Missouri State Women's Political Caucus
All rights reserved Missouri State Women's Political Caucus
Legislation

Legislative Summary by Judy Morgan, GKCWPC Political Caucus
Missouri Legislation 2011 as of May 13, 2011


Abortion/Contraceptives

HCS HB 28 (Did not pass) – Specifies that no pharmacy can be required to perform, assist, recommend, refer to,
or participate in any act or service that causes a pregnancy to end prematurely and such pharmacy will be
immune from liability for refusing to do so and places restrictions on RU-486 or any other abortion-inducing drug.

SS SCS HB 213 (Passed) – Places more restrictions on abortions in cases of pregnancies of 20 weeks or
more.  

  • Except in the case of a medical emergency, if the fetus is 20 weeks or more and deemed viable, the
    doctor:
  • Shall not perform the abortion unless it is necessary to preserve the life of the pregnant woman or the
    pregnancy would cause a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily
    function of the pregnant woman;
  • Must get a second concurring opinion from another doctor;
  • Have a second doctor in attendance who is responsible for taking control of and providing immediate
    medical care for a child born as a result of the abortion; and
  • Certify in writing the medical threat posed to the woman.
  • Anyone who performs an abortion in violation of these provisions will be guilty of a class C felony
    punishable by a prison sentence of not less than one year and a fine not less that $10,000 or more than
    $50,000.
  • A physician who performs an abortion in violation of these provisions can have his/her license
    suspended or revoked.

Voting no in the Senate were Jolie Justus and Kiki Curls and voting yes were Victor Callahan, Will Kraus, and
Luann Ridgeway.

Voting no in the House were: Gail McCann Beatty, Jason Kander, Tom McDonald, J.J. Rizzo, Jay Swearingen,
and Mike Talboy.

Voting yes in the House were Democrats Ira Anders, Michael Brown, and Kevin McManus and all area
Republicans.

Voting present in the House was: Jason Holsman

Absent with leave in the House was Jonas Hughes.

HB 348 (Did not pass) - Requires a pharmacy to fill a valid and lawful prescription for any federal Food and Drug
Administration-approved drug or device to prevent pregnancy, including emergency contraceptives, without delay.


Discrimination/Equal Rights

HCS HB 61 (Did not pass) – Repeals the vote of the people that tied minimum wage to the Consumer Price
Index, states the minimum wage can’t exceed federal standard, and states that every employer shall pay to each
employee who receives tips a rate of $3.63 per hour.   Jerry Nolte is the sponsor.

SB 47 (Did not pass) -  Requires implementation of a study and a plan to increase and maintain the participation
of minority and women businesses in contracts with the state.

SB 188 (Passed, vetoed by Gov.) Makes it more difficult to prove employment discrimination by:
  • Removing employee liability in employment discrimination;
  • Protecting whistleblowers from termination only if it can be proven that the employer committed an
    unlawful act;
  • Limiting punitive damages awarded for employment discrimination - or example, it's back pay with
    interest and $50,000 to employers with between 5 and 100 employees; and
  • Changing the standard for employment discrimination from a "contributing" to a "motivating" factor.  This
    is a lower standard and will make it more difficult to prove discrimination in the workplace.

Voting no in the Senate were: Democrats Jolie Justus, Kiki Curls, and Victor Callahan and Republican Luann
Ridgeway.  Voting yes was Republican Will Kraus.  

Voting no in the House were: all area Democrats with the exception of Kander and Republicans T.J. Berry, Brent
Lasater, Nick Marshall, Myron Neth, Roanald Schieber, Sheila Solon, and Nick Torpey.

Voting yes in the House were: Mike Cierpiot, Gary Cross, Jeff Grisamore, Jeanie Lauer, Mike McGhee, Bob
Nance, and Jerry Nolte.

Voting present in the House was Jason Kander.   Absent with leave in the House was Ryan Silvey.

SB 222 (Did not pass) Abolishes many of the child labor laws by:

  • Eliminating the prohibition of employing children under the age of 14;
  • Removing the restriction on the number of hours worked during the week and when those hours happen
    - a child could work 80 hours a week until the wee hours of the morning if her legislation passes;
  • Allowing children under the age of 16 to work in the hotel industry; and   
  • Removing the Missouri's Division of Labor Standards from inspecting workplaces to make sure they are
    safe for children

Jane Cunningham is the sponsor.

