HCS SCS SB 1185, 1163, 1174, 1200 & 1225 -- STATE AGENCIES

SPONSOR:  Engler (Lipke)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Crime
Prevention and Public Safety by a vote of 13 to 0.

This substitute transfers the responsibility for various duties
from one state agency to another.  In its main provisions, the
substitute transfers:

(1)  The administration of veterans' programs from the Executive
Director of the Missouri Veterans Commission to the Lieutenant
Governor;

(2)  The State Emergency Management Agency from the Military
Division of the Executive Department of the Office of the
Adjutant General to the Department of Public Safety;

(3)  The classification of and the procedures for tax credits
regarding shelters for victims of domestic violence from the
Director of the Department of Public Safety to the Director of
the Department of Social Services;

(4)  The response to emergencies from the Office of the Adjutant
General to the Department of Public Safety;

(5)  The administration of blood alcohol and other chemical tests
to determine the presence of drugs or alcohol from the Department
of Health and Senior Services to the Highways and Transportation
Commission;

(6)  The collection of insurance surplus lines taxes from the
Department of Insurance to the Department of Revenue; and

(7)  The administration of crime victims' compensation claims
from the Division of Workers' Compensation within the Department
of Labor and Industrial Relations to the Department of Public
Safety.

The substitute also requires insurers to pay surcharge amounts
quarterly and no later than the thirtieth day of the month
following the end of the quarter in which the amount is received
from policyholders.

The substitute contains an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Effect on General Revenue Fund of a cost
of $131,527 or an income of $5,051,356 in FY 2007, a cost of
$17,025 or an income of $5,165,858 in FY 2008, and a cost of
$15,329 or an income of $5,167,554 in FY 2009.  Estimated Effect
on Other State Funds of an income of $3,500 or a cost of
$5,179,383 in FY 2007, an income of $3,605 or a cost of
$5,179,278 in FY 2008, and an income of $3,713 or a cost of
$5,179,170 in FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill transfers duties from
one state agency to another so that the duties can be
administered more efficiently.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Engler; David Scott;
Missouri Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence;
Department of Insurance; and Central Missouri State University.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that the chemical
testing program should not be moved from the Department of Health
and Senior Services to the Department of Transportation.  Many
convictions could be lost from lack of forensic evidence, and
there could be paperwork errors if the program is transferred.

Testifying against the bill were Brian Silva; and Mary Catherine
McMurray.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say there would not be a
change in how the chemical program is administered, only in who
is administering it.

Others testifying on the bill were State Highway Patrol; and
Department of Health and Senior Services.

Kristina Jenkins, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:47 am