Department of Corrections to institute work crews and the placement of county fines into the school system are among the bills in the Senate.
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
By State Sen. Sam Graves
As the Missouri General Assembly returns from the legislative break, I am reminded the 2000 session is half over. The deadline has passed to file bills, and Senate members are busy in debate over tobacco money, lowering the blood alcohol level, and highway funding. Last week, I promised to inform you of the legislation I have proposed this session. I will take this opportunity to talk about two bills I have before the legislature.
Senate Bill 730 authorizes the Department of Corrections the ability to institute work crews in conjunction with labor, discipline or rehabilitation programs. This bill would simply require male and female offenders of correctional centers perform hard labor suited to their physical and mental abilities. The Department of Corrections is responsible in establishing rules and regulations to ensure all reasonable steps are taken to protect the public. The worst criminals — murders, rapists, and those convicted of assault — would not take part in the work program.
These work crews will be employed to clean up roadsides, cemeteries, repair tombstones, erosion control, and state park refurbishing. Tasks would include clearing of weeds and brush from highways and interstates in places where mowing cannot reach. Culverts, bridges, and overpasses will be cleared of debris, trash picked up and graffiti will be painted over. All tasks performed will make Missouri a better looking place. Offenders will be working on various jobs that will save the state of Missouri millions of dollars every year. None of these work programs will result in the displacement of civilian workers employed by the state.
Senate Bill 754 relates to the placement of county fines into the school system. Current law requires schools place revenues received from the County School Fund pursuant to the credit of the operating funds. This includes placing money into either the Teachers’ or Incidental fund. These revenues are then used the following year as a 100% deduction from state aid. The receipt of such funds provides no net increase in total revenue available to the school district in the long run.
My bill allows revenues from penalties paid by a concentrated animal feeding operation, as defined by the Department of Natural Resources, be placed to the credit of any fund. The revenues are already exempted from deduction under the state school aid formula, so the bill does not produce any additional state cost. Simply stated, school boards are no longer limited to the placement of fines.
I believe the local school boards, superintendents, and principals are more qualified to assess the best avenue for additional revenue received from the fines. This bill allows these funds to be moved over to other accounts, such as debt reduction, capital improvements, and teacher recruitment, and other such areas where additional financial support is needed.
I plan to fight hard for the 12th district and to see north Missouri receive their fair share. I hope with this year’s legislation, Missouri roads, schools, and communities will benefit.