Legislative Update

Issue 3 - January 19, 2007

EDUCATION

EDUCATION

SB 243 - Mayer (R)
Relating to compulsory school attendance age
Current law requires children between the ages of seven and sixteen years to regularly attend public, private, parochial, or home school. Further, current law allows the St. Louis school district to raise their compulsory attendance age to seventeen under certain circumstances. This act removes the aforementioned provision for the St. Louis school district and elevates the compulsory school attendance age for all children in Missouri to seventeen years of age.
Status: 1/18/07 Referred: Education; Issue 3

HB 29 - Cunningham (R)
Relating to terms of service for members of certain special school districts
Status: 1/4/07 Second Read; Issue 1

HB 181 - Sanders (R)
Requires captioning of electronic video instructional material
Status: 1/4/07 Second Read; Issue 1

HB 265 - Cunningham (R)
Relatiing to due process hearings
Currently, a special education due process hearing requires a five-business-day notice for the introduction of evidence unless the hearing is an expedited hearing. This bill removes the exception for expedited hearings, making the five-day notice applicable to them.
Status: 1/9/07 Second Read; Issue 3

SB 16 – Scott (R)
Requires a comprehensive vision examination for each child enrolled in kindergarten or first grade
Status: 1/16/07 Referred: Seniors, Families & Public Health Issue 1

SB 34 - Scott (R)
Requires a comprehensive vision examination for each child enrolled in kindergarten or first grade
Status: 1/3/07 First Read; Issue 1

SB 87 - Days (D)
Relating to the First Steps Program
Status: 1/16/07 Referred: Governmental Accountability & Fiscal Oversight; Issue 1

SB 112 - Rupp (R)
Removes the reference to sunset of the statute that provides authority for special education of age 3 to 21 population
Status: 1/17/07 Referred: Governmental Accountability & Fiscal Oversight; Issue 1

SB 131 - Rupp (R)
Relating to the sunset provision for the First Steps Program
Status: 1/17/07 Referred: Governmental Accountability & Fiscal Oversight; Issue 1

SB 133 - Rupp (R)
Alters provisions regarding due process hearings
Status: 1/17/07 Referred: Education; Issue 1

SB 140 - Rupp (R)
Relating to boards of education and due process hearings
Status: 1/17/07 Referred: Education; Issue 1

SB 141 - Nodler (R)
Removes reference to sunset of statute relating to special education of age 3 to 21 population
Status: 1/17/07 Referred: Governmental Accountability & Fiscal Oversight; Issue 1

SB 142 - Nodler (R)
Renders the MO Sunset Act not applicable with regard to the First Steps Program
Status: 1/17/07 Referred: Education; Issue 1

SB 147 - Nodler (R)
Alters provisions regarding expedited due process hearings
Status: 1/17/07 Referred: Education; Issue 1

SB 148 - Nodler (R)
Relating to boards of education and due process hearings
Status: 1/17/07 Referred: Education; Issue 1

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

HB 39 – Portwood (R)
Establishes eligibility requirements of an employed disabled person requesting medical assistance under the TWWIIA
Status: 1/4/07 Second Read; Issue 1

SB 77 – Scott (R)
Creates graduated increase in payments for sheltered workshops
Status: 1/16/07 Referred: Seniors, Families & Public Health Issue 1

FUNDING

OTHER

SB 208 – Gross (R)
Requires the balance of all state funds to be transferred and credited to the state General Revenue Fund if state revenue does not increase by two percent
Status: 1/8/07 Bill withdrawn; Issue 1

SB 222 – Gross (R)
Requires the balance of all state funds to be transferred and credited to the state General Revenue Fund if state revenue does not increase by two percent
Status: 1/18/07 Referred: Ways & Means; Issue 2

TAX RELIEF

HB 40 – Portwood (R)
Changes laws regarding long term care insurance tax deduction and Establishes MO Long Term Care Partnership Act
Status: 1/4/07 Second Read; Issue 1

HB 104 – Meiners (D)
Relating to sales tax and modifications of a vehicle for a person with a disability

