[Education and Welfare] MO Senate and House halftime update fromMarty Exline, note my analogy to football at the beginning

[Mary Pendleton]

David ,
Just curious,Is Rep Silvey yours or any of those in the Northland?
Mary
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <dauidr at juno.com>
To: <ew at moblind.org>
Cc: <chat at moblind.org>
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2012 8:15 PM
Subject: [Education and Welfare] MO Senate and House halftime update 
fromMarty Exline, note my analogy to football at the beginning


All,

Okay, it’s halftime in the current MO House and Senate session. So, for our 
halftime bill-board update, please, read Marty Exline’s commentary after my 
signature. And for our halftime, uh, entertainment, I’ll see many of you 
tomorrow in Coumbia, at the rally.

BTW: Second half kick-off is on March 19. Hmmm. By our advocacy, maybe, we 
can maqke an made onsides punt and keep the ball rolling in our possession. 
Keep calling your reps, folks.
David Rosenkoetter
Kansas City, MO
Below are updates on selected disability-related bills halfway through the 
2012 legislative
session.  The General Assembly returns from Spring Break on March 19
th.
State Budget
Social Services Appropriations:
HB2011
A state budget of $24 billion for FY13 has been voted out of the House 
Budget Committee
and will be ready for House floor debate once the legislature returns from 
Spring
Break on March 19
th
.  Debate on all 13 budget bills will be limited to a total of six hours on 
the House
floor before being voted on and moving on to the Senate Appropriations 
Committee.
In its version of HB2010, the House Budget Committee left passed a nearly 
$28 million
cut to eliminate HealthNet coverage for Missourians receiving Blind Pension. 
A number
of Representatives, Senators and the Governor have come out in opposition to 
the
cut, but we may have to wait until Senate Appropriations hearings to have a 
better
idea what might happen if the elimination remains in the bill when the full 
House
votes.
House Budget Chair Ryan Silvey also introduced HB1835
 to repeal the sales tax exemption on certain materials/equipment to produce 
newspapers,
and use that revenue for a transitional healthcare program for Blind Pension 
recipients.
The tax repeal measure is estimated to raise from $800,000 to $4 million in 
revenue.
The bill was scheduled for a hearing on 3/8, but the hearing was cancelled. 
A rally
opposing the cut is scheduled for Tuesday, 3/13 at 11:30 AM at Services for 
Independent
Living in Columbia, with the Governor scheduled to attend.
Employment Discrimination
Missouri Human Rights Act:
HB1219, SB592
The legislature passed HB1219 to make it more difficult for individuals to 
prevail
with a claim of employment discrimination.  The bill has been sent to the 
Governor
for his signature.  This is the bill, similar to the one the Governor vetoed 
last
year, that would require that discrimination be the motivating factor in an 
action
to an employee (demotion, dismissal, etc.), rather than just a contributing 
factor.
It also exempts representatives of employers from claims of discrimination, 
leaving
just the employers themselves; limits punitive damage awards based on the 
size of
the company; and other provisions.
The bill did not pass the House by a margin large enough to sustain a veto. 
There
was also some question during Senate debate as to whether the state might 
lose certain
federal funding because of the bill, but language was added to clarify that 
the changes
would not apply to housing discrimination.  Meanwhile, SB952 has not moved 
farther
than referral to the House since HB1219 passed.  It is assumed that the 
Governor
will veto HB1219, but he has not commented specifically on the bill.
Voting
Voter ID Requirements:
HB1104 & SB 442
The House bill passed the House by a vote of 101-54.  In the Senate it has 
been referred
to the Senate Financial & Governmental Organizations and Elections 
Committee.  The
bill requires that voters present a photo ID before being allowed to vote. 
A voter
without a photo ID could vote using a provisional ballot and submitting it 
to the
election authority within 3 days, however the voter would not get to have 
his/her
vote count at the same time as other voters.  The bill requires measures to 
help
cover the costs for persons to get a photo ID if they lack one.  Those 
opposing the
