March 3, 2003

Two of the Association’s top priority bills are scheduled to be heard this week in the House Transportation Committee. HB 383 and HB 86 are to be heard at noon on Wednesday (March 5, 2003) in hearing room No. 7 at the capitol in Jefferson City.

HB 383 is the "Public Service Accountability Act" which would restrict outsourcing jobs that are ordinarily done by state employees. A committee substitute for the bill is to be offered at the hearing that would restrict provisions of the legislature to MoDOT and contracts valued at $200,000 and greater. As introduced, HB 383 would cover all state departments and cover contracts of one-half million dollars or more. Rep. Tom Green of St. Charles is sponsoring the bill.

Also to be heard at the March 5 Transportation hearing is HB 86, which is sponsored by Rep. Dan Ward of Bonne Terre. This bill would require MoDOT to conduct a comprehensive job study every five years for all salaried employees of the department. The bill, subject to appropriations, calls for MoDOT pay raises based on the Consumer Price Index of up to five percent per month.

In other Association news from the Capitol, legislation was filed last week which would allow unused sick leave for MoDOT employees to be used for credit in meeting requirements for the "80 & Out" retirement plan. This new piece of legislation, HB 557, is co-sponsored by Rep. Jerry King of Butler and Rep. D. J. Davis of Odessa. It is anticipated that this bill would be amended to also remove the minimum age for the "80 & Out" retirement plan.

The pace for bills in committees is starting to quicken as new committee chairs become more familiar with their jobs of examining the hundreds of pieces of legislation. The budget with scarce state revenue has occupied a great deal of time and attention.

Note: Association members are reminded of our "Lobby Day" next week, March 11 & 12, at the Capitol.