My First Bill
Introduced

I recently
introduced my first Bill—HB 654. 
This Bill relates to Travel Insurance and provides Consumer and Producer
protections by creating a uniform system of distribution.  After spending years in the Insurance
Agency I suppose it is only right that my first bill be related to…Insurance!  We expect this Bill to be referred to
the Insurance Policy Committee for a hearing very soon.

HB
34-Previaling Wage Exemption for Schools

HB 34 was
recently voted do-pass by the House. 
HB 34 eliminates prevailing wage requirements for school renovation and
upgrade projects upon Board approval. 
Our local schools, and many rural schools across the state, have been
unable to make important maintenance or renovation upgrades due to prevailing
wage requirements driving up prices. 
If they are able to make the upgrade it is at the cost of textbooks,
computers, or other valuable supplies that our schools are in such desperate
need of.  I was proud to vote in
favor of this exemption.

Joint
Committee on  Agriculture

I was glad to
have to opportunity to attend a Joint Committee hearing of the House and Senate
Agriculture Committees chaired by Senator Munzlinger.  Agriculture leaders from across the state, including Dr.
Spain from the University of Missouri’s Agriculture Department and Director Jon
Hagler of the State’s Department of Agriculture, were in attendance to discuss
important issues facing the Agriculture Community and what the Legislature can
do to help.  Also discussed was the
importance of Agriculture to our State, how technology is advancing and playing
a role in the field of study, and the importance of educating consumers about
our food supply.

Purple Heart
State passes House of Representatives

HCR5 passed the
House designating the State of Missouri as a Purple Heart State, honoring the
service and sacrifice of our nation’s men and women in uniform who were wounded
or killed while serving to protect the freedoms enjoyed by all Americans.  We had a ceremony in the Capitol to
honor many Missouri Purple Heart recipients.

Visitors at
the Capitol

It was great to
visit with the Pike County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Fisher about HB 214.  This Bill deals with restitution
handling to be paid through the office of the prosecuting or circuit attorney.

Also visiting the Capitol was Senior Vice-President Earl Niemeyer of Community
State Bank in Bowling Green.  We
discussed the need for foreclosure laws to be uniform.

Bills
Recently Passed

Parent and
Community School Information Act (HB 388): In order to give parents an easy understanding of their
children’s schools, the Parent and Community School Information Act would put a
letter grade system in place that would be used to evaluate every public and
charter school in the state.

Right to Farm
(HJRs 11 & 7): Upon
voter approval, this constitutional amendment would protect the traditional
rights of Missourians to engage in the farming traditions that have been handed
down for generations.

Veterans
Lottery Ticket (HJR 8):
Upon voter approval, this constitutional amendment would require the State
Lottery Commission to develop and begin selling a “Veterans Lottery Ticket” by
July 1, 2015. Proceeds generated from ticket sales would be dedicated solely to
the Veterans' Commission Capital Improvements Trust Fund.

School
Construction Act (HB 34):
Eliminates prevailing wage requirements for school renovation and upgrade
projects.

Employment
Law Reform (HB 320):
Changes laws regarding unlawful discriminatoryemployment
practices and protection for whistleblowers.

General
Assembly Term Limits (HJR4): Upon
voter approval, this proposed constitutional amendment prohibits a person from
serving more than 16 years in the General Assembly. The service may be split
between the House of

Representatives
and the Senate in any proportion as long as the individual serves no more than
16 years total.

Admissibility
of Evidence (HJR16):
Upon voter approval, this proposed constitutional amendment allows relevant
evidence of prior criminal acts, whether charged or uncharged, to be admissible
in the prosecution for a crime of a sexual nature involving a victim under 18
years of age for the purpose of corroborating the victim's testimony or
demonstrating the defendant's propensity to commit the crime with which he or
she is presently charged.

Purple Heart State (HCR5): This designates the State of Missouri as a Purple Heart State,
honoring the service and sacrifice of our nation’s men and women in uniform who
were wounded or killed while serving to protect the freedoms enjoyed by all
Americans.

As always, please feel free to contact me with any
questions, comments, or concerns you might have.  It is a privilege to serve you in the Missouri House!  I can be reached by phone at
573-751-4028 or by email at jim.hansen@house.mo.gov