Capitol Report: Rep. Jeff Coleman, District 32

This is an editorial: An editorial, like news reporting, is based on objective facts, but shares an opinion. The conclusions and opinions here have been derived by the guest contributor and are not associated with the news staff.

by Rep. Jeff Coleman, MO District 32

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Missouri House Approves Fiscal Year 2024 State Operating Budget (HBs 1-13)
 
The members of the Missouri House of Representatives this week approved a $45.6 billion state operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year that begins in July. The 13 appropriations bills passed by the House include full funding for the state’s school foundation formula, funding increases for institutions of higher learning, additional support for law enforcement and school safety, and new funding for nursing homes and child care providers.
 
With the FY 2024 state budget plan, House members are making an enormous investment in the both the K-12 and higher education systems. The House allocated approximately $9.7 billion for the state’s elementary and secondary education system. That number includes full funding for the state’s foundation formula that is used to fund K-12 public schools. It also includes an additional $233 million to provide a total of $347 million to fully fund school transportation for the second time in as many years. The House Budget Chairman included another $55.1 million in funding for Close the Gap grants that will help Missouri families address the learning loss that occurred as a result of the pandemic.
 
The budget includes approximately $1.4 billion for higher education and workforce development. Included in that figure is a 7% funding increase for community colleges and a 5% increase for four-year universities. The spending plan also includes an additional 2% increase for four-year institutions that will be allocated through a performance-based system. The FY 2024 budget also includes full funding for the state’s scholarship program such as Bright Flight, Access Missouri, and the A+ Scholarship Program.


With the approval of the state budget, House members also showed their strong support for law enforcement and public safety. The spending plan now on its way to the Senate would provide a 20% pay increase for the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Capitol Police. The budget also includes $50 million for school safety grants for Missouri schools to make physical security investments on their campuses, develop safety plans, establish school resource officer programs, and increase active threat trainings. Additionally, the budget provides an additional $2 million to the Missouri National Guard to assist with recruitment.
The version of the budget approved on the House floor also includes funding for some of the governor’s top priorities. The plan has an additional $78.5 million to expand childcare access, improve facilities, and help employers increase staff wages. The House-approved budget also sets aside $56 million recommended by the governor to expand pre-kindergarten options to all four-year-old children eligible for free and reduced priced lunch at no cost. The funding for the pre-kindergarten expansion is tied to legislation that must be approved by the General Assembly.
 
The bills now move to the Missouri Senate for consideration. The House and Senate will have to reach final agreement on the bills by Friday, May 5.
 
Budget Highlights

• $9.7 billion in funding for the state’s system of K-12 education which includes full funding ($3.6 billion) for the school foundation formula.
• $233 million increase to provide a total of $347 million to fully fund school transportation for the second time in as many years.
• $31.9 million to expand the Teacher Career Ladder Program.
• $1.3 million for a Curriculum Transparency Portal.
• $2 million for Classroom Support Grants.
• $55.1 million in funding for Close the Gap grants that will help Missouri families address the learning loss that occurred as a result of the pandemic.
• $56 million recommended by the governor to expand pre-kindergarten options to all four-year-old children eligible for free and reduced priced lunch at no cost.
• $1.4 billion in total funding for higher education and workforce development.
• $70.8 million to increase funding for state colleges and universities. Community Colleges will receive a 7% increase while four-year institutions will receive a 5% increase and an additional 2% boost based on a performance-funding system.
• $35.5 million for MoExcels workforce development projects on college campuses.
• Full funding for state scholarship programs such as Bright Flight, Access Missouri, and A+.
• 20% pay increases for the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Capitol Police to help attract and retain quality officers.
• $50 million for school safety grants for Missouri schools to make physical security investments on their campuses, develop safety plans, establish school resource officer programs, and increase active threat trainings. 
• $2 million for the Missouri National Guard to assist with recruitment.
• $1 million increase for Blue Scholarships to help attract more Missourians to law enforcement careers and address officer shortages.
• $20 million to support Missouri’s veterans homes.
• $72.9 million in new funding for nursing home rate increases to help ensure homes can continue to provide quality care to some of the state’s most vulnerable Missourians.
• $78.5 million to expand childcare access, improve facilities, and help employers increase staff wages.
• $24.8 million to reform and rebuild the Children’s Division including adding caseworkers and adding prevention workers to keep children out of foster care.
• $4.3 million to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to implement its new maternal mortality plan.
• $1.3 million for grants to increase access to drug addiction treatment.
• $700,000 to develop a Master Plan on Aging.
• $10 million for autism research.
• $35 million to update railway crossings all across the state to modern day safety standards.
• $1 million to fund the recently-created Targeted Industrial Manufacturing Enterprise Zones.
• $247.7 million to continue broadband expansion efforts.

