SB 709 -- MEMORIAL FOR KILLED WORKERS

SPONSOR: DePasco (Hickey)

COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Labor by a vote of 20 to 0 with 1 present.

This bill authorizes the construction of a permanent memorial on the Missouri Capitol grounds for workers killed on the job in Missouri.

The bill also establishes the Workers Memorial Committee and specifies the composition of the committee. The committee is responsible for organizing a competition concerning the design of the memorial. Members of the committee will not be compensated but will be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses in the performance of official duties.

A Workers Memorial Fund is also established in the state treasury. The State Treasurer will invest moneys in the fund in a manner similar to other state funds. Interest accruing to the fund and moneys in the fund will not revert to general revenue.

FISCAL NOTE: Cost to General Revenue Fund of $0 in FY 2000, Unknown in FY 2001, and $0 in FY 2002. Administrative and construction costs for the memorial are expected to be at least $220,000. Estimated Net Effect on Workers Memorial Fund of $0 in FY 2000, an Income of Unknown in FY 2001, and a Cost of Unknown in FY 2002.

PROPONENTS: Supporters say that recognition is needed for Missouri workers who have been killed on the job.

Testifying for the bill was Representative Hickey.

OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Joseph Deering, Legislative Analyst