HB 116 – Denison (R)
Allows MO residents to deduct from taxable income 100% of non-reimbursed amounts paid for long-term care insurance
Status: 1/4/07 Second Read; Issue 1

HB 168 – Hoskins (D)
Relating to an income tax credit for certain taxpayers age 65 and over
Status: 1/4/07 Second Read; Issue 1

HB 307 – Fares (R)
Authorizes a tax credit for elderly and disabled for real property taxes
Authorizes, beginning January 1, 2008, a 50% tax credit for the elderly or disabled who have lived in their home for at least 20 years and who have spent more than 10% of their household income on real property taxes. The tax credit is refundable; and taxpayers will not be able to claim this credit if they have filed a valid claim under Sections 135.030 or 137.106, RSMo, for the same tax year. The provisions of the bill will expire six years from the effective date.
Status: 1/10/07 Second Read; Issue 3

HB 383 – Wildberger (D)
Relating to tax deductions for long term care insurance premiums
Authorizes 100% of the amount paid for non-reimbursed qualified long-term care insurance premiums to be deducted from a taxpayer's Missouri taxable income to the extent the amount is not already included in the taxpayer's itemized deductions.
Status: 1/16/07 Second Read; Issue 3

SB 07 – Loudon (R)
Creates an income tax deduction for medical expenses
Status: 1/16/07 Referred: Ways & Means; Issue 1

SB 08 – Kennedy (D)
Provides a tax credit for modifying a home for a disabled person
Status: 1/16/07 Referred: Ways & Means; Issue 1

SB 32 – Bray (D)
Allows senior citizens to defer property tax payment
Status: 1/16/07 Referred: Ways & Means; Issue 1

HEALTH CARE & PERSONAL ASSISTANCE

INSURANCE

HB 39 – Portwood (R)
Establishes eligibility requirements of an employed disabled person requesting medical assistance under the TWWIIA
(See Employment)

HB 40 – Portwood (R)
Changes laws regarding long term care insurance tax deduction and Establishes MO Long Term Care Partnership Act
(See Funding/Tax Relief)

HB 72 – Baker (D)
Increases the resource limit for eligibility for medical assistance
Status: 1/4/07 Second Read; Issue 1

HB 95 – Sater (R)
Relating to reforms for the MO Medicaid Program and purchase of health insurance for uninsured
Status: 1/4/07 Second Read; Issue 1

HB 116 – Denison (R)
Allows MO residents to deduct from taxable income 100% of non-reimbursed amounts paid for long-term care insurance
(See Funding/Tax Relief)

SB 15 – Scott (R)
Establishes a long term care insurance public-private partnership program
Status: 1/16/07 Referred: Health & Mental Health; Issue 1

SB 95 – Bray (D)
Requires applicants for Medicaid and the CHIP to identify proposed beneficiary’s employer
Status: 1/16/07 Referred: Health & Mental Health; Issue 1

SB 113 – Shoemyer  (D)
Requires health carriers to include DME providers within their service provider networks
Status: 1/16/07 Referred: Small Business, Insurance & Industrial Relations; Issue 1

SB 118 – Griesheimer (R)
Requires insurance companies to provide coverage for computerized prosthetic devices
Status: 1/17/07 Referred: Small Business, Insurance & Industrial Relations; Issue 1

SB 122 – Bray (D)
Establishes the MO Universal Health Assurance Program
Status: 1/17/07 Referred: Health & Mental Health; Issue 1

SB 179 – Green (D)
Requires any applicant for health care benefits under a public assistance program to identify their employer
Status: 1/17/07 Referred: Health & Mental Health; Issue 1

