Budget Update
The Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (DHEWD) presented to the House Budget on Monday. During the hearing legislators discussed previous funding numbers from the last fiscal year and the new numbers proposed by the Governor for FY21. Last year the top priority for UM System, the NextGen facility, received a line item of $10 million. This year the Governor proposed $3 million – a $7 million cut from FY20. Representative Peter Merideth spoke up and asked about the impact of that $7 mil cut to the NextGen facility and both he and Representative Sara Walsh shared their support of continuing the $10 mil line item for the initiative if at all possible.
Legislative Update
Athlete Agents
On Wednesday the House General Laws Committee heard House Bill 1532, sponsored by Representative Greg Razer, and House Bill 2100, sponsored by Representative Jeff Knight, modifying the Uniform Athlete Agents Act. This legislation will change the definition of an athlete agent to a person who recruits or solicits a student athlete to enter into an agency contract or someone who, for compensation, procures or negotiates employment for a student athlete with a professional sports organization. Thirteen other states have already passed this legislation. The °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± Athletics Department testified in favor of the legislation and provided information and examples for the committee.
House Veterans Committee
The House Veterans Committee heard House Joint Resolution 72, sponsored by Representative Basye, which would create a Constitutional amendment requiring an amount equal to ten percent of the total annual revenue collected up to $2 mil, of the Missouri Veterans’ Health and Care Fund be appropriated to the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± School of Law Veterans Clinic. This Missouri Veterans’ Health and Care Fund is made up of the fees and taxes resulting from the sale of medical marijuana. The °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± had witnesses drive in to testify on behalf of the legislation and the committee seemed supportive overall.
Legislative Day
The annual UM System Legislative Day is February 18th from 9:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m. Please RSVP if you plan to attend: .
Reviewed 2020-02-20