VIENNA — The second regular session of the 102nd Missouri General Assembly begins today in Jefferson City. Before legislatures returned to the Capitol, they had a chance to pre-file bills for consideration by their peers.

Sen. Justin Brown, a Republican from Rolla, represents Missouri’s 16th Senate District, which includes Maries, Dent, Laclede, Phelps, Pulaski and Wright counties. Brown pre-filed 12 bills before the session began.

Senate Bill 751 would enact provisions relating to insurance coverage of pharmacy services. It includes sections related to clinician-administered drugs, the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program and reference products and biosimilars. The bill combines provisions from bills that Brown and some of his colleagues had proposed in the last few legislative sessions.

Senate Bill 752 would modify provisions relating to rural economic opportunities. If enacted, it would add a responsibility to the Joint Committee on Rural Economic Development to identify any economic development programs affecting rural areas of the state that are scheduled to expire each year.

Senate Bill 753 would create the commercial financing disclosure law. The act would require people completing more than five commercial financing transactions with a Missouri business in one year to make certain disclosures about the transaction to the business. Disclosures include the total amount of money both provided and disbursed to the business during the translation, the total amount paid to the provider pursuant to the transaction, the total cost of the transaction, the payment plan and a statement of whether there are costs or discounts associated with prepayment of the transaction.

The Commercial Financing Disclosure Law would require yearly registration with the Division of Finance before engaging in business as a commercial financing broker. Violations of the act would be punishable by a fine of $500 per incident with a possible $1,000 per incident fine for violators who have received written notice of a prior violation by the Attorney General, who would enforce the provisions of the act.

Senate Bill 849 would establish tax credits for certain engineering degrees. Qualified employers who hire a qualified employee who has received their degree within one year of receiving a degree would receive a tax credit for tuition reimbursement equal to 50 percent of the tuition reimbursement amount. For the first five years, the qualified employer would also receive a tax credit equal to 5 percent of compensation paid to a qualified employee who received their degree outside Missouri and 10 percent of compensation paid to a qualified employee who received their degree in Missouri. The credits cannot exceed $15,000 per employee per year.

The act would allow taxpayers who become qualified employees to receive $5,000 tax credits for their first five years as qualified employees. The act would end in 2030 unless renewed by the General Assembly.

Senate Bill 850 would prohibit the sale or distribution of certain lighters defined as unsafe or counterfeit. The act would not prohibit interstate transportation of the lighters or their storage in a warehouse or distribution center that is closed to the public or does not sell the lighters.

Senate Bill 851 would modify provisions relating to telemedicine. Current law prohibits internet or phone questionnaires as acceptable patient medical interviews. The act would allow those questionnaires as substitutes for in-person interviews.

Senate Bill 937 would create provisions related to pet shops and animal dealers. It would prohibit animal dealers or pet shops from purchasing from any entity that does not have a license to sell and handle animals or has multiple, repeat critical or direct violations of state or federal law within the last three years. Pet shops would disclose to dog buyers the names and addresses of breeders and dealers. Shops that knowingly violate the provisions would be subject to a Class A misdemeanor. The act would also prohibit political subdivisions from adopting or enforcing a regulation that prohibits a pet shop with a license to operate in Missouri. The act would not prohibit the enforcement of building and zoning laws or required inspections.

Senate Bill 938 would modify provisions relating to the sale of property to satisfy liens on stored property. Under the act, if an owner with property in self-service storage defaulted on a lien, the operator of the storage facility may enforce the lien by selling the property through a sale advertised in the classified section of a newspaper or any other commercially reasonable manner that includes the attendance or viewing of the sale by at least three independent bidders.

Senate Bill 939 would modify provisions relating to state funds for regional planning commissions. The act would raise the maximum state funding for the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council and the Mid-America Regional Council from $65,000 to $130,000. It would also raise the maximum state funding for other regional planning commissions to $50,000.

The act would remove the Show-Me, Missouri Valley, Ozark Gateway, ABCD and Lakes County regional planning commissions and replace them with the Harry S. Truman, MO-Kan, Pioneer Trails and Southwest MO commissions. It would also allow the maximum grant amount for each regional planning commission to be adjusted with the consumer price index.

Senate Bill 1018 would create provisions relating to telecommunications. It would require the state or a municipality mandating a relocation to reimburse broadband or video service providers for the cost of relocating telecommunications infrastructure installed for the purpose of delivering internet and video service to customers.

Senate Bill 1019 would authorize the closure of certain park records. Under the act, public governmental bodies could close records, meetings and votes that relate to individually identifiable customer information for visitors who make a camping, lodging or shelter reservation for a Missouri State Park or State Historic Site unless the records are requested by or authorized for release by the visitor.

Senate Bill 1248 would modify provisions relating to peer review committees. It would allow emergency medical service providers licensed under certain provisions of state law to be considered health care professionals for purposes of liability and disclosure of materials produced by a peer review committee. Quality improvement or quality assurance activity required by the licensed individuals would be considered an activity of a peer review committee.

The phone number for Brown’s office is 573-751-5713. His page on the Missouri Senate website includes a link to submit a message by email.

Rep. Bennie Cook, a Republican from Houston, serves Missouri’s 143rd House District, which includes Maries, Texas and Phelps counties. Cook pre-filed six bills before the session began.

House Bill 1560 would prohibit a recipient from abusing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. It would change the law regarding the TANF and SNAP programs by disqualifying for three months someone who makes a purchase of prohibited products using program benefits. A second violation would result in six months of disqualification from the program or programs. A third violation would result in disqualification for five years. Disqualified individuals could reapply for the program or programs at the end of their disqualification periods.

The bill would also prohibit recipients of TANF and SNAP benefits from using their program cards at ATMs to receive cash. It also provides room for the Department of Social Services to determine the necessity of waivers and apply for them through the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Another effect of the bill is the addition of pornography to the list of items prohibited from being purchased with TANF or SNAP benefits. Additionally, it repeals provisions regarding pilot projects in certain counties to provide benefit cards to public assistance recipients.

House Bill 1561 would modify provisions relating to certain registered nurse anesthetists.

House Bill 1562 would designate the last Saturday in each April as “Emmett Kelly Day.” Kelly was a circus performer from Houston. He popularized the clown character Weary Willie, who he based on Great Depression-era hobos. Houston often hosts the Emmett Kelly Clown Festival in the spring.

House Bill 1952 would modify peer review committees with the same amendments as Brown’s Senate Bill 1248.

House Bill 1953 would modify provisions relating to the State Advisory Council on Emergency Medical Services.

House Bill 1954 would modify provisions relating to certain privileged information. It would classify information and data obtained by a probation or parole officer as privileged and not receivable in court unless for lawful criminal matters.

The phone number for Cook’s office is 573-751-2264. His email is Bennie.Cook@house.mo.gov. His office hours are Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.