Most passed 2010 bills now law

As of Aug. 28, most of the 32 Senate bills and 74 House bills that were sent to the governor for his signature this session officially became law. Every year, this date is important because it's the date for the majority of bills to take effect that are passed during the legislative session and signed by the governor. This action also signifies the last legislative step for bills that have been endorsed by the General Assembly each year.

There is a reason behind having bills take effect on Aug. 28 -- this date is actually 90 days after the constitutional end of the legislative session, and our state's constitution specifies that no bills may take effect before 90 days have passed. One exception (other than budget bills) is if an emergency clause is attached during a bill's passage. When legislation contains an emergency clause, it usually becomes state law immediately upon the governor's signature. On the other hand, some bills may have a different effective date altogether, such as the beginning of the following year. Usually this is to give state agencies or other affected entities enough time to make any necessary changes to comply with the new law.

Several bills became law last Saturday, among them:

* Bingo Regulations, SB 940: Relaxes bingo regulations by expanding the hours during which bingo halls may operate, increasing the number of games they are able to hold, and raising the cap on the amount of money they are allowed to spend on advertising. I sponsored this bill in the Senate.

* Military, HB 2147: Exempts certain students who are dependents of recently retired military personnel from the three-year attendance requirement under the A+ Schools Program when their parents relocate to Missouri. I handled this bill in the Senate.

* Adult Businesses, SB 586: Imposes several time, place and manner restrictions on these establishments in Missouri, including prohibiting them from operating between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. and banning the use, sale and consumption of alcohol on the premises.

* Ethics, SB 844: Allows the Missouri Ethics Commission to independently investigate ethics violations without an outside complaint being filed; requires contributions of more than $500 to incumbent officials and their challengers during legislative session be electronically reported within 48 hours; and limits the transferring of contributions among most committees.

* Abortion, SB 793: Requires that several provisions be fulfilled at least 24 hours before an abortion may be performed, including providing the mother an opportunity to see an ultrasound and hear the baby's heartbeat and presenting her with materials detailing the risks of an abortion and showing the development of the baby. Also provides the mother information on the father's responsibility for child support.

* DWI, HB 1695: Toughens the state's laws regarding intoxication-related traffic offenses and allows for the establishment of DWI courts to handle such cases.

* K2 Ban, HB 1472: Criminalizes the possession of "K2" -- synthetic compounds that mimic the effects of marijuana.

* Income Tax Returns, HB 1408: Allows interest on unpaid state income tax refunds to begin collecting at a sooner date (90 days rather than 120 days).

As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office with your questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at (866) 277-0882 (toll-free) or (573) 751-2272, or by fax at (573) 526-7381.

Senator David Pearce serves Bates, Cass, Johnson and Vernon counties in the 31st State Senatorial District.

Contact Information

Capitol Office

State Capitol Building

Room 419

Jefferson City, MO 65101

Website:http://www.senate.mo.gov/pearce