The Senate Task Force on Predatory Towing met for the second time Thursday to address "predatory" towing practices in the state.

Several insurance agency representatives testified at the hearing, saying they've encountered price disparity, rate hikes and bullying at the hands of some towing companies.

Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown, said the legislature needs to address the lack of regulation in the state.

"Once the tow company hooks onto your car, they've got total control of it," Munzlinger said. "That's why we feel we need some regulations."

Those who testified noted that these unfair towing practices most often occur in urban areas, such as the Kansas City and St. Louis metropolitan areas.

Task force members called on Sen. Paul Wieland, R-Jefferson County,, the chair of the committee, to file legislation for the upcoming session that would regulate towing companies.

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Missouri's Department of Public Safety would not discuss security measures taken to protect residents following a string of deadly shootings in Colorado, California and Paris.

The department said it is coordinating with Capitol police and the Missouri Highway Patrol to share information and monitor all developments and events to keep the state safe.

Some, but not all, of the information they collect is made public, according to the department.

The Missouri Statehouse has been working to improve security measures in Jefferson City, but those improvements have been in the works for some time and are not a direct response to the recent string of shootings.

"The Senate and House have been working together for the last couple of years on ways to improve the current security procedures around the Capitol and in both chambers," said Senate Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin. "Plans are in the works, and we hope to have more specifics after the first of the year.

Richard has urged heightened security at the Capitol.

Several bills have been filed in advance of the 2016 legislative session related to firearm possession.

Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Springfield, has filed legislation to eliminate the concealed carry permit requirement in Missouri.

Rep. Stacey Newman, D-St. Louis County, has also filed legislation that would require all firearm purchases be conducted through licensed firearm dealers in Missouri.

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Of more than 350 bills filed by legislators on the opening day for proposing bills for next year's session, there was just one measure that would impose tougher requirements on purchasing a firearm.

The opening day was Monday, Dec. 1, one day before the California mass killings.

The one bill to restrict firearms sales was sponsored by Rep. Stacey Newman, D-St. Louis County.

She has sponsored similar measures the past three years. But those bills failed to get out of committee.

On the other side, bills were filed by other legislators to expand the right to carry a concealed weapon without a permit or on college campuses.

A federal judge has blocked the state of Missouri from revoking the abortion license of Planned Parenthood's Columbia facility until late this month.

The decision may be somewhat academic. The facility already has ceased non-surgical, drug-induced abortions after the University of Missouri terminated hospital rights for the organization's physician.

The court's decision prompted a lengthy, critical letter from the Senate's top leader to the state attorney general.

The letter from Sen. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, charged Democratic Chris Koster with an "apparent reluctance of your office to vigorously defend the law as passed."

A total of 434 measures were pre-filed on Dec. 1, the first day bills and resolutions could be offered for the 2016 legislative session.

That is far higher than the 168 measures pre-filed on the first day for this year's session.

Members can keep pre-filing proposals until the opening day of the 2016 legislative session that begins January 6.

Eventually, about 2,000 bills and joint resolutions, which amendment the Constitution, are expected to be tossed into the legislative session.

Last year, 2,000 measures were introduced, but only 131 were passed -- just six 6 percent.

The number of measures lawmakers sponsor has been increasing steadily over the years.

Two decade ago for the 1995 legislative session, only 1,305 measures were introduced with 13 percent ultimately getting passed.

This year, as in past years, many of the pre-filed measures are repeats of bills that failed or were vetoed in prior years.

Among them is "Right to Work" that the governor vetoed earlier this year and failed to gain the two-thirds vote necessary in the House for the override effort. The measure would have prohibited requiring union membership or payment of union fees to get or keep a job.

Other major issues that have been pre-filed include abolishing the death penalty, tougher ethics restrictions on public officials, restricting when police can use lethal force, a gasoline tax increase and legalizing marijuana.

JEFFERSON CITY - A House task force is considering to crack down on human trafficking in Missouri.

St. Louis is ranked as one of the top 20 trafficking cities in the U.S by the F.B.I.

The House Trafficking Committee chair -- Rep. Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield -- said the issue of human trafficking is an area the state government has not focused on in past years.

"Other issues like education and crime, those problems have risen up and the trafficking issue took to the back burner. Now what we're trying to do is get caught up and find the areas that are weak and find what other states are doing to combat the issue to make sure we can get it back in the forefront," Haahr said.

The task force's  proposal would impose stronger restrictions on advertising by human traffickers.

Haahr said part of the rise of human trafficking in the Midwest is due to the rise of the Internet. Anonymous apps and websites have made it easier to traffic victims.

Haahr wants to see the government put a stop to these advertisements through the committee's legislation.

There is no universal definition for human trafficking. The federal and state government have different definitions of human trafficking.

The federal definition of human trafficking includes prostitution, slavery and forced labor.

The task force plans to adopt their proposals in January.

A new audit said the Missouri State Lottery Commission should provide more information about its advertising and long-term contracts.

The report issued by State Auditor Nicole Galloway said these areas were also identified as issues of concern in the last audit of the State Lottery, which was issued in 2012.

