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Lathrop GPM Consulting LLC
314 East High Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101
+1 573.469.4172
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Week 7: Winter Weather Shortens Week, Budget Debate Next |
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Winter weather caused the General Assembly to cancel Thursday’s session. Both the Senate and the House previously planned to observe Presidents Day on Monday, so session will resume on Tuesday, Feb. 22.
The Missouri House of Representatives continued its focus this week on numerous issues surrounding elections and the process for citizens to place questions on the ballot through initiative petition. It has become clear that reforms to the election and ballot initiative process are a major priority for House leadership. In addition, the House passed a resolution that would send to the voters a ballot question that modifies the recently passed (August 2020) Medicaid expansion to provide the General Assembly with more controls on eligibility and the total cost of funding the measure.
The Missouri Senate did not continue its debate this week on Congressional Redistricting and sat this issue to the side and debated and passed its first two bills of the year. The Senate gave initial approval to a workforce development bill that is a priority of Governor Mike Parson (R) and a resolution that would provide for a reduction in state income taxes upon voter approval.
BUDGET UPDATE
The Missouri Senate Appropriations committee passed HB 3014 out of committee this week on an 11-2 vote. HB 3014, the Governor’s supplemental budget bill, contains funding for ongoing department activities and also included funding for state employee pay raises, Medicaid funding and $1.8B in federal American Rescue Plan dollars that have to be distributed by March 18.
The Senate committee restored the Governor’s state employee pay plan from the House action cutting some of the raises from $15/hour to $12/hour. It also cut a $75M program from the educational dollars that would have allowed DESE to set aside the money for parents to apply for grants to help children with learning loss. The bill will now go to the Senate to be voted on and if passed as is, will go to conference with the House to work out a final bill.
The House and Senate are continuing to hear presentations from Departments on the FY 23 budget and the House budget committee will soon take action on HB 20-the Governor’s vision for the American Rescue Plan dollars.
VACCINE DISCRIMINATION BILL PERFECTED IN THE HOUSE
House Bills 2358 & 1485 (Evans, R-West Plains) requires an employer, unless clear and convincing evidence proves it would cause undue hardship to the employer, to make reasonable accommodations from a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for an employee if the employee requests one based on certain religious and sincerely held beliefs. On Feb. 14, the full House perfected HBs 2358 & 1485 on a voice vote. The bill needs another House floor vote before it is sent to the Senate. Also included in the bill, when a COVID-19 vaccination is required or mandated by an employer as a condition of employment, any injury, disability, or death resulting from the vaccine is considered an occupational disease and is compensable if the vaccine was any factor in causing the injury, disability, or death. The bill also amends the definition of "misconduct" in Chapter 288, RSMo, related to employment security. The definition explicitly excludes failure to take any COVID-19 vaccine based on certain sincerely held beliefs. Termination or discharge from employment for such failure will not disqualify an employee from unemployment compensation. The bill specifies that a court shall not deny or limit visitation to a non-custodial parent because of the parent's COVID-19 vaccination status. The bill does allow a judge to use discretion to deny or limit visitation if the child has a medical condition that would put the child at a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. The bill was amended on the floor so no hospital, physician, procurement organization, or other person shall consider the COVID-19 vaccination status of a potential organ transplant recipient or potential organ donor in any part of the organ transplant process. The bill contains an emergency clause.
CYBERSECURITY UPGRADE BILL PASSES COMMITTEE
House Bill 2436 (Houx, R-Warrensburg) allows the Department of Economic Development (department) to distribute one-time grants to employers for the purpose of enhancing cybersecurity, as defined in the bill. Grants made require a 10% match from the employer. In distributing grants, the department shall distribute an equal amount of awards to the following groups of employers: (1) Employers with 1-50 employees; (2) Employers with 51-200 employees; and (3) Employers with more than 200 employees. The department is required to create an on-line application form as part of its website which is to be the sole means of applying for grants. Employers seeking a grant must fill out the application along with documents outlining how it plans to enhance cybersecurity, including plans for how it plans to cover the remaining 10% cost for its cybersecurity enhancement. The bill limits the factors that the department may consider in assessing an employer's funding plans. The bill limits the amount that may be distributed in any fiscal year to $10 million. The House Special Committee on Homeland Security held an executive session on February 16 where HB 2436 was voted do pass by a vote of 9-1.