Bills Sent to the Senate
 
HB 15 is a supplemental budget bill that allocates more than $2 billion in funding for the current Fiscal Year 2023 state operating budget.
 
HBs 651, 479 & 647 modifies the definition of "video service" for provisions of law relating to video service providers to now include streaming content. Supporters say satellite and streaming services have never been charged a franchise fee. The franchise fees are for exclusive right to the right-of-way and these services do not have infrastructure in the right-of-way. If local municipalities begin charging franchise fees on these services, consumer bills will most likely increase.
 
HB 725 adds damaging, destroying, or making inoperable, a "teller machine", as defined in the bill, to the offense of property damage in the first degree. This offense is a class D felony; a class C felony if committed for the purpose of executing any scheme or artifice to defraud or obtain any property that exceeds $750 or the damage to the teller machine exceeds $750; and a class B felony if the damage committed was to obtain the personal financial credentials of another person or is committed as a second violation. The bill also provides that the offense of stealing is a Class C felony if the property is a teller machine or the contents of a teller machine regardless of the value or amount of cash. Supporters say this creates a penalty provision specifically for ATM "smash and grabs." There is currently no penalty for this. People have been charged with theft or property damage but not this offense specifically. The term "smash and grab" involves destroying an ATM to take its contents. This often happens in the middle of the night and involves using heavy equipment. A lot of times this causes a total loss to the machine, which can cost $30,000-$80,000 and oftentimes these machines are the only way for people to access essential finances.
 
HBs 913 & 428 modifies provisions relating to licensed child care facilities. Currently, a person caring for up to six children, with a maximum of three children under the age of two, can operate an unlicensed child care facility. Under this bill, that would change to a person caring for four children, with a maximum of two children under the age of one and a maximum of four children under the age of two. Currently, up to two children who are five years old or older that are related to the child care provider within the third degree will not be included in the maximum number of children for which the family child care home is licensed. This bill allows up to four children related to the child care provider within the third degree to not be counted, regardless of the child's age or if there are multiple members responsible for the child care home that have related children being served there. Supporters say the bill cleans up language in statute that caused unintended consequences. The bill will incentivize unlicensed providers to become licensed, which will give the Department more oversight to protect the children. There is a need for daycare services and this bill will open up space for more service to be provided.
 
HB 863 governs disclosure to customers when a broker-dealer or agent incorporates a social objective or nonfinancial objective into certain aspects of its advisory business relating to the purchase or sale of a security or commodity or the selection of a third-party manager or subadviser to manage the investments in the customer's account. The bill also governs green bonds which are a type of bond instrument where the proceeds are exclusively used to finance or re-finance eligible green projects.
 
HB 356 amends the definition of “business income” to include the total combined profit as properly reported to the IRS on each Schedule F form, as well as the total combined profit as properly reported to the IRS on each Form 4835. The bill also clarifies that a certain percentage of an individual’s business income subtracted from the individual’s federal adjusted gross income to the extent that the income is not otherwise subtracted or deducted in determining the individual’s Missouri taxable income. The bill increases an individual's income tax adjustments related to private pensions in the following manner: (1) Married Filing Combined -- increased from $32,000 to $64,000; (2) Single, Head of Household -- increased from $25,000 to $50,000; and (3) Married Filing Separate -- increased from $16,000 to $32,000. Supporters say increasing taxpayer income levels for tax deduction on their private pension will help to ensure that individuals and families have a larger source of funds during retirement. This will ease the burden of paying monthly expenses, and allow taxpayers to enjoy their retirement years.
 
