April 8, 2005

The House of Representatives gave final approval and sent to the governor Senate Bill539. The bill changes state Medicaid law to authorize a number of the proposed Medicaid budget cuts under consideration by the General Assembly. Yesterday and today, legislators debated a series of amendments to block some of the proposed cuts. All of the amendments were defeated. The bill also creates a Medicaid Reform Commission to develop recommendations on revamping Medicaid. Under the legislation, current Medicaid law will expire as of July 1, 2008.

News of interest includes:

Jam/ Jellies Legislation
The House Agriculture Committee met after late afternoon adjournment Thursday.

I visited with Chair, Pete Meyers. Representative Meyers was willing to accept Representative Witte’s amendment to delete the first portion of SB 88, which exempts all foods from health inspection, which are not potentially hazardous.

This amendment does tighten this very broad piece of legislation. Senator Klindt is pushing hard on the bill as a result of a situation he says occurred in his district at a charity fair.

There were some disagreements as to whether the bill should be voted out of not on Thursday. It appears it will be addressed Tuesday of next during the committee meeting. Please make your contacts to the House Agriculture Committee members as soon as possible.

Below is a list of the committee members:

Emergency Services
The House Economic Development Committee voted SB 516 “DO PASS” on Tuesday.

SB 516 eliminates the provision in Section 99.847, RSMo, which states that any district providing emergency services shall be entitled to reimbursement from the special allocation fund in the amount of at least 50% but not more than 100% of the district's tax increment.

Committees Review Bills
Health-related bills given hearings this week include the following.

• Senate Bill 501 was presented to the House Children, and Families Committee. The bill would create an Office of Comprehensive Child Mental Health in the Department of Mental Health. The office would provide leadership in implementation of a child mental health system plan required under a law enacted last year. The legislation also would create a clinical advisory panel to assist the office.

• Senate Bill 323 would authorize, but not fund, a system of grants to support umbilical cord blood banks. The House Health Care Policy Committee heard the bill.

Next week:
The legislature has a great deal to accomplish prior to the end of the legislative session. There appears to be a good chance for a legislative logjam prior to the budget being approved.

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