Truly Agreed and Finally Passed (TAFP) 2014 Senate Bills

Last week I mentioned some TAFP House bills; this week I focus on Senate bills. Every year within the first weeks of interim, I focus several Capitol Reports on the TAFP bills of the session, but I want to remind you that I chose a select group and do not report on every TAFP bill because 1) there is a large number of bills, 2) not all will become law-remember the Governor will sign, veto or let "slip" into law, 3) some bills pertain only to select counties or municipalities, 4) I've already reported on some bills that made it to the governor's desk, 5) and because many bills are not of particular interest to the general public.

You can read and download (.PDF file) the short summaries of all 190 TAFP bills through this link: http://house.mo.gov/pr/TAFP2014.pdf

Legislation that the governor has signed or vetoed can be viewed: http://governor.mo.gov/news/legislative-actions/senate

SB 510 changes the laws regarding unemployment benefits. The definition of "misconduct," as it relates to employee disqualification from unemployment benefits, is revised to conduct or failure to act in a manner that is connected to work, regardless of whether the conduct or failure to act occurs at the workplace or during work hours.

Currently, misconduct includes an act of wanton or willful disregard of the employer's interest; a deliberate violation of the employer's rules; a disregard of standards of behavior that the employer has the right to expect; or negligence in a degree or recurrence as to manifest culpability, wrongful intent, or evil design or show an intentional and substantial disregard of the employer's interest or of the employee's duties and obligations to the employer.

SB 523 prohibits a school district from requiring a student to use an identification device that uses radio frequency identification technology to identify the student, transmit information regarding the student, or monitor or track the location of the student.

SB 673 changes the laws regarding unemployment benefits by tying the maximum duration for an individual to receive unemployment benefits to whatever is the current average state unemployment rate.

For example currently the maximum duration for an individual to receive unemployment benefits is 20 weeks, but if the state average unemployment rate is between 7 ½% and 8% the duration will drop to 17 weeks.

SB 701 contains several provisions for elementary and secondary education. Among its many provisions are the following:

* SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS -Two or more school districts may share a superintendent who possesses a valid Missouri superintendent's license without seeking prior approval from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

* CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION - The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is prohibited from penalizing school districts for students who complete approved career and technical education programs and fail to be placed in occupations directly relating to their training within six months of graduation. The department must revise its scoring guide to provide additional points to districts that partner with area career centers, comprehensive high schools, industry, and business to develop and implement a pathway for students to enroll in a program of career and technical education in high school, participate in an internship or apprenticeship in their senior year, and obtain the appropriate industry certification. The department must permit student scores on a nationally recognized exam that demonstrates achievement of workplace employability skills to count toward credit for college and career readiness standards on the Missouri School Improvement Program.

SB 735 requires a campground owner to post in a high traffic area on the campground or distribute to registered guests or visitors of the campground the written policy on campground curfew, alcohol use, tobacco use, and pet policy.

It authorizes a campground owner to remove or cause to be removed any person who is not a registered guest or visitor of the campground; remains on the campground beyond an agreed-upon departure time and date; defaults in the payment of lawfully imposed registration, visitor fees or charges; creates a disturbance that denies other people their right to quiet enjoyment of the campground; or violates any federal, state, or local law.

A person who remains on the campground after having been asked to leave by a campground owner is guilty of trespass and may be removed by the campground owner or a law enforcement officer. A person removed from a campground is entitled to a refund of the unused portion of any prepaid fees, less any amount owed to the owner or deducted for damages. The unused portion of prepaid fees may be prorated at a rate that is based upon the daily rate charged by the campground owner.

>I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank all our veterans for their dedicated service to our country and to those who made the memorial service in Jackson a special one.