2014 Legislative Updates

The 2014 Legislative Session began January 8. Below are some of the bills of interest to DMH.

Additional information on legislation as well as members of the General Assembly can be found on the House and Senate web sites:

Senate
House

2014

Senate Bills

Bill Number Sponsor Description
SB 491 Justus Modifies provisions relating to criminal law.
SB 507 Dixon Modifies the gubernatorial appointment process for acting directors and the process for filling vacancies in certain state public offices.
SB 509 Kraus Modifies provisions relating to income taxes.
SB 518 Sater Extends MO HealthNet managed care statewide for only the current managed care populations.
SB 530 Libla Allows for drug use or convictions to be considered in determining parental fitness in termination of parental rights proceedings.
SB 575 Dixon Modifies and repeals a number of existing, expired or obsolete committees as well as creating the new Joint Committee on Judiciary and Justice.
SB 716 Brown Requires hospitals to offer flu immunizations to patients 65 years of age or older prior to discharge
SB 723 Parson Raises the cap on the amount of revenue bonds that may be issued and limits the use of funds to renovation of existing buildings.
SB 739 Romine Modifies provisions relating to the MO HealthNet program.
SB 769 Pearce Requires health benefit plans cover diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders.
SB 816 Sater Provides that the Volunteer Health Services Act shall not apply to health care providers responding to a state of emergency declared by the Governor.
SB 828 Schaaf Modifies provisions relating to safety provisions in mental health facilities.
SB 937 Schaefer Provides for the county counselor of Boone County to receive state money for performing duties related to mental health and mental heath facilities.

House Bills

Bill Number Sponsor Description
HB 1064 Grisamore Removes references to the phrases "mentally retarded" and "mental retardation" from statute and replaces them with "intellectually disabled" and "intellectual disability", respectively.
HB 1070 Shumake Establishes family intervention orders for the treatment of persons who abuse chemical substances.
HB 1130 Roorda Prohibits the denial of mental health care and treatment for children who are alleged victims of abuse or neglect and requires guardians ad litem to have training in child abuse and neglect.
HB 1156 Lair Establishes a committee to assess the continuation of the Money Follows the Person Demonstration Program.
HB 1181 Redmon Changes various laws in accordance with Executive Branch reorganizations.
HB 1182 Redmon Repeals various obsolete, expired, and ineffective provisions of law.
HB 1231 Cox Changes the laws regarding judicial procedures.
HB 1243 Black Creates criminal penalties for acts of violence committed by a sexually violent predator while in a secure facility operated by the Department of Mental Health.
HB 1324 Ellinger Establishes a pilot program for the medical use of marijuana.
HB 1325 Ellinger Changes the laws regarding the possession of less than 35 grams of marijuana and the possession of marijuana drug paraphernalia.
HB 1346 Conway Creates the crime of sexual exploitation by a clergyperson.
HB 1380 Peters Removes the words "mental retardation" and "mentally retarded" from the statutes, except for references to a clinical diagnosis.
HB 1399 Ellinger Imposes a sales tax upon every retail sale of any handgun or ammunition, at the rate of one cent per transaction, for providing funds for mental health services.
HB 1493 Stream Requires all health insurance carriers and health benefit plans to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders.
HB 1516 Spencer Establishes the Missouri Good Samaritan Law.
HB 1561 Hinson Allows certain individuals to petition to be removed from the sexual offender registry and specifies that any offender who was a juvenile at the time of his or her conviction shall be removed.
HB 1563 Kratky Authorizes an income tax credit for certain small businesses who hire a person who is disabled or who was recently discharged from a correctional facility.
HB 1598 Torpey Specifies that if a sexual offense is committed against a person who is developmentally disabled, the criminality of conduct will be based on the victim's developmental age and not the actual age of the victim.
HB 1601 Higdon Prohibits any state agency from enforcing any federal law penalizing the possession, distribution, sale, trade, traffic, or profit of cigars, cigarettes, or rolling papers.
HB 1605 Schieffer Designates the month of May as "Mental Health Awareness Month" and the first full week of May as "Bipolar Disorder Awareness Week" in Missouri.
HB 1659 Kelly Changes the laws regarding marijuana.
HB 1662 Richardson Extends MO HealthNet managed care statewide for only the current managed care populations.
HB 1686 Butler Changes the eligibility requirements for medical assistance under the MO HealthNet Program by expanding eligibility to 138 percent of the federal poverty level.
HB 1690 Rowden Prohibits the sale of alternative nicotine or vapor products to minors and the use or possession of such products in any public elementary or secondary school building.
HB 1702 Ellington Changes the eligibility requirements for medical assistance under the MO HealthNet Program by expanding eligibility to 138 percent of the federal poverty level.
HB 1741 Engler Allows a sexually violent offense conviction in another state to be considered when determining whether a person is a sexually violent predator for purposes of confinement and treatment.
HB 1754 Walton Gray Allows certain inmates who become physically or mentally disabled, infirm, incompetent, or incapacitated to be released on parole if they are eligible for specified federal medical or financial benefits.
HB 1779 Riddle Allows advanced practice registered nurses in collaborative practice arrangements to make certain decisions regarding patient restraints.
HB 1785 Bahr Requires the MO HealthNet Division to seek an amendment to the Home and Community-based Waiver to allow structured family caregiving to be a covered service.
HB 1791 Fitzpatrick Authorizes the Governor to convey specified state properties.
HB 1826 Berry Requires one licensed clinical psychologist to serve on the state mental health commission and removes an expert in general business matters and procedures from the commission.
HB 1837 Gardner Adds telehealth services to the list of services covered under MO HealthNet.
HB 1898 Bahr Requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to develop standards for all levels of hospital perinatal care.
HB 1901 Torpey Changes the laws regarding health care coverage.
HB 2110 Zerr Modifies provisions relating to sales tax.
HB 2223 Peters Requires DESE in collaboration with the DMH to develop a comprehensive school based mental health program.
HB 2244 Morris Enacts the "Tricia Leann Tharp Act" which requires pharmacists to receive two hours of continuing education on suicide prevention for renewal of licensure.
HB 2267 Allen Establishes the Department of MO HealthNet, abolishes the Department of Health and Senior Services, and restructures the Department of Social Services and the Department of Mental Health.