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House Bill 2204 (Knight, R-Lebanon) Currently, if an animal owner is charged with animal abuse or neglect is found innocent, all costs with their case including animal boarding and care must be paid for by the owner before they can have their animals returned. The bill modifies multiple provisions relating to the confiscation of animal by specifying if an animal owner is innocent, the confiscating agency is liable for costs. After no debate in the House Agriculture Policy Committee on February 15, HB 2204 was voted do pass by a vote of 12-5.
House Bill 2564 (Riggs, R-Hannibal) establishes the "21st Century Innovation Hub Task Force". The membership of the task force includes five members of the House of Representatives with three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, three members of the Senate with two appointed by the President Pro Tem of the Senate, and 23 members representing various government agencies and interested parties. The Speaker of the House shall designate the Chair of the Task Force and the President Pro Tem of the Senate shall designate the Vice Chair of the Task Force. The mission of the Task Force is to maximize and expand existing industries that spur technological innovation throughout the state. The Task Force will make recommendations for legislation as well as submit a report outlining a summary of Task Force activities to the General Assembly before August 28, 2023. The Task Force will suspend operations on January 1, 2024 and reconvene on January 1, 2025 to provide updates and review recommendations to be presented by August 28, 2025. These provisions shall sunset on September 1st, 12 years after the effective date unless reauthorized by the General Assembly. Hearing held February 14 in the House Workforce Development Committee. Testifying in support of the bill was the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. No testimony in opposition.
House Bill 2583 (Riggs, R-Hannibal) establishes the "Missouri State Technology Task Force". The mission of the Task Force is to evaluate the state's current technology platforms, research and evaluate technological advancements to apply to state systems, and recommend improvements to state technology systems to provide state agencies and citizens with more efficient and accessible records. The Task Force membership is listed in the bill, and includes members of the General Assembly: with five members of the House of Representatives, three members appointed by the Speaker and two members appointed by the Minority Leader and three members of the Senate with two appointed by the President Pro Tem and one appointed by the Minority Leader. Membership will also include: appointees of the executive branch, and appointees that are subject matter experts in Missouri-based technology providers, cyber security, web-based communication services, electronic records and storage retention, and large-scale software implementation. The Task Force shall submit a summary of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly before August 28, 2023. The Task Force will be suspended on January 1, 2024, after which a new set of members will be appointed as provided in the bill. The Task Force will resume its operations on January 1, 2025 and report an updated summary of its findings and recommendations on August 28, 2025. Thereafter, the Task Force will continue to meet every two years. Hearing held February 14 in the House Workforce Development Committee. Testifying in support of the bill was the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. No testimony in opposition.
House Joint Resolution 91 (J. Eggleston, R-Maysville). Upon voter approval, this proposed Constitutional amendment would require the sponsor(s) of initiative petitions proposing Constitutional amendments or laws to collect signatures in each of Missouri’s eight Congressional districts. After collecting signatures, hearings in the General Assembly would be held on the initiative petition proposal. If placed on the statewide ballot, a two-thirds majority vote of the people is required for approval of the proposed amendment. An amendment: The House Committee Substitute specifies that the Constitutional phrase "legal voter" is defined as an individual who is a citizen of the United States, a resident of Missouri, and who is properly registered to vote, and the resolution has a delayed effective date of Jan. 1, 2023. The House Rules-Administrative Oversight Committee met on February 16 where HJR 91 was voted do pass by a vote of 7-4.
Senate Bill 823 (White, R-Joplin) This act modifies existing statutory immunity from liability for certain persons involved with reporting, investigating, or responding to allegations of child abuse or neglect to include employees of the Department of Social Services. Hearing held February 16 in the Seniors Seniors and Families Committee. MO Coalition of Children testified in support. No opposing testimony was provided. The Director of Child Services and the Department of Social Services provided informational testimony.
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House Joint Resolution 70 (Davidson, R-Republic) was perfected by the full House by voice vote on Feb. 16. Another House vote is needed to send the bill to the Senate. Upon voter approval, this proposed Constitutional amendment requires Constitutional amendments submitted by initiative petition to be approved by a majority of registered voters. Registered voters are defined in terms of persons allowed to vote at the most recent general, municipal, or primary election preceding the amendment vote.
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Click the button below to access your 2022 Tracking Report |
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House-Workforce Development
02/22/2022 6:00 PM or upon adjournment
Committee Hearing, HR 1
Executive Session:
HB2564 Riggs, Louis - Establishes the Twenty-First Century Technology Innovation Task Force
HB2583 Riggs, Louis - Establishes the Missouri Technology Task Force
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Lathrop GPM Consulting LLC
314 E. High Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101
T: +1 573.469.4172
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