Missouri lawmakers began pre-filing bills today. It's the public'sfirst chance to catch a glimpse of the issues that will come upfor debate during the next legislative session. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports. UMAN CLONING, GAY MARRIAGE, AND TRANSPORTATION REFORM.
ALL OF THESE ARE ISSUES RAISED IN BILLS LAWMAKERS HAVE PRE-FILED.
SOME LEGISLATORS ARE PUSHING FOR A BAN ON HUMAN CLONING, OTHERS WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT MISSOURI DOES NOT RECOGNIZE SAME SEX MARRIAGES.
AND AS FOR TRANSPORTATION'ONE LAWMAKER HAS PROPOSED ASKING VOTERS TO APPROVE TOLL ROADS'WHILE ANOTHER BILL WOULD ABOLISH THE HIGHWAY COMMISSION.
OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO SOUTHWEST MISSOURI ARE THE BILLS THAT WOULD DROP THE REGIONAL DESIGNATION FROM SOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY'A BILL THAT'S KNOWN AS THE NAME CHANGE BILL.
AS K-S-M-U WAS FIRST TO REPORT IN OCTOBER, SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEMP PETER KINDER IS PUTTING THE POWER OF HIS LEADERSHIP POSITION BEHIND THE NAME CHANGE BILL'FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, HE'S THE CHIEF SPONSOR OF THE SENATE BILL.
OPPONENTS OF THE BILL ARGUE S-M-S WILL USE THE NAME CHANGE TO LEVERAGE MORE STATE DOLLARS AND WILL DETRACT FROM THE PRESTIGE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI.
BUT KINDER AND OTHER SUPPORTERS SAY THE NAME CHANGE WOULD ACCURATELY REFLECT WHAT THE UNIVERSITY HAS BECOME: A LARGE INSTITUTION WITH A STATEWIDE MISSION AND BOARD THAT DOES MORE THAN ITS DIRECTIONAL NAME IMPLIES.
OTHER ISSUES OF INTEREST IN THE UPCOMING SESSION INCLUDE GIVING PROTECTIONS TO RESIDENTS OF MOBILE HOME PARKS.
ST LOUIS SENATOR MAIDA COLEMAN SAYS IT'S A MATTER OF EXTENDING TO THESE INDIVIDUALS THE SAME RIGHTS THAT HOME AND APARTMENT TENANTS HAVE.
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THE BILL WOULD ALSO REQUIRE BOTH THE LANDLORD AND THE TENANT TO SIGN A WRITTEN LEASE.
COLEMAN SAYS RIGHT NOW, RESIDENTS OF MOBILE HOME PARKS CAN BE ARBITRARILY EVICTED'SHE SAYS HER BILL WOULD STOP THAT.
FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF BILLS, VISIT THE K-S-M-U WEBSITE, K-S-M-U DOT ORG.
I'M MISSY SHELTON FOR KSMU NEWS.