SB 239 (Did not pass) – Prohibits discrimination based upon a person’s sexual preference.  

SCR 5 (Did not pass) – Urges ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  Jolie Justus
is the sponsor of both SB 239 and SCR 5.


Drug Testing for TANF Recipients  (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families)

HCS HB 73 and 47 (Passed) – Requires drug testing for TANF applicants/recipients if there is reasonable
suspicion for use of illegal drugs.

  • If tested positive, such persons will be declared ineligible for TANF benefits for three years.
  • However, an applicant or recipient who, after being referred by the department, enters and successfully
    completes a substance abuse treatment program and does not test positive for the illegal use of a
    controlled substance for six months from the date of entry into the program, will receive benefits while
    participating in the program.  
  • Other eligible members of household will continue to receive benefits through 3rd party vendor

Voting no in the Senate were Jolie Justus and Kiki Curls and voting yes were Victor Callahan, Will Kraus, and
Luann Ridgeway.

Voting no in the House were: Jean Peters Baker, Gail McCann Beatty, Michael Brown, Jason Holsman, Tom
McDonald, J.J. Rizzo, Jay Swearingen, and Mike Talboy.

Voting yes in the House were: Democrats Ira Anders, Jason Kander, and Kevin McManus and all the area
Republicans.

Absent with leave was: Leonard Hughes.


Health Care

HB 39 and SR 27 (Passed in House on 1/11 and Senate on 1/19) – Urges Attorney General to challenge the
federal health reform act by joining the other attorneys general in the lawsuit, file an independent lawsuit, or join
Lt. Governor Kinder’s lawsuit.


Miscellaneous

HB 350 (Did not pass) – Changes the laws regarding sex education in schools; establishes the Compassionate
Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act; establishes the Birth Control Protection Act; implements a women’s
health care program; and requires a pharmacy to dispense prescribed drugs in a timely manner.


Pregnancy Resource Centers

SB 204 (Did not pass) – Reauthorizes the provisions regarding the tax credit for contributions to pregnancy
resource centers and extends the expiration date until 2023/2018 (current law sunsets on August 28, 2012).

Right to Work

SB 1 (Did not pass) & HB 275 – Specifies that no person as a condition of employment can be required to join a
labor union or pay dues to a labor organization – so-called “Right to Work” legislation. Luann Ridgeway is the
sponsor of SB 1 and SB 197.

SB 109 & SB 197 (Hearing held on 2/8) - The same as SB 1, except the issue would be submitted to voters as a
constitutional amendment.


Tax Changes

HB 26 (Did not pass) – Changes voter authorization on city earnings taxes from every five years to every twenty
years.  Kiki Curls is the co-sponsor.

HB 52 & HB 278 (Did not pass)  – Requires the Department of Revenue to establish the necessary rules to allow
for internet sales to be taxed. Jay Swearingen is the co-sponsor of HB 278.

HB 181 (Did not pass)  - Increases the cigarette tax from 17 cents to 33 cents per pack of 20 cigarettes to be
deposited, less a 3% collection fee, into the General Revenue Fund.

HB 342  (Did not pass)  - Increases the cigarette tax to $1.17 per pack upon a vote of the people.

HB 343 (Did not pass)  – Increases the cigarette tax by 12.5 cents per pack per year for 8 years until the
additional tax on cigarettes reaches $1.17 per pack.

HJR 8 (Did not pass) – Provides for a constitutional amendment that would replace the state individual and
corporate income taxes with a state sales and use tax.  


Voting Rights

SJR 2 (Passed) – Propose a constitutional amendment that would require voters to show a photo ID and allows
for advanced voting from the third Saturday before an election until the first Tuesday before an election excluding
Sundays.

Voting no in the Senate  were Democrats Jolie Justus, Kiki Curls,  and Victor Callahan.  Voting yes were Luann
Ridgeway and Will Kraus.  

Voting no in the House were all area Democrats and Republican Mike McGhee.

Voting yes in the House were all area Republicans with the exception of Mike McGhee.
An Affiliate of the National Women's Political Caucus