GENERAL ASSEMBLY: '91 LEGISLATION WITH VARIETY OF AREAS

The past session of the Missouri General Assembly has been drawing rave reviews, with lawmakers being praised for action on a variety of issues such as education reform, tougher drunk driving laws, ethics, right to die, protection of children, and insurance.

But not all of the 142 bills sent either to Gov. John Ashcroft's desk or to the voters for final approval are making headlines. But those measures will have the same force of law as the more glamorous bills, and, in many instances, will have a much greater impact on the lives of Missouri citizens.

These deal with such things as voter registration, nursing home ombudsmen, changing requirements for becoming a notary, a "one-call" system for identifying where underground utility lines are, requiring mud flaps on large trailers, reducing the penalty for returning assessment lists, and establishing a permit system for salvaging shipwrecks.

One measure that passed this year in an effort to increase accountability of state agencies requires the House Budget and Senate Appropriations committees to adopt joint procedures for doing "detail base reviews" of state agency budgets. This is a form of zero-base review that operates on the premise that all budgets of agencies should be reviewed in total each year, rather than only giving serious scrutiny to new money.

The bill does not provide for annual zero-base reviews but for periodic reviews that supporters contend will prevent state agencies from continuing wasteful spending or programs that are no longer needed.

Another measure gives second-class counties the right to set speed limits on certain county roads and weight limits on certain bridges. Another bill gives counties the opportunity to set speed limits on certain state highways.

Another provision this year, which should benefit city and county governments, authorizes an additional use tax of 1.5 percent in lieu of a local sales tax for out-of-state catalog sales.

The use of alternative fuels for vehicles in state agency fleets is the goal of another bill, which requires that by July 1, 1996, 10 percent of vehicles purchased for agency fleets be capable of using alternative fuels. That increases to 30 percent by July 1, 1998, and to 50 percent by July 1, 2000. By July 1, 2002, the bill requires at least 30 percent of state-owned vehicles capable of using alternative fuels to operate on alternative fuels.

State agencies will also be required to develop and implement a plan for reducing vehicle fuel consumption and to encourage the use of alternative fuels.

Another bill passed this year would have allowed for the sale of liquor on Sundays in the state, but Ashcroft vetoed the bill. A separate license would have had to be applied for to have Sunday sales.

State employees who are members of the Missouri State Employees' Retirement System and the Highway Retirement System could retire early with full benefits under another piece of legislation that won approval. Anyone whose age and years of service equals 80 or more prior to Jan. 1, 1993, could retire with full benefits.

That same bill also establishes a retirement plan for elected county officials. Currently, prosecutors and sheriffs are the only county officials covered with pension plans.

Another measure requires counties to provide health insurance for employees if they provide it for elected officials.

Voter registration laws were also changed this year. Under present law, citizens must be 18 to register to vote, but under the new law, those age 17 will be able to register for elections occurring after their 18th birthday.

That bill also lets Missouri voters who have moved but failed to register before the deadline to vote for state and federal offices from their new residence. Voters who have had a legal name change may vote under their previous name by notifying election authorities at the polling place rather than having to do so at the registration office.

One other provision delays the election of state political party committee members and the election of state party officers until after the general election. Those choices are now following the primary election.

Persons age 15 may obtain a temporary instruction permit to operate a motor vehicle on Missouri highways for up to six months, so long as they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, under another law change.

That same law will also make Social Security numbers the drivers license number for Missouri residents for all those issued or renewed after March 1, 1992.

A Missouri Training and Employment Council, consisting of 30 members appointed by the governor, will be appointed to study ways of improving the state's job training service delivery network. The council will report on statewide training and employment policies by Sept. 1, 1992, and will prepare a plan for statewide full-employment services by Jan. 1, 1993.

An Office of State Ombudsman for Long-Term Care Facility Residents will be appointed to work in the Division of Aging under another new law. The office will investigate complaints, make recommendations on rules and regulations that affect patient care, recruit, train and use volunteer ombudsmen, and publicize its activities.

Marriage will no longer be a defense to the crimes of rape, sodomy, and sexual abuse in the first degree under another House bill.

Notaries public will no longer have to be U.S. citizens or have been a resident of the state for at least a year, as a result of new legislation approved this year.

A proposed constitutional amendment would allow simulcasting of both in-state and out-of-state horse racing at licensed horse racing tracks. To become law it would need voter approval.

A Senate bill gives the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission supervision over aeronautics within the state, and allows the legislature to authorize up to $5 million annually to be used as grants for local airports.

Another Senate measure allows any person awarded the Purple Heart to obtain a special license plate with the letters "PH" followed by a three-digit number. The words "Purple Heart" will replace the words "Show Me State" on the plate, and an image of the medal will also be on the plate.

Although assessors have not exercised the authority, they have had the power to double the assessment of anyone who fails to deliver a signed personal property assessment list to their office by the deadline. Under a new law, the penalty is 5 percent of the assessment per month for the remainder of the calendar year or until the list is delivered.

Legislation was also passed this year that sets out guidelines to receive a permit from the Department of Natural Resources to salvage or excavate shipwrecks. At least half of the salvaged artifacts must be donated or offered for sale to museums or public institutions in the state.

Another bill creates within the Department of Natural Resources a State Historic Preservation Office and designates the department director as the State Historic Preservation Officer.

Legislation related to employment practices prohibits employers from discriminating against an employee or potential employee because the person is a smoker or non-smoker. However, a violation of this law is not a cause of action for an injunction or monetary damages.

Another new law prohibits the public defender's office from representing people accused of violations of county or municipal ordinances. This bill was an effort to reduce the workload of the defenders.

A "one call" for excavation bill was also passed, which provides a means of notifying the owners and operators of underground pipelines and other underground facilities of the intent to excavate in a particular area. Federal law requires owners and operators to participate in this notification center. The bill also establishes guidelines for marking where lines are located and who is responsible for damages under certain circumstances.

Another bill requires trucks, semitrailers, and large trailers that do not have rear fenders attached on commercial motor vehicles registered for over 24,000 pounds, to be equipped with mud flaps.

A proposed constitutional amendment would give cities, counties, and school districts the authority to vote to increase their bonded indebtedness five percent to retrofit certain public buildings to withstand earthquakes.

Bills must be signed by Gov. John Ashcroft to become law. Unless an emergency clause is included or voter action is necessary, they will take effect Aug. 28.