UPDATE: The Senate will not meet next week because of concerns about the coronavirus. The House currently plans to meet next week to consider and pass the budget. Both chambers will be on spring break the following week.
Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee Votes Out Burlison Concealed Firearms Legislation; Drops Public Institutions Provision
On Thursday, March 12, the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee chaired by Sen. Doug Libla (R-Poplar Bluff) considered Sen. Eric Burlison’s (R-Springfield) SB 663 during executive session. The legislation modifies and removes provisions relating to concealed firearms. The committee voted out the Senate Committee Substitution to SB 663 which removed all new references to institutions of higher education. Originally, the legislation would have allowed a person to conceal carry at a public institution if they have a valid concealed carry permit.
House Budget Committee Chair Releases Committee Substitute
for HB 3
The House Budget Committee, chaired by Rep. Cody Smith (R-Carthage), convened on Wednesday, March 11, to review the committee substitute for HB 3, which includes funding for MDHEWD, workforce programs, student financial aid programs, and public colleges and universities. The committee substitute, which has not yet been posted online, carries forward some of Governor Mike Parson’s recommendations and recommendations made by the House Subcommittee on Appropriations for Education.
Key changes from the governor’s recommendations include:
- Funding for the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant was reduced to $2 million in lottery funds and $2 million in general revenue.
- Funding for MoExcels projects was broken out by project. Projects at Ozarks Technical Community College, Harris-Stowe State University, the University of Central Missouri, Missouri Southern State University, State Fair Community College, the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Missouri State University, Jefferson College, Truman State University, Mineral Area College, Metropolitan Community College, and the University of Missouri-Columbia will be funded by general revenue. Projects at Moberly Area Community College, Missouri University of Science & Technology, the University of Missouri System, and Southeast Missouri State University will be funded by the “surplus revenue fund.” If revenues are collected above the 1.6 percent estimated growth rate the House is basing its budget on, those additional revenues will be deposited into the surplus revenue fund.
- $5 million core increase for community colleges equity adjustments.
- $2 million core increase for State Technical College of Missouri.
- $500,000 core increase for Lincoln University’s land grant match.
- $1.8 million core increase for Missouri Southern State University.
- $1 million core increase for Missouri Western State University.
- $300,000 core reduction to the University of Missouri core for one-time funding to the University of Missouri’s pesticide application training.
- $1 million in one-time funding for University of Missouri’s operations at its agriculture research centers.
- $1 million in general revenue and $2 million through the surplus revenue fund for the University of Missouri’s Precision Health Center.
- $54,335 for the administration of a dual credit certification program at MDHEWD
- $475,000 for WorkKeys assessments
The remainder of the Governor’s recommendations remain the same. The bill will be considered and possibly amended in the House Budget Committee, on Monday, March 16.
On Tuesday, March 10, the Senate Appropriations Committee met and reviewed the FY 2019 supplemental budget, which included consideration of Southeast Missouri State University's $150,000 tax refund offset request. There were no questions on this proposal.
House Higher Education Committee Hears Campus Free Expression Act
The House Higher Education Committee convened the evening of Monday, March 9, to hear public testimony on Rep. Dean Dohrman’s (La-Monte) modification to the Campus Free Expression Act. HB 2696 would amend existing law and require the governing board of each public college and university to adopt a policy on free expression that is consistent with free speech principles specified in the bill. The legislation would also prohibit institutions from restricting students’ speech to particular areas of campus.
During the hearing, questions were raised on what happens if a lecturer, by the definition of the bill, brings up a subject matter in which “they have no special competence or training.” Specifically, members asked whether this action opens the door to lawsuits against the individual and institution. The bill sponsor and the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, the primary proponents of the bill, responded that it would depend on whether the topic is “reasonably germane” or uses a “significant amount of class time.”
The bill sponsor mentioned that provisions of the legislation could be modified, including removing the term “controversial” as to what types of subject matter a faculty member “should be careful to introduce” when they have no “special competence or training” on that matter.
Significant discussion was held on the requirement that institutions must adopt a policy on "student-on-student bullying" defining the term consistently with, and no more expansively than, unwelcome conduct directed toward a person that is “so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive.” The American Civil Liberties Union spoke in opposition to the “and” language, saying it should be an “or” as the legislation currently opens the door to hate speech on campus.
Paul Wagner of the Council on Public Higher Education spoke for informational purposes and suggested an amendment to the security fee provision of the bill that would take into consideration size of crowd, time of day, and other factors when a major event is scheduled on campus. This language was included last year in identical legislation by the bill sponsor. Wagner also mentioned the potential conflict with “the designated free-speech zone” language and how it may present complications with shared public/private partnership areas.
The House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee and Senate Education Committee Hears Governor Parson’s Priority Education and Workforce Legislation
The House Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education convened the morning of Tuesday, March 10, to hear Rep. Brad Pollitt’s (R-Sedalia) HB 2174. This legislation is a priority of Governor Mike Parson and includes topics related to individual career and academic plans, school innovation waivers, visiting scholars, retired teachers as substitute teachers, virtual school funding, and early childhood access.
The legislation also aims to ensure that students are prepared for postsecondary life.
Commissioner Zora Mulligan and other Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development officials spoke in favor of the legislation, specifically as it pertains to requiring all students to complete a FAFSA before graduating and requiring the department to equip all 57 Missouri career centers with the means and capability to assist students with completing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Youth Program application. Completion of this application could open the door for students to U.S. Department of Labor funding and services including tutoring, alternative secondary school services, paid and unpaid work experiences.
In the afternoon, the Senate Education Committee also convened to hear public testimony on the Senate companion to HB 2174, SB 830, which is sponsored by Senator Mike Cunningham (R-Rogersville).
Proponents speaking in favor of the bills between the two hearings included:
- Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
- Council on Public Higher Education
- Missouri Community College Association
- Missouri Chamber of Commerce
- Missouri Association of Career and Technical Education
- Missouri School Board Association
- Aligned
- Associated Industries of Missouri
- Missouri National Education Association (NEA)
- Missouri State Teachers Association
No one testified in opposition.
The Senate Professional Registration Committee Votes on the Expanded Workforce Access Act
The Senate Professional Registration Committee, chaired by Senator Jeanie Riddle (R-Mokane), convened on Tuesday, March 10, considered a committee substitute on Senator Eric Burlison’s (R-Springfield) SB 877, which establishes the Expanded Workforce Access Act of 2020. SB877 would require licensing authorities to grant licenses to applicants who (1) successfully complete the eighth grade, (2) complete an apprenticeship, and (3) pass an examination, if applicable. Sen. Burlison presented an amendment indicating the legislation would not apply to certain trade occupations, under the advisement of Sen. Gina Walsh (D-St. Louis). The amendment was adopted. The legislation passed out of the committee with three senators voting in opposition.
House Special Committee on Career Readiness Goes into Executive Session on Religious Student Association Protections and Student Housing
The House Special Committee on Career Readiness, chaired by Rep. Jason Chipman (R-Steelville), convened on Wednesday, March 11, and went into executive session to consider Rep. Hannah Kelly’s (R-Mountain Grove) HB 1926 and Rep. Jason Chipman’s (R-Steelville) HB 1790. Rep. Kelly’s legislation would prohibit public institutions of higher education from discriminating against a religious student association or denying a religious student association any benefit available to any other student association. The legislation was voted do pass as a House Committee Substitute. Rep. Chipman’s legislation prohibiting public institutions of higher education from requiring students to live on campus with exceptions was voted do pass as well.
Commissioner Zora Mulligan testifies in front of the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee.
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