SECOND REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 1459

92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES MOORE (Sponsor), WALKER, KRATKY, WALSH, DONNELLY, SAGER, SELBY, SKAGGS, KUESSNER, HENKE, CORCORAN, JOLLY, SPRENG, CARNAHAN, WILSON (42), THOMPSON, HUBBARD, BISHOP,

HILGEMANN AND SCHNEIDER (Co-sponsors).

         Read 1^st time February 10, 2004, and copies ordered printed.

STEPHEN S. DAVIS, Chief Clerk

4431L.01I

AN ACT

To amend chapter 209, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to closed captioning of local television news programming.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

            Section A. Chapter 209, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 209.350, to read as follows:

            209.350. To ensure effective communication of the content of all local news, weather and sports broadcasts to deaf and hearing-impaired Missourians, on or before January 1, 2006, all television stations located in the state of Missouri shall provide real-time captioning of all local news, weather and sports programming. Because of its inability to provide maximum information, the use of electronic newsroom technology shall not satisfy the requirements of this section. Any television station that would be required to expend more than two percent of its annual gross income to comply with the real-time captioning requirements shall not be subject to the provisions of this section.