Kehoe to sign nearly 40 bills into law through Monday
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe’s bill signing pen may run out of ink by next Monday.
The governor is scheduled to sign nearly 40 bills into law by July 14th, the final day he’s required to take action on bills passed earlier this year.
Kehoe is scheduled to sign 13 new laws on Wednesday, including a school safety bill that bans students from using cellphones while at school.
Another bill signing is for HB 296. This bill requires background checks to be conducted not only on school bus drivers, but also on the drivers of other vehicles owned by school districts and charter schools. For drivers employed or contracted by a pupil transportation company that is under contract with a school district or charter school, the pupil transportation company must conduct the criminal background check.
Signed also was SB 150. This act creates the “STEM Career Awareness Activity Fund” for the purpose of establishing a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activity program for students in grades nine through twelve. Under the act, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) shall select a provider to deliver a teacher-led program that involves facilitating a cohort of students to conduct STEM activities at state, national, or international competitions
On Thursday, he’s set to sign a bill that repeals paid sick leave in Missouri and the scheduled minimum wage hikes that voters approved last November when they passed Proposition A.
Another bill to be signed is HB 199, which allows a special entertainment district to be established in downtown St. Louis, at Union Station.
He will then sign HB 1041, which modifies current regulations relating to alcoholic beverages, at Anheuser-Busch Brewery.
Later Thursday, signing of SB 2 will take place. SB 2 – This act amends the sections of law which were declared unconstitutional in Byrd, et al. v. State of Missouri, et al.
This act changes the date counties shall prepare and publish their financial statements from the first Monday in March to June 30th of each year. Additionally, the county treasurer shall not pay the county commission until notice is received from the State Auditor that the county’s financial statement has been published in a newspaper after the first day of July.
SB 221 is also scheduled to be signed. This act modifies the standard for review for a state agency’s interpretation of statutes, rules, regulations, and other subregulatory documents. Specifically, a court or administrative hearing officer shall interpret the meaning and effect of such statutes, rules, regulations, and documents de novo, rather than de novo upon motion by a party if the action only involves the agency’s application of the law to the facts and does not involve administrative discretion. Further, after applying customary tools of interpretation, the court or officer shall decide any remaining doubt in favor of a reasonable interpretation that limits agency power and maximizes individual liberty.
The governor takes a trip to St. Louis on Friday to sign two bills, including one that will provide free college tuition for first responders and their children known as SB 841, A parent of an eligible child may create an education savings account. The Educational Savings Account Program Fund is established consisting of monies appropriated by the General Assembly for the purpose of funding grants into education savings accounts.
SB 71 will be signed. This act provides that certain agencies, boards, or commissions may require fingerprint submissions for application for certain licenses. Fingerprints are required for licensure, the agency, board, or commission shall require applicants to submit fingerprints to the Missouri State Highway Patrol for the purpose of conducting a state and federal fingerprint-based criminal history background check. The fingerprints and any required fees shall be sent to the Highway Patrol and shall be forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to conduct a federal background check. The Highway Patrol shall notify the agency, board, or commission of any criminal history record discovered on the applicant for licensure.
On Monday, Governor Kehoe is scheduled to sign eleven bills into law, including one that will cover hearing aids and cochlear implants for Missourians on Medicaid.
Set to be signed on Monday is senate bill SB 79. Under this act, physicians and certain health care professionals may use expedited partner therapy and such therapy may be used for designated sexually transmitted infections beyond chlamydia and gonorrhea. This act repeals the requirement that antibiotic medications prescribed and dispensed through expedited partner therapy for the treatment of chlamydia or gonorrhea be in pill form.
Also being signed Monday is senate bill SB 82. Under the act, it shall be unlawful for any person to export water resources outside the state unless the person holds a water exportation permit issued by the Department of Natural Resources, subject to certain exemptions as described in the act.