HB 1162 this bill requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to establish a medical residency grant program, awarding grants to entities operating residency beyond the currently existing medical residency positions that is within the fields of primary care. Funding will be available on a scaled basis and the Department must expend moneys in the order provided in the bill. Supporters say that while there are plenty of students, there are not enough residency slots, and the federal government has not funded slots to keep pace with the growth in medical enrollment. Missouri is by far not the only state dealing with a critical healthcare provider shortage, but may face a collapse of the statewide healthcare system in the next decade if measures are not taken to address the issues. Moreover, the state in which a medical graduate practices their residency is indicative of where they will practice medicine upon completion of the program. Missouri, overall, is a net exporter of medical students to out-of-state residency programs.
 
HB 766 specifies that the Department of Health and Senior Services will require all employees, contractors who do work at a marijuana facility for more than 14 days per year, owners, and volunteers of marijuana facilities to submit fingerprints to the State Highway Patrol for the purpose of conducting a state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background check. Supporters say the bill deals with background checks for marijuana facilities and only certain people who work for these facilities will have to submit to fingerprints and background checks. This will make sure the state stays in compliance with federal law and Amendment 3.
 
HBs 971 & 970 establishes the "Missouri Employment First Act". The act specifies that all state agencies that provide employment-related services or services or support to persons with disabilities are required to coordinate with other agencies, promote competitive integrated employment, and implement an employment-first policy when providing services to persons with disabilities of working age. In addition, state agencies will offer specified information to all working-age persons with disabilities and to the parents or guardians of youth with a disability. The bill makes changes to the state’s Ticket to Work health insurance program within MO HealthNet. The key provisions increase the limit to how much a person can earn before they would lose benefits under Ticket to Work and disregard up to $50,000 of a spouse’s income, relative to that limit. Supporters say any step forward to break down barriers for disabled people to better participate in society is worthwhile. The bill shows the rest of the country that Missouri is committed to including disabled workers in their businesses and workforce, and recognizes said workers as an untapped population of individuals to grow and maintain an inclusive workforce development.
 
HB 1133 modifies provisions relating to credit toward the service of a sentence of imprisonment by changing the beginning of the credit accrual to after the offense occurred, as opposed to the current provision of after conviction. This credit must be based upon the certification of the sheriff, and may be supplemented by a certificate of a sheriff or other custodial officer from another jurisdiction having held the person on the charge of the offense for which the sentence is ordered. The court, when pronouncing sentence, may award additional credit for time spent in prison, jail, or custody before the commencement of the sentence for those in which the person was incarcerated, but for whom no detainer or warrant was served. The total amount of credit must not be more than the number of days between the date of the offense and the commencement of the sentence. Supporters say the bill helps address the various nuances when awarding jail time credit, such as defendant mobility throughout the state, providing credit for time already served, and ensuring that no offender or inmate would be required to do doubletime. Post-conviction motions relating to recalculation and resentencing may be reduced as well.
 
HB 1015 allows the chief law enforcement executive for any law enforcement agency to request assistance from a law enforcement agency in another jurisdiction, including from outside the state but within the United States. The bill creates provisions for how arrests are handled if executed by an officer outside of his or her jurisdiction. The bill also specifies that, for benefits and other employment-related matters, law enforcement officers remain employees of their respective law enforcement agencies throughout any request for assistance. Supporters say that border counties and jurisdictions in Missouri would benefit greatly from this bill in responding to incidents and emergencies. There are currently 45 sheriffs that have jurisdictions that border other states. This bill is an effective tool to enhance officer safety and the safety of the public. This bill is discretionary, not requiring any action or agreement between law enforcement agencies and jurisdictions, but instead empowering such agencies and jurisdictions to cooperate and seek assistance when necessary. Missouri is unique in that it shares its border with eight other states. This bill would empower law enforcement to seek aid from one of Missouri's many neighboring states. Incidents and emergencies requiring law enforcement response can require vastly more personnel and resources than are available to a single law enforcement agency. This bill ensures mutual aid to protect the public in response to such incidents and emergencies.
 
