Monday, April 10, 2017
TNC This Week?
The Senate is expected to return to work on Rep. Kirk Mathews’ Transportation Network Companies bill.
It’s said that it’s a high priority for Speaker Todd Richardson, so its passage in the Senate will go a long way to helping the two chambers play nice for the final five weeks of session.
Assistant Floor Leader Bob Onder is carrying the bill in the Senate, so it’s also a test of his ability to craft compromise – and pass legislation for the business community without letting his socially conservative side (renaming the zoo, grilling March of Dimes) get in the way.
Today’s News
Rep. Robert Cornejo’s General Laws Committee will hold a hearing at 1PM on freshman Rep. Nick Schroer’s gun sign liability bill (HB96). “The legislation makes a business that posts signs prohibiting concealed firearms liable for injuries sustained by people on the premises of that business. The bill says that by posting signs prohibiting firearms, the business would assume a duty to defend its customers. Representative Schroer, who’s an attorney, tells Missourinet he’s trying to preserve Second Amendment rights. He also notes that in Missouri, there’s a constitutional right to carry.” See it here.
“The Missouri Legislative Black Caucus will hold a news conference at noon in the House Lounge to discuss opposition to Senate Bill 43, which seeks to severely weaken Missouri anti-discrimination law. Members of the House Democratic Caucus will join the Black Caucus in expressing their opposition. The House Special Committee on Litigation Reform is scheduled to vote on the bill at 1PM…”
“Auditor Nicole Galloway in St. Louis (10AM at Wainwright State Office Building) and Jefferson City (2PM at State Auditor's Office) to present results of statewide Transportation Development District audit. This audit is part of an ongoing focus on increasing transparency and accountability for special taxing districts in Missouri…”
And
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway has announced the start of an investigation into potential conflicts of interest related to the state's involvement with a Missouri transportation services company. The company, HELP Inc., is a nonprofit that utilizes public resources and does business with the state, using electronic weigh station technology to allow trucking companies to bypass traditional weigh stations and providing data to the state. As first reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch state officials are now facing questions on the roles they played while serving both on the board of directors for the company and in their official capacities as regulators for the industry. This includes concerns state officials acted to prevent outside competition….
Emery Bill Would Loosen Restrictions on Taxation by Fees
Better Together decries Sen. Ed Emery’s SB520 as “gutting” the reforms in municipal courts which were passed after the Ferguson unrest.
According to the bill summary, Emery’s bill would bump up (more than double) the cap in fines for minor traffic violations, and repeal various provisions like: exemptions from paying court costs in minor traffic violations and municipal ordinance violations for defendants who are indigent; the requirement that the court establish procedures to allow indigent defendants to present evidence of their financial condition; the requirements that community service alternatives are offered; that no additional charge shall be issued for the failure to appear for a minor traffic violation; and that municipal government may be dissolved when it fails to remit excess revenue collected to the Department of Revenue. It also repeals the lowered threshold for how much of a municipalities income can come from fees.
DOC Settlement Withdrawn?
Karen Dillon reports for The Pitch that “Attorney General Josh Hawley has hired two partners and an associate lawyer from a high-profile law firm to fight a $900,000 settlement agreement that his agency had agreed to last week but backed away from a day later… [Lori Lynn]Walker’s trial was scheduled to begin on Monday but was canceled last Friday, after Walker’s attorneys, according to court records, had reached a settlement agreement with Michael Quinlan, the chief counsel for the attorney general’s litigation division. It remains a puzzle why Hawley and the corrections department decided to withdraw from the settlement agreement, which would have paid Walker $400,000 cash plus required the department to rehire her. An evidentiary hearing scheduled for today, April 7, was canceled, in part to allow Anne L. Precythe, the recently hired director of the corrections department, to attend. A new date is still being scheduled, Jackson County Circuit Judge Joel P. Fahnestock’s clerk said today…
New SCORP
Missouri has an RFP for the creation of a new State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. The SCORP “will provide a framework for the planning, development, management, and protection of Missouri’s outdoor recreation resources. The SCORP is a requirement of the National Park Service in order for the State of Missouri to remain eligible to receive federal Land and Water Conservation Funds.” The current SCORP can be found here.
On the Move
After 27 years Cindi Keele is retiring from NAMI Missouri. See their search for a new executive director under “Help Wanted” below.
In lobbyist registrations below, Jason Klindt deregistered for KCP&L. Klindt is said to be moving up into a marketing role with the utility. KCP&L will continue to be represented in the hallways by Cara Hoover, Patek and Associates and the Catalyst Group.
eMailbag: Pushback on Charter Pushback
Whomever emailed you about the language in HB 634 regarding "any source of funds" does not understand the law. DESE does not ever touch the bond money or local funds or foundation funds that a district receives. They receive those from DESE directly. As such, DESE could never send those funds to a charter. Whomever informed you of that is just trying to kill the charter bill - join the crowd! The purpose of that language is to ensure that charter in KC and St. Louis have equitable funding to the district in which they reside.
Help Wanted
NAMI of Missouri seeks Executive Director. “NAMI of Missouri, an advocacy group working on programming and awareness for individuals living with mental illness and their families, is seeking an Executive Director. This position will work with the Board of Directors in fulfilling NAMI of Missouri’s mission statement, work with outside groups and government entities in pursuit of this mission, and manage the day-to-day operations of the office including oversight of NAMI Missouri’s staff and volunteer pool. This position is located in Jefferson City but travel around the state, including on weekends, will sometimes be required…. A background with mental health issues and government relations is preferred but not required. To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and three professional references to: NAMI of Missouri c/o James Owen, Search Committee Chair, PO Box 1827, Columbia, Missouri 65206.”
Today’s Events
From Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:
Reps. Becky Ruth & Chrissy Sommer Reception – J Pfenny’s – 7PM.
Lobbyists Registrations
Rodney Boyd, Brian Grace, and Kelvin Simmons added Mobilitie Services LLC.
Natalie Haag added Capitol Federal.
Richard McIntosh added Global Tel*link Corporation.
Jason Zamkus added Page Minder.
Jeffrey Altmann added Anchor Technologies.
Jason Klindt deleted Kansas City Power & Light.
Gregory Mourad deleted National Right to Work Committee.
$5K+ Contributions
CLEAN Missouri - $10,000 from AFSCME.
Property Casualty Insurers Association of America Political Account - $7,991 from Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.
Citizens Investing in J Plus C - $19,300 from National Association of REALTORS.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Governor Eric Greitens, and former Rep. Judy Baker.