SB 248 – Days (D)
Establishes a long-term care insurance public-private partnership program
Establishes the Missouri Long-Term Care Partnership Program and provides that the Department of Social Services shall, in conjunction with the Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration, coordinate the program so that private insurance and Medicaid funds shall be used to finance long-term care. Under such a program, an individual may purchase a qualified long-term care partnership approved policy in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 to provide a mechanism for individuals to qualify for coverage of the cost of the individual's long-term care needs under the state Medicaid program without first being required to substantially exhaust his or her resources. Individuals seeking to qualify for Medicaid are permitted to retain assets equal to the dollar amount of qualified long-term care partnership insurance benefits received beyond the level of assets otherwise permitted to be retained under the state's Medicaid plan. The Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration may certify qualified state long-term care insurance partnership policies that meet the applicable provisions of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Long-Term Care Insurance Model Act and Regulation as specified in the Federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. In addition, the department shall develop requirements regarding training for those who sell qualified long-term care partnership policies. The issuers of qualified long-term care partnership policies in this state shall provide regular reports to both the Secretary of the federal Department of Health and Human Services and to the Departments of Social Services and Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration. The Departments of Social Services and Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this act. This act has a six-year sunset provision. This act is similar to SB 1053 (2006).
Status: 1/17/07 Referred: Health & Mental Health; Issue 3

OTHER

HB 55 – Slater (R)
Establishes the Healthcare Technology Fund and the MO Healthcare Technology Commission
Status: 1/4/07 Second Read; Issue 1

HB 182 – Bruns (R)
Establishes the Outside the Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate Act
Status: 1/4/07 Second Read; Issue 1

HB 203 – Deeken (R)
Modifies eligibility requirements for the Netabolic Formula Distribution Program
Modifies the Metabolic Formula Distribution Program within the Department of Health and Senior Services to include applicants between the ages of six and 18 whose family income is less than 300% of the federal poverty level. Currently, eligibility for the program is determined by an income-based means test established by the department.
Status: 1/4/07 Second Read; Issue 2

HB 204 – Whorton (D)
Relating to MO Medicaid benefits
Allows any resident of a nursing home who receives Missouri Medicaid Program benefits to retain not less than $50 per month for discretionary spending.
Status: 1/4/07 Second Read; Issue 2

HB 216 – Stevenson (R)
Establishes the Umbilical Cord Blood Bank Program
Status: 1/4/07 Second Read; Issue 1

SB 07 – Loudon (R)
Creates an income tax deduction for medical expenses
(See Funding/Tax Relief)

SB 80 – Shields (R)
Modifies provisions of the Metabolic Formula Distribution Program
Status: 1/23/07 Public Hearing Scheduled; Issue 1

SB 274 – Shields (R)
Creates the "Healthcare Technology Fund"
Establishes the Healthcare Technology Fund, which shall be administered by the Department of Social Services. Upon appropriation, moneys in the fund shall be used to promote technological advances to improve patient care, decrease administrative burdens, and increase patient and health care provider satisfaction. Any programs or improvements on technology shall include encouragement and implementation of technologies intended to improve the safety, quality and costs of health care services in the state. The department shall promulgate rules setting forth the procedures and methods for implementing the provisions the section. This act contains an emergency clause. This act is similar to SCS/SBs 858 and 968 (2006).
Status: 1/18/07 Referred: Heatlh & Mental Health; Issue 3

SJR 10 – Bartle (R)
Repeals the constitutional provisions regarding stem cell research
Status: 1/3/07 First Read; Issue 2

PHARMACEUTICAL

HB 314 – Tilley (R)
Relating to the practice of pharmacy and establishing the Well-being Committee
Revises the definition of "practice of pharmacy" to include the implementation of medical or veterinary prescription orders and prohibits any person other than the patient or the patient's authorized representative from accepting a dispensed prescription order unless that person is on the premises of a pharmacy. The Missouri State Board of Pharmacy is allowed to establish the Well-being Committee to aid pharmacists who suffer from illness, substance abuse, mental illness, or physical impairments. The board will enter into contractual agreements with nonprofit corporations for the purpose of creating, supporting, and maintaining the committee. All communications involving the licensee and the committee are confidential and not considered public records.
Status: 1/11/07 Second Read; Issue 3

