KEY MISSOURI LEGISLATION FROM 1996 SESSION

Safe schools/Alternative funding -- Would toughen penalties for violent behavior in Missouri schools. Would create alternative education programs for students who cannot be taught in the regular classroom. Would also: require schools to report acts of violence when a student transfers schools; expand drug-free zones around schools; establish tougher penalties for carrying weapons in school and for assaulting a person on school property; and establish school violence education programs.

Speed limits -- Revises speed limits on Missouri roads. Establishes 70 mph on interstate highways, 65 mph on four-lane non-interstate highways, 60 mph on two-lane numbered highways, 55 mph on two-lane lettered highways, and up to 60 mph on four-lane highways in urban areas.

Childhood immunizations -- Would require health insurance policies to cover many immunizations for children under the age of five an allow parents to give written permission for others to take a child for immunizations.

Maternity stay -- Would require insurance providers to allow new mothers and infants to stay in the hospital for 48 hours after a natural delivery or 96 hours after a Caesarean procedure.

Department of Aging -- Would create a Department of Aging to address the needs of Missouri senior citizens. Missouri voters will decide in November on this change to the state constitution.

Hancock refund -- Would establish system using earliest possible date to expedite Missouri's first refund under the constitutional revenue ceiling.

Telecommunications -- Would revise laws regulating telecommunications companies. Would allow incremental competition of local service from telecommunication companies into formerly protected service areas.

Budget -- Would establish $13.8 billion state spending plan for fiscal year 1997, which runs from July 1, 1996 through June 30, 1997. Would increase "rainy day" fund to $115 million and fully fund school foundation formula to $1.88 billion.

Sexual predators -- Would establish stricter penalties for persons found guilty of major sex offenses, particularly repeat offenders.

Zero tolerance -- Would require suspension or revocation of driver's licenses for drivers under the age of 21 found with .02 percent blood alcohol level.

Corporate farms -- Would regulate concentrated animal feeding operations, particularly in regard to preventing animal waste spills.

Economic development -- Would encourage businesses to locate in Missouri and create new jobs by increasing satellite enterprise zones. Would create a nine-member film commission to promote film production and development in Missouri.

Budget Stabilization Fund -- Would allow voters to decide whether to create the Budget Stabilization Fund, formerly known as the "rainy day" fund, in the state treasury to provide extra funds in cases of emergency.

Child support and visitation -- Would make changes in support and visitation laws, particularly when the parent live in different states.

Common law liens -- Would allow county recorders to dismiss false or groundless "common law liens" against real or personal property.

Pursuit powers -- Would expend the fresh pursuit powers of out-of-state peace officers into Missouri in cases where the officer believes the driver being pursued is intoxicated.

Family farms -- Would help smaller farming and livestock operations remain competitive by lowering the number of farms needed to establish legal farming cooperatives.

Same sex marriages -- Would establish the public policy of this state to recognize marriage only between a man and a woman.

Abortion regulations -- Would establish regulations for abortion facilities, require physicians who perform abortions to carry $500,000 malpractice insurance and require information on alternatives to abortion services for pregnant women who are considering the procedure.

Use tax -- Would allow voters to replace local use tax in August elections. Courts struck down the old law, ruling it was unevenly applied in collections.

State election laws -- would make several changes to current laws regulating elections in the state including reducing the number of general elections.

Alzheimer's Disease -- Would require facilities who treat the disease to disclose care and treatment procedures.

School finance -- Would make several revisions to school finance law including continued distribution of railroad and utility tax revenues to public school districts at the county level.