Other Important Legislation
      of Concern

September, 2003 Update: HB 288 did NOT pass in the 2003 Legislative Session.


HOUSE BILL 288 --Classroom Trust Fund

   This bill was passed by the House in February and reported to the Senate. As of April 1, it has not been assigned to a Senate committee. The last action on the bill was "1st reading" in the Senate on February 24.

    The technical aspects of this bill are complicated, but the gist of the bill is that it removes gambling money from funding the Foundation Formula Program to a new "Classroom Trust Fund." The Foundation Formula was created to try to achieve fairness in how the state distributes funds to the public schools. This bill--already passed by the House--would distribute the gambling funds on a "per pupil" basis. The Missouri National Education Association (MNEA) opposes the bill, and sees that it would hurt the most needy districts.

    A new comprehensive study to define what constitutes an "adequate" education and what it would cost per child for Missouri's K-12 school children was presented to a joint session of the House and Senate Education committees and other key House and Senate key leaders on Feb. 17-18. MNEA says: "The state's primary focus must be on adequately and equitably funding schools through the basic formula. The state should use this new study to guide those deliberations."

    To find out more about this study (and this bill), contact MNEA: Phone: 573-634-3202 or 800-392-0236. You will also find more information on MNEA's Web site: www.mnea.org

    MTJ is for adequate and equitable funding for schools, but did not have a position on this bill.  If you are concerned about education funding, contact members of the Senate Education committee, and members of the Joint Interim Committee on Education. (See Senate Web site for members.)

Go to: Senate Education Committee

Go to MNEA Web site (click on Legislative Updates)

Back to MTJ Home Page

HOUSE BILL 536 (and SENATE BILL 503)

Note: SB 503, filed by Sen. Jacob, is similar but not identical to HB 536)

September 2003 Update: Neither of these bills passed in the 2003 Legislative Session.

Co-sponsors of HB 503: Reps. Campbell, Hilgemann, Lowe, Riback Wilson (#25), Graham, Johnson (#90), Carnahan. The bill was introduced Feb. 18, second-read on Feb. 19 and referred to the House Tax Policy committee.

The bill makes numerous changes related to taxation. Some provisions are related to "closing loopholes" that lose revenue for the state. It appears to include most of the tax changes recommended by the Governor in his Budget Message for Fiscal Year 2004.

MTJ would support all the provisions of this bill except the one that reduces the corporate tax rate one percent. On this item, it is unacceptable to further reduce the corporate income tax burden without gaining something needed by workers, such as approval of a living wage requirement, or more adequate health care.

As of April 1, there has been no further action on HB 536 (since February 19). It appears this will not be viable legislation this session. Missourians for Tax Justice believes a better plan for raising needed revenue that will make our tax system more fair should be pursued by our Governor and our state legislators.

For more information on these bills now, go to:

HOUSE BILL 503

SENATE BILL 536

Back to MTJ Home Page