TO:  MTC Members

FROM:  Dale Amick - MTC Legislative Consultant

[ CLICK HERE to view the February 15, 2007 Legislative Status Report ]

The extension of the sunset date for the tourism supplemental fund from 2010 to 2015 has cleared its first hurdle in the Missouri House of Representatives and is on a fast track for passage there.

The House Special Committee on Tourism, chaired by Rep. B. J. Marsh of Springfield , has approved the sunset extension for the tourism supplemental fund as a consent bill (HB 205). Consent bills are placed on a special, fast track calendar and cannot be amended on the House floor.

A public hearing on a similar Senate bill (SB 376)  was held this past week in the Senate Economic Development Committee. Wyli Barnes, MTC legislative committee chairperson, testified on behalf of MTC in support of the legislation.

Meanwhile, the House Appropriations Committee for Economic Development methodically is working its way toward drafting a budget blueprint for the Department of Economic Development.  The committee is expected to take a close look at the proposed Division of Tourism budget next week and could finally approve it. An initial look at the proposed 20.6-million -dollar Division Budget last week drew little attention and few questions from committee members.

The Senate Education Committee has approved new school start legislation (SB 64), establishing a school opening no sooner that ten days before Labor Day. School districts can start earlier than ten days prior to Labor Day if a public meeting is held and the board votes for the earlier start up date. The bill also includes a formula under which school districts would not have to make up lost school days due to inclement weather.  Expect the legislation to be amended on the Senate floor.