HB 207 requires that used motor vehicles get an inspection at the seller's expense no more than 60 days prior to a sale. The inspection is not required for vehicles having less than 40,000 miles for the three-year period following the model year of manufacture. The bill also provides that the application for a Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation emblem license plate and payment of the $25 contribution may be made at the time of registration to the Director of the Department of Revenue, who must deposit the contribution to the credit of the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation.
 
HB 403 increases the number of qualified applicants who may be awarded loans under the Large Animal Veterinary Student Loan Program from six to 12 per academic year and provides that the Department of Agriculture may increase this number beyond 12 if the amount of any additional moneys from private grants, gifts, donations, devises, or bequests of moneys, funds, real or personal property, or other assets deposited in the fund allows the full funding of such increase in the number of applicants. The bill expands the sources of funding for the Veterinary Student Loan Payment Fund to include any private grant, gift, donation, devise, or bequest of moneys, funds, real or personal property, or other asset. Supporters say that since the inception of the program, Missouri has awarded scholarships to 38 veterinary medicine students and more than 85% of recipients are still serving in rural areas of the state. Last year, 21 students applied for the six scholarships available. This bill would provide financial support for at least an additional six veterinary medicine students, which would help the livestock industry in this state by increasing the number of students who specialize large animal medicine and return to rural Missouri. Additionally, it renames the "Dr. Merrill Townley Large Animal Veterinary Student Loan Program" to the "Dr. Merrill Townley and Dr. Dan Brown Large Animal Veterinary Student Loan Program".
 
HB 225 establishes the "Missouri Nuclear Clean Power Act", which allows clean baseload electric generating plants or facilities rated at 600 megawatts or less that utilize renewable sources to produce energy not in commercial operation as of August 28, 2023, to charge for costs associated with construction work in progress before the facility is operational. Supporters say only two states have a complete ban on charging ratepayers for construction work in progress. Coal and nuclear fueled power generation are the only two sources that can operate without interruption from outside events. However, only a new nuclear plant would meet more stringent air emissions requirements. Without this bill, building new baseload generation is cost prohibitive.
 
HBs 882 & 518 requires the Department of Transportation to pay all costs associated with the designation of memorial highways and bridges honoring deceased Missouri veterans who died in the line of duty, Missouri members of the armed forces who are missing in action, deceased Missouri law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, and deceased Missouri firefighters who died in the line of duty. Supporters say the state should not be "selling" signs for those who sacrifice their lives for us. 
 
HB 631 modifies provisions relating to the Department of Natural Resources. The bill modifies the Industrial Minerals Advisory Council make up so that the eight representatives can come from any of the specified industries including limestone quarry operators, granite mining, clay mining, sandstone mining, barite mining, sand and gravel mining, or other nonmetallic surface mining, but no industry may have more than four representatives. Supporters say that currently the Industrial Minerals Advisory Council has trouble obtaining a quorum to conduct business. The changes to the council membership will provide flexibility in appointing members and allow for broader representation from the mining industries. The bill also extends various fees and the authority of certain commissions and councils.
 
Closing Remarks

In closing I would like to encourage my readers to continue to be involved in the affairs of government. Thomas Jefferson once stated that liberty is best preserved by the people themselves stating that they are the “only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty”. I whole heartedly agree with Thomas Jefferson on this issue. It is always my intent to keep my constituents informed and to retain open transparency. If you have any questions or concerns please contact my office at any time. You can reach my office by calling 573-751-1487 or via email at [email protected]
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