. Locations include: Cole County; the City of Fulton; St. Francois County; Ste. Genevieve County; and the City of Moberly. There is an emergency clause for St. Francois County.

HB1386 - LOBBYISTS

Modifies the definition of "legislative lobbyist" for purposes of lobbying laws to exclude legislative liaisons. In these provisions "legislative liaison" is defined as any state employee hired to communicate with members of the General Assembly on behalf of any elected official of the state; the judicial branch of state government; or any department, agency, board, or commission of the

state, provided such entity is a part of the executive branch of state government. Any state employee employed as a legislative liaison who performs lobbying services for any other entity shall register as a lobbyist with respect to such lobbying services.

HCSHBs 1387 & 1482 - ELECTRONIC MONITORING

Establishes the "Authorized Electronic Monitoring in Long-Term Care Facilities Act", which specifies the parameters of electronic monitoring by residents of long-term care facilities (Section198.610,RSMo). The bill describes unauthorized monitoring and prohibits the facility and the Department of Health and Senior Services from being civilly or criminally liable for such monitoring (Section198.614).

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.

Serving the Constituents of the 51st District,

The bill requires the department to promulgate rules that prescribe a form to be completed and signed by every resident that explains the liabilities and rights for residents who place covert or authorized electronic monitoring devices, and the procedures to request authorized monitoring (Section198.616). The bill also describes who may consent to electronic monitoring (Section198.618) and how that monitoring shall be requested, including the form, with the consent of any other residents in the room and the conditions of their consent (Section198.620).The bill also states that facilities must accommodate requests for monitoring and shall not refuse to admit an individual that requests electronic monitoring. For purposes of abuse and neglect, the bill outlines timelines and reporting requirements for those who might view footage on behalf of a resident and specifies when a video recording maybe used evidence.

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.