JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — HBs 1-13 & 15 passed the House this week and will now move onto the Senate.

Budget Bills Third Read and Passed

Debate quickly became inflamed amid the amendments previously offered regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Reflecting on this divisive debate, Perkins commented, “DEI is divisive to our state, where we seek to unite, it seeks to divide and stifle diversity of thought. It is an insidious ideology that has taken root throughout our state government, and it is our duty, as elected officials, to seek out this ideology and eradicate it. The most efficient way to accomplish this task is through the state budget.” Perkins concluded, “My goal is always to give people, all people, an equal opportunity for success, allowing them to succeed, or fail, based on their merits. My goal is never to create a false equity that seeks to produce equality of outcome.  That latter goal will always fail and will destroy individual initiative in the process, and I, for one, will not stand for it.”

Missouri House Approves Fiscal Year 2024 State Operating Budget (HBs 1-13)

HBs 2 and 3 which contain the funding for education did not receive a single vote from Democrats. After this vote, Perkins commented, “I’m disappointed to see that none of my colleagues across the aisle chose to fully fund the foundation formula. Our schools depend on this money to operate and our children don’t deserve to have political games played with their future.”

The members of the Missouri House of Representatives this week approved a $45.6 billion state operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year that begins in July. The 13 appropriations bills passed by the House include full funding for the state’s school foundation formula, funding increases for institutions of higher learning, additional support for law enforcement and school safety, and new funding for nursing homes and child care providers.

With the FY 2024 state budget plan, House members are making an enormous investment in the both the K-12 and higher education systems. The House allocated approximately $9.7 billion for the state’s elementary and secondary education system. That number includes full funding for the state’s foundation formula that is used to fund K-12 public schools. It also includes an additional $233 million to provide a total of $347 million to fully fund school transportation for the second time in as many years. The House Budget Chairman included another $55.1 million in funding for Close the Gap grants that will help Missouri families address the learning loss that occurred as a result of the pandemic.

The budget includes approximately $1.4 billion for higher education and workforce development. Included in that figure is a 7% funding increase for community colleges and a 5% increase for four-year universities. The spending plan also includes an additional 2% increase for four-year institutions that will be allocated through a performance-based system. The FY 2024 budget also includes full funding for the state’s scholarship program such as Bright Flight, Access Missouri, and the A+ Scholarship Program.
With the approval of the state budget, House members also showed their strong support for law enforcement and public safety. The spending plan now on its way to the Senate would provide a 20% pay increase for the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Capitol Police. The budget also includes $50 million for school safety grants for Missouri schools to make physical security investments on their campuses, develop safety plans, establish school resource officer programs, and increase active threat trainings. Additionally, the budget provides an additional $2 million to the Missouri National Guard to assist with recruitment.

The bills now move to the Missouri Senate for consideration. The House and Senate will have to reach final agreement on the bills by Friday, May 5.

Budget Highlights

• $9.7 billion in funding for the state’s system of K-12 education which includes full funding ($3.6 billion) for the school foundation formula.
• $233 million increase to provide a total of $347 million to fully fund school transportation for the second time in as many years.
• $31.9 million to expand the Teacher Career Ladder Program.
• $1.3 million for a Curriculum Transparency Portal.
• $2 million for Classroom Support Grants.
• $55.1 million in funding for Close the Gap grants that will help Missouri families address the learning loss that occurred as a result of the pandemic.
• $56 million recommended by the governor to expand pre-kindergarten options to all four-year-old children eligible for free and reduced priced lunch at no cost.
• $1.4 billion in total funding for higher education and workforce development.
• $70.8 million to increase funding for state colleges and universities. Community Colleges will receive a 7% increase while four-year institutions will receive a 5% increase and an additional 2% boost based on a performance-funding system.
• $35.5 million for MoExcels workforce development projects on college campuses.
• Full funding for state scholarship programs such as Bright Flight, Access Missouri, and A+.
• 20% pay increases for the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Capitol Police to help attract and retain quality officers.
• $50 million for school safety grants for Missouri schools to make physical security investments on their campuses, develop safety plans, establish school resource officer programs, and increase active threat trainings.
• $2 million for the Missouri National Guard to assist with recruitment.
• $1 million increase for Blue Scholarships to help attract more Missourians to law enforcement careers and address officer shortages.
• $20 million to support Missouri’s veterans homes.

 

Bills sent to the Senate:

HBs 913 & 428 modifies provisions relating to licensed child care facilities. Currently, a person caring for up to six children, with a maximum of three children under the age of two, can operate an unlicensed child care facility. Under this bill, that would change to a person caring for four children, with a maximum of two children under the age of one and a maximum of four children under the age of two. Currently, up to two children who are five years old or older that are related to the child care provider within the third degree will not be included in the maximum number of children for which the family child care home is licensed. This bill allows up to four children related to the child care provider within the third degree to not be counted, regardless of the child’s age or if there are multiple members responsible for the child care home that have related children being served there. Supporters say the bill cleans up language in statute that caused unintended consequences. The bill will incentivize unlicensed providers to become licensed, which will give the Department more oversight to protect the children. There is a need for daycare services and this bill will open up space for more service to be provided.

HB 1133 modifies provisions relating to credit toward the service of a sentence of imprisonment by changing the beginning of the credit accrual to after the offense occurred, as opposed to the current provision of after conviction. This credit must be based upon the certification of the sheriff, and may be supplemented by a certificate of a sheriff or other custodial officer from another jurisdiction having held the person on the charge of the offense for which the sentence is ordered. The court, when pronouncing sentence, may award additional credit for time spent in prison, jail, or custody before the commencement of the sentence for those in which the person was incarcerated, but for whom no detainer or warrant was served. The total amount of credit must not be more than the number of days between the date of the offense and the commencement of the sentence. Supporters say the bill helps address the various nuances when awarding jail time credit, such as defendant mobility throughout the state, providing credit for time already served, and ensuring that no offender or inmate would be required to do doubletime. Post-conviction motions relating to recalculation and resentencing may be reduced as well.

The House approved the bill by a vote of 139-16. It now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Working on your behalf,