bill say that it will make voting more difficult for some seniors and 
persons with
disabilities and that there has been little evidence of voter fraud at 
Missouri polling
places.
SB442 is similar to HB1104.  This bill was voted out of its Senate committee 
and
its Senate Committee Substitute (SCS SB442) is on the Senate Informal 
Calendar.
Accessible Voting  Equipment
HB1901
This bill has been introduced to require polling places to make available 
accessible
voting machines even when there are no national elections.  Election 
officials are
already required to make the accessible machines available for national 
elections
under the Help America Vote Act, but not for elections which include only 
local,
county or state elections.  The bill has not yet been referred to a 
committee.
Other Issue Areas
Dwelling Access Tax (DAT) Credit:
HB1445
The bill by Rep. Smith would relax some restrictions on the DAT credit that 
can be
used by individuals to make their homes more accessible.  The sunset date 
for the
credit would change from the current December 31, 2013 to December 31, 2016. 
The
bill would also remove the cap of $100,000 that is available for the program 
statewide
in any one tax year.  The DAT is refundable, so even if a low-income 
individual has
no state income tax liability, he/she can still receive funds for 
out-of-pocket expenses
of up to $2,500 (for annual incomes from $0 to $30,000, a credit to 
reimburse 100%
of expenses of up to $2,500; for incomes from $30,000 to $60,000, a credit 
to reimburse
50% of expenses up to $2,500.  The bill has had a hearing in the House 
Children and
Families Committee.
HealthNet Hearing Aid Coverage
HB 1713
This bill would restore HealthNet coverage of hearing aids for adults. 
Coverage
was eliminated for most adult HealthNet eligibility categories in 2005. 
Appropriations
for the coverage would still have to pass the legislature, but this bill 
would restore
coverage in statute.  The bill had a hearing in the House Disabilities 
Services Committee
and was voted do pass.  Last year, this measure passed the House as part of 
the omnibus
disabilities bill, but it was removed in the Senate.
Infant Hearing Screening:
HB 1704
This bill would clarify the types of amplification that is required coverage 
by health
insurance for deficits identified in infant hearing screening.  The current 
language
states that the “initial amplification” will be covered.  The bill language 
would
specify that the amplification may include hearing aids, cochlear implants, 
assistive
listening devices, and hearing assistive technology systems and accessories.
The bill was referred to the House Insurance Committee, but it has never 
been scheduled
for a hearing by the Chair.
DD Transition Plans
HB 1077 & SB449
The bills have stalled that require the Department of Mental Health to 
develop a
transition plan for residents of developmental disability habilitation 
centers.
HB1077 had a hearing in the Disability Services Committee and SB449 was 
voted out
of committee and is on the Senate Formal Perfection Calendar.
DESE Transition Work Group
HB1886
This bill just introduced by Rep. Grisamore instructs the Dept. of 
Elementary and
Secondary Education to establish a workgroup to determine whether  the needs 
of students
with disabilities are being met to transition to employment, lifelong 
learning and
quality of life.  A hearing for this bill has been scheduled for Monday, 
March 19
th
 in the Special Standing Committee on Disability Services.
Office of Protection & Advocacy
HB1888
The bill, just filed by Rep. Grisamore, would establish an Office of 
Protection &
Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities within the Office of Administration 
(OA).
The Office will work to protect and advocate for the rights of persons with 
disabilities.
The bill language doesn’t indicate how the Office would relate to the 
existing Missouri
Protection and Advocacy.  A hearing for this bill is scheduled for Monday, 
March
19
th
 in the Special Standing Committee on Disability Services.
State Purchasing – Sheltered Workshops and persons with Disabilities
HB1913
This bill, just introduced,  would require the Division of Purchasing in OA 
to facilitate
state procurement of goods from sheltered workshops, agencies in the Ability 
One
program and persons with significant disabilities.  The bill has not yet 
been assigned
to a committee.


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