April 16, 2010

The Missouri legislature is down to the final four weeks and as usual little has been accomplished (which isn’t all bad).

The Senate dealt with their version of the budget which has been cut $500 million including the $200 million in cuts from the house. As drastic as these numbers are do not be surprised to see additional withholds by the Governor in fiscal year 2011 unless the economy drastically improves.

The Senate and House conferees will be named for joint conferences to work out compromises in their different versions of the budget cuts (probably not next week). More than likely it will be the week of April 26th.

The Governor in a smart political move quashed the provisions in HB 2014, the supplemental budget bill, that would hold the wealthiest school districts “harmless” and not reduce their funding for the rest of fiscal year 2010.

Governor Nixon chose to spread the $43 million shortfall for schools over the entire state school system. This overturned the “fiasco” passed by the House and Senate in confusion over the shortfall reductions.

News this week includes:

Senate- Health/ Mental Health/ Seniors & Families Committee
The Senate Committee on Health met on Tuesday. Several bills were heard:

HB 1375   Allows physicians to use expedited partner therapy by dispensing and prescribing medications for partners of persons with certain sexually transmitted diseases who are not their patients. - Hearing conducted

The Missouri Medical Association and the Missouri Nurses Association spoke in favor. This is a DHSS and MOALPHA priority. We are in good shape on this legislation.

HB 2270   Allows child abuse medical resource centers and SAFE CARE providers to collaborate to promote improved services to children who are suspected victims of abuse in need of a forensic medical exam.

This bill is to improve safe care provider services.

Children's Mercy Hospital of Kansas City, MO in favor of the bill. Jay Wood with Child Advocacy center and Exec for MO kids 1st is in favor of the bill. St. Louis Children’s Hospital is also in favor.

HB 1977 Establishes the Missouri Patient Privacy Act which limits the disclosure of patient medical information.

This bill is requesting for at least intermediate EMT qualifications to be in rural ambulances as well that the ambulances carry heart defibrillators.

The Missouri Nurses and Ambulance Association were in favor. Representative Wasson is sponsoring the bill.

HB 1377   Requires the Department of Social Services to test applicants for or recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits for the illegal use of controlled substances.

Requires applicants to take drug test if they under suspension for illegal drug abuse. Penalty would be removal of $58 TANF for 1 year. This will not remove monies from children and will allow a 3rd party vendor to receive on their behalf. This will not provide rehabilitation. This also requires drug tests on elected officials when hired and every two years thereafter.

No one spoke in favor of the bill and two spoke in opposition

The Missouri Family Violence Coalition is in opposition of the bill. These measures doesn't address the problem just punishes. This does address rehabilitation and as well this is a setup for failure because there are cut back of 194 positions that could help once drug abuse is detected.

Pat Dorsey of St. Louis Children's office in opposition. This doesn't encourage someone towards treatment. There are budget cuts of 2-4 million dollars in the areas that can help treat these people but this bill sets up for failure because it tests for drug abuse, takes away their benefits if positive, puts them on a waiting list for help all in all while cutting staff. If we target these low income people for misusing tax dollars then we should also include other programs of tax dollars that are missed used i.e. student grants etc. We need to help the people not just punish them.

Consolidation
Senator Shields offered SB 1057 up for initial debate. This is the reorganization bill resulting from the Senate’s rebooting state government meetings several weeks ago.

Link to the bill: http://www.senate.mo.gov/10info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=3407261

Senator Rupp had an amendment establishing “Health and Human Services Transition Committee” to study the consolidation of the Department of Social Services.

Next Week
The General Assembly must complete the budget by May 7th. Four weeks remain in the 2010 session.

Economic Development, Department Consolidation, Retirement System legislation and reduction of the state’s tax credit program will all be debated.

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