"The Missouri State Lottery needs to conduct further analysis to determine the appropriate amount of advertising expenditures needed to optimize sales and profits," Galloway wrote in this year's audit.

The audit found that the lottery spends more than it brings in for some community events that it sponsors.

The audit also said that the lottery does not do enough research to evaluate if its long-term contracts are the most cost-effective.

It found that the lottery has historically renegotiated standing contracts instead of soliciting bids from competitors.

"This practice does not require contracts to be awarded to the lowest and best bidder and presents legal issues regarding regarding compliance with state purchasing laws and regulations," the audit reported.

In the audit, the Missouri State Lottery Commission provided a written response that said it has attempted to address these concerns since the audit in 2012, and will continue to address them.

Overall, the state lottery received a "good" performance rating.

The state's commission on police education has proposed new standards to require officers to complete racial and cultural education modules, but do not say anything about lethal force education following unrest in Ferguson.

The rules must be filed with the Missouri Secretary of State for public comment before final approval..

"The new rules effectively double the required hours for training related to culture and race, would mandate continuing education and mental health awareness, fair and impartial policing, implicit bias, critical thinking and social intelligence," said Lane Roberts, the director of the Department of Public Safety.

The proposed changes illicit mixed reviews, with some attendees of a public hearing voicing their concerns.

For Rusty Sullivan, the director of the Kansas City Public Safety Institute, the proposed increase in training requirements could lead to an increased reliance on online education.

"I feel very strongly that if you don't put a limit on that training, the very thing that's causing our conflict could be eliminated with social interaction," Sullivan said, "The ability to read somebody's body language, the ability to talk to somebody, the ability to communicate back and forth freely."

Atchison County Sheriff Dennis Martin told the commission he was unsure of the problem they were trying to solve.

Martin said training will not have an affect on officers who do not have the personality to do this kind of work.

"I've got a deputy that teaches in one of the academies," Martin said. "He comes back and tells me about tactical communication...and their [trainees'] tactical communication is, 'stop, quit doing that, boom, here comes a taser.'"

Martin added that he was taught tactical communication techniques and strategies when he went through academy training.

He said that kind of training has increased since he was initially trained.

While the panel said it appreciated Martin's feedback, Missouri State Highway Patrol Captain Ronald Johnson said it was trying to address the concerns citizens had brought forward regarding the behavior Martin described.

"They express the same words you just said about the policemen that were in their neighborhoods, the policemen they grew up with, the policemen they knew in their small towns," Johnson said. "That's why I think some of our training has to be that real conversation. I wish those words were that easy and that everybody would take those and make us better."

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House Budget Committee members criticized Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon's plans to float bonds for a new St. Louis football stadium without legislative or voter approval.

Opposition was voiced as Administration Commissioner Doug Nelson who defended Nixon's argument that state law allows the state to enter into the debt without further legislative action.

But when asked about details of the plan, Nelson repeatedly answered "I don't know."

Those responses prompted criticism from even a member of Nixon's own Democratic Party.

"We continue to be met with a stone wall, a brick wall if you will, to our questions. It's always 'well I don't know or I don't have that information, I haven't talked to those people. I don't what they're going to do. We don't know if they're going to move. We don't know if we're going to have a football team,'" said Rep. Genise Monticello, D-St. Louis County.

"You're asking the people to foot the bill of a very expensive stadium for a lot of unknowns," Monticello concluded. 

To questions about circumventing the legislature, Nelson told the committee the General Assembly could repeal the law that authorizes the bond issue expansion by the administration or simply not appropriate funds to make payments to anyone who purchases the bonds.

A majority of the Senate has signed a statement pledging to oppose any bond issue payments without prior approval from the legislature or the voters for the bond issue.

But during the House committee hearing, there was an argument for a new stadium voiced from a lawmaker on the other side of the state.

"To under-estimate the economic impact of a major sports major sports franchise, in my opinion, is just short sighted," said Rep. John Rizzo, D-Kansas City.

"You're telling me that 800,000 people that came to the Kansas City Royals World Series parade would have spent the money downtown no matter what?"

The House committee hearing was held on the same day reports emerged that Nixon had held a closed-door meeting with the owner of the St. Louis Rams, Stan Kroenke.

House Budget Chair Tom Flanigan, R-Carthage, and Senate Appropriations Chair Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia

Social Services Department Director Brian Kinkade

Missouri's Social Services Department director was questioned about plans for Syrian refugees by a joint session of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the House Budget Committee.

In response to a question from a Democratic House committee member, Brian Kinkade said he did not know of any threat by Syrian refugees.

But Republicans on the committee expressed doubts about security..

In response to a question from Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, Kinkade acknowledged he was not aware that three Bosnian immigrants had been charged with federal terrorism crimes in St. Louis earlier this year.

Much of the questioning focused on services the state offers to refugees and the costs.

So far this year, 29 refugees from Syria have located in Missouri, all in St. Louis.

A total of 275 refugee families are receiving federally-funded state services in the current budget year that end's next July.

Kinkade said the state has received nearly $5 million for services that include job training, assistance in obtaining citizenship, health care, and education assistance for children.

Despite the partisan disagreement about the potential danger of accepting Syrian refugees into Missouri, there