January 10 – Two of Associated Industries of Missouri’s priority bills were heard by Senate committees today.
The Senate Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee, chaired by Senator Scott Rupp, heard SB 572, sponsored by Senate Majority Floor Leader Tom Dempsey, at 1:00 p.m. today. The bill contains amendments to the workers’ compensation law that would prevent employees from suing each other in workplace accidents, restore coverage for occupational diseases within the workers’ compensation law, and bring reasonable reform and a moderate funding increase to the Second Injury Fund. Associated Industries president Ray McCarty provided testimony in support of the bill, along with other major statewide business associations. As expected, the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys testified in opposition to the legislation. Click here for more details on the hearing.
At 3:00 p.m. this afternoon, a separate hearing was held on Senator Brad Lager’s SB 592 in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment, chaired by Senator Lager. SB 592 would change Missouri’s standard for discrimination in dismissal decisions to mirror the federal law standard under the Human Rights Act. In order to claim discrimination, an employee would have to prove discrimination was a “motivating” factor, rather than a “contributing” factor, in the employer’s decision to dismiss the employee. The bill would also implement common sense reforms to Missouri’s “whistle-blower” statutes, requiring an employee that claims status as a “whistle-blower” to be reporting an activity that is truly illegal, in violation of state or federal regulations or a violation of public policy. Similar legislation was vetoed by Governor Jay Nixon last session. Again, Associated Industries of Missouri president McCarty testified in favor of the legislation, along with most major employer representatives. Click here for more details on the hearing.
Executive sessions, in which the Committees will vote on the bills, will be scheduled in the near future.