LEGAL RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES

OTHER

SB 177 – Green (D)
Relating to crimes of security fraud against the elderly or disabled
Status: 1/17/07 Referred: Judiciary and Civil & Criminal Jurisprudence; Issue 1

VOTING

HB 138 – Salva (D)
Relating to voting machines and paper ballots
Status: 1/4/07 Second Read; Issue 1

HB 349 – Skaggs (D)
Relating to requirements for distribution of voter registration applications
Requires anyone requesting more than 50 voter registration applications to be 18 years of age or older and provide to the Office of the Secretary of State his or her name, address, phone number, official position, and an oath that the required information is correct. Knowingly providing false information is punishable by a fine of up to 10,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both. It will be a class B felony to knowingly forge another person's name on a voter registration application or to provide false information to an election official in order to cast a ballot as specified in Section 115.427, RSMo, or to falsify a certificate, affidavit, statement, or ballot as specified in Sections 115.283 or 115.284.
Status: 1/16/07 Second Read; Issue 3

MENTAL HEALTH

SERVICES

SB 03 – Gibbons (R)
Enacts provisions on mental health reform
Status: 1/16/07 Referred: Health & Mental Health; Issue 1

SB 174 – Green  (D)
Modifies laws on mental health facilities and group homes
Status: 1/16/07 Referred: Health & Mental Health; Issue 1

SB 191 – Days (D)
Enacts provisions on children’s mental health
Status: 1/16/07 Referred: Health & Mental Health; Issue 1

OLMSTEAD

OLMSTEAD

SB 15 – Scott (R)
Establishes a long term care insurance public-private partnership program
(See Health Care/ Insurance)

SB 248 – Scott (R)
Establishes a long-term care insurance public-private partnership program
(See Health Care/ Insurance)

PREVENTION

OTHER

HB 90 – St. Onge (R)
Requires all drivers and passengers in cars or trucks to wear seat belts
Status: 1/4/07 Second Read; Issue 1

HB 155 – Dusenberg (R)
Relating to the motorcycle helmet law
Status: 1/4/07 Second Read; Issue 1

HB 252 – Ridgeway (R)
Relating to the motorcycle helmet law
Exempts motorcyclists’ age 21 and older from wearing a helmet when operating a motorcycle or motortricycle. Under current law, everyone operating a motorcycle or motortricycle must wear a helmet. This act is substantially similar to SB 635 (2006), SB 12 (2005), SB 744 (2004), SB 226 (2003), SB 646 (2002), SB 18 (2001), SB 610 (2000) and SB 294 (1999).
Status: 1/18/07 Referred: Transportation; Issue 3

SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

SERVICES

HB 87 – Kraus (R)
Creates the Needy Persons Fund
Status: 1/4/07 Second Read; Issue 1

HB 98 – Parson (R)
Authorizes each Area Agency on Aging to establish a volunteer transportation program for the elderly
Status: 1/4/07 Second Read; Issue 1

HB 242 – Bruns (R)
Relating to Autism Awareness Month & Day
Requires the Governor to annually issue a proclamation declaring April as "Autism Awareness Month" and April 27 as "Autism Awareness Day" in Missouri.
Status: 1/8/07 Second Read; Issue 2

HB 242 – Tilley (R)
Relating to the practice of pharmacy and establishing the Well-being Committee
(See Health Care/Pharmaceutical)

SB 11 – Coleman (D)
Creates a hot weather rule for maintenance of utility services
Status: 1/3/07 First Read; Issue 1

SB 14 – Scott (R)
Authorizes volunteer transportation services for the elderly
Status: 1/3/07 First Read; Issue 1

SB 238 – Stoffer (R)
Relating to requirements for renewal of windshield placards
Requires removable windshield placards to be renewed every four years rather than two years. Currently, disabled individuals must provide a new physician's statement every four years, but must renew their placards every two years. The act also allows the director to stagger the requirement of a physician's statement on all renewals for the initial implementation of four-year placard. The act has an effective date of January 1, 2008.
Status: 1/18/07 Referred: Transportation; Issue 3

Last modified: 01.19.07

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