Part I -- MISSOURI LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
The 1999 session of the Missouri General Assembly, which began in
January, will officially end at 6:00 p.m. on May 14, 1999. During these
last weeks of the session, many bills will be debated and voted on by
your elected officials. Below find a brief review of a few of those
bills.
PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION BAN (HB 427):
This 28-line bill would ban
"partial birth abortions" by classifying them as infanticide – an act
of “intentionally killing a living infant that is born, partially born,
or aborted.” Infanticide would be a class “A” felony. This bill is
different from the ban passed during the 1997 session, which was vetoed
by Governor Carnahan. HB 427 does not contain a “health” of the mother
exemption, because the medical community has said that such abortions
are never medically necessary [KC Star, 3/11/99] Current Status:
HB 427 passed the House, by a vote of 123-26, which it a veto-proof
majority. HB 427 now moves to the Senate.
VIDEO GAMBLING MACHINES (HJR 20):
If HJR 20 passes, voters will be asked
to approve an amendment to the Missouri Constitution that would allow
many nonprofit organizations to operate slot machines or other
electronic gambling devices. According to Steve Taylor, director of
Casino Watch, HJR 20 is the Missouri gaming industry’s latest attempt at
gambling expansion. “Our constitution does not allow for land-based
gambling, but if we allow fraternal and religious organizations to
operate slot machines, then it’s just full-blown gambling in the state
of Missouri.” [Word & Way, 3/11/99] Current Status: HJR 20 has been
voted out of a House Committee. If HJR 20 is approved by both the House
and Senate, the measure could appear on the ballot in the fall.
PAR-MUTUEL BETTING (SB 373):
SB 373 would legalize off-track wagering
parlors for betting on sports events. Up to four betting parlors can be
established in Missouri by whoever opens a live horse racing track.
“Unlike riverboats, these may be placed in any community deemed fit by
the Horse Racing Commission,” said Steve Taylor. A similar bill lost by
only one vote last year. [Word & Way, 3/11/99] Current Status: SB 373
is awaiting action by the full Senate.
RIVERBOAT CASINOS (HB 793):
HB 793 would relax the licensure
requirements for the state’s casinos as well as allow electronic encoded
cards to be used for placing bets on casino boats (these cards will also
be used to track individual players’ gambling habits for advertising
purposes) The bill also redefines the terms “gambling” and “gambling
device” to exclude amusement devices under certain conditions to be
played by children in all types of business. [Front Lines, Spring 99]
Current Status: HB 793 has been approved by a House committee and is
awaiting action by the full House.
ABSTINENCE EDUCATION (SB 163):
Requires any public school sex
education to be focused on an abstinence-based perspective, be
age-and-gender-appropriate and inform parents prior to their child’s
exposure to it. Distribution of condoms or other
contraceptives would be strictly prohibited. Current
Status: Passed in the Senate with an amendment that would require that
the history of civil rights issues in America be taught. Now moves to a
House Committee.
HOMOSEXUAL SPECIAL RIGHTS (SB 328):
SB 328 amends the current state law
regarding the crime of ethnic intimidation (hate crimes), and renames it
as the crime of criminal intimidation. In addition, actual, presumed or
perceived “sexual orientation” and “disability” will be added to the
current list of categories which call for enhanced penalties when crimes
are committed against a person in one of those categories. The current
categories are race, color, religion, national origin or sex. (Note:
Sexual orientation, in the bill, is defined as homosexuality or
bisexuality.) Current Status: SB 328 was passed by a Senate Committee
with several other bills incorporated into it, dealing with involuntary
manslaughter, leaving the scene of a shooting, identity theft and
hunting accidents. SB 328 is awaiting debate and action by the full
Senate.
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE (SB 266):
SB 266 states: 1) it is the public policy
of this state to recognize marriage only between a man and a woman; 2)
any purported marriage not between a man and a woman is invalid; 3) no
recorder shall issue a marriage license, except to a man and a woman;
and 4) a marriage between persons of the same sex will not be
recognized for any purpose in this state even when valid where
contracted. Current Status: SB 266 was passed by the Senate and now
moves to the House, where it is awaiting committee assignment. A bill
similar to SB 266 was passed in 1996, but was proceduraly voided by the
Judiciary. Vermont state courts are expect to legalize homosexual
marriages by this summer and Missouri would likely be forced to
recognize and honor marriage licenses issued to people traveling to
Vermont to get married. [Missouri Family Network, 3/99]
FAMILY CARE SAFETY ACT (HB 308/HB 490):
HB 308/HB 490 would require that
background information on child care and elder care workers and
providers be available. Employed care providers must register with the
state or face criminal charges. People who care for children in church
child care ministries and people who care for children in their own
homes (if the parents of the children receive state or federal child
care monies) will have to be “cleared” by the Missouri Division of
Family Services (DFS) and the Missouri Highway Patrol. In order to
obtain a clearance, individuals will have to register and be
fingerprinted. A “one-stop shop” toll-free telephone access service
would allow members of the public to access certain registry
information. This bill is designed to impose these provisions on church
ministries and interferes with the religious liberties of church groups
and individuals. [Front Lines, Spring 99] Current Status: HB 308 and
HB 490 have passed in the House. HB 308 has had a Senate Committee
hearing.
ACTION: Contact your State Senator and Representative. Capitol
Switchboard: (573) 751-2000.
Part II -- KANSAS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
The Kansas State Legislature has been in session since January.
Pro-family groups have been following a number of bills. A brief
summary of just a few of those bills are listed below. The following
summary was provided by Concerned Women for America of Kansas. If you
would like to receive their weekly updates, please contact them at (913)
491-1380 or email: hhoffman@sound.net.
PRO-LIFE ISSUES
1) HB 2007 - tightens provisions in the ban on third trimester
abortions. Current Status: Federal & State Affairs Committee.
2) HB 2078 - adds abortion clinics to medical care facilities. Current
Status: Federal & State Affairs.
3) HB 2238 - covers the refusal of a pharmacist refusing to fill a
prescription for the “morning after” pill or any abortifacient. Current
Status: Judiciary.
4) HB 2318 - financial responsibilities for the costs of abortions
obtained by judicial bypass. Current Status: Judiciary.
5) HB 2319 - humane treatment of the fetus. Current Status:
Federal & State Affairs.
6) HB 2405 - requires parental consent for a minor to get an abortion.
Current Status: Passed by the House.
INCOME & TAXATION
1) HB 2098 - eliminates sales tax on food. Current Status: Taxation.
2) SB 45 - enhances the adoption expense credit. Current Status:
Passed by Senate and House.
3) SB 59 - exemptions for religious organization’s purchases. Current
Status: Passed by Senate & House.
PRIVACY
1) HB 2488 - child custody and child support. Current Status:
Judiciary.
2) HCR 5006 - urges Congress to pass the Medical Privacy Act – 1998.
Current Status: Judiciary.
3) HR 6004 - concerns using social security numbers on driver’s
licenses.Current Status: Federal & State Affairs.
4) SB 183 - concerns the sharing of information about children.
Current Status: Judiciary.
EDUCATION
1) HCR 5003 - increases number of members on State School Board.
Current Status: House Education.
2) HCR 5008 - eliminates self-executing powers of State School Board.
Current Status: House Education.
3) HB 2181 - gives more control to local school boards. Current
Status: House Education
4) HB 2487 - establish a task force to study state-wide workforce
development plans. Status: House Education
5) SB 155 - concerning charter schools. Current Status: Education
HEALTH
1) HB 2074 - relates to HIV infection, and reporting of laboratory
confirmed cases. Current Status: Passed by House and Senate.
2) SB 107 - health assessments for school children. Current Status:
Passed by Senate and House.
3) SB 14 - insurance for reconstructive breast surgery for cancer
patients. Current Status: Passed by Senate. Now in House
Insurance.
GAMBLING
1) SB 329 - would legalize casinos at Kansas pari-mutuel racetracks.
This bill (and SB 330 below) would permit the state to get into the
casino business through a legal loophole in the 1986 state
constitutional amendment that authorized the legislature to establish
the Kansas Lottery
[Stand Up For Kansas, 3/1/99] Current Status: Federal and State
Affairs.
2) SB 330 - would legalize electronic gambling machines at numerous
lottery retail outlets throughout the state – parimutuel racetracks,
licensed clubs and drinking establishments, retailers licensed to serve
cereal malt beverages, bingo parlors, nonprofit organizations operating
historical tourist attractions and state fair grounds. [Stand Up For
Kansas, 3/1/99 Current Status: Killed in the Senate.
MISCELLANEOUS
1) HB 2183 - concerns drivers’ licenses and driving privileges of
pupils. Current Status: Judiciary
2) HB 2185 - enacts Y2K protection act. Current Status: Kansas 2000
Select Committee
3) HB 2248 - child online protection act. Current Status: Judiciary
4) HB 2309 - hate crimes bill. Current Status: Judiciary
5) SB 131 - changes in sentencing for sex crimes – “Romeo & Juliet”.
Current Status: Passed by Senate.
CWA PRAYER CHAPTER LEADERS . . .
Prayer/Action Chapters give members of
CWA a voice in
your community. Chapters consist of faithful women and
men from your church or community who meet on a regular basis to pray
for leaders and issues, and then take action. The Prayer/Action Leader
(PAL) hosts the meetings, wherever you choose to meet. After approval
for leadership, the PAL receives a monthly newsletter from the national
office, giving information about issues that are “hot” at the federal
level. You will also receive our state Update, which will keep you
informed about issues at the state level.
CWA HOME TEAM CAPTAINS . . .
Home Team Captains (HTC) are very similar to Prayer Chapter Leaders.
The main difference is that you distribute your information by mail,
phone, fax, or email, rather than by meeting. For information about PAL
or HTC, write CWA of Kansas at P.O. Box 11233, Shawnee Mission, KS,
66207. Or call/fax at (913) 491-1380. Ask about Prayer/Action Leaders
and Captains in your area.
