LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS IN THE STATE CAPITOL
As spring break quickly approaches, the Missouri Senate continues to discuss and debate various pieces of legislation that will have an impact on the lives of all Missourians. This week, I am highlighting four of those bills.
Senate Bill 101 establishes a statewide hearing aid distribution program. The legislation would require the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to establish a statewide hearing aid distribution program to provide financial assistance to certain low-income individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to obtain hearing aids. All assessment for need and distribution of hearing aids must be performed by licensed audiologists, hearing instrument specialists or a licensed physician. In addition, the bill creates a dedicated “Statewide Hearing Aid Distribution Fund,” which would not include any funds from the Assistive Technology Trust Fund or the Deaf Relay Service and Equipment Distribution Program Fund. In order to move forward, the bill must receive another round of approval before moving to the Missouri House of Representatives for consideration.
I personally filed Senate Bill 123, which is a proposal that allows a $10 fee for service of any summons, writ, subpoena or other court order. These fees would go toward the Deputy Sheriff Salary Supplemental Fund, regardless of who serves the court order. I believe this is an important piece of legislation because it ensures that the salaries of deputies across the state remain at an adequate funding level. This bill was combined with Senate Bill 12 as part of a joint effort with a fellow senator to ensure that this issue was brought to the attention of our colleagues in the Missouri Senate. The proposal is scheduled for final review and set vote of approval.
Senate Bill 180 is a bill that modifies the Missouri Works program by creating an additional tax credit for the expansion or improvement of a military base or installation. Ultimately, this bill would create incentives for the creation of new military jobs by increasing the volume of military or civilian personnel across the state. This bill awaits a final review and approval in the Missouri Senate before moving further through the legislative process.
The final bill that I will discuss is Senate Bill 202. This legislation proposes that moneys disbursed to the Missouri Office of Administration from the U.S. Department of the Interior for mining royalties from federal land located within the state would be distributed on a proportional basis by the Office of Administration to each county in the state where such mining royalties accrued.
The bill specifies that each county that receives money shall allocate 50 percent for public schools, 25 percent for the maintenance of roads and bridges in the county and 25 percent for the county’s public safety budget. This bill needs a final review and approval in the Missouri Senate before moving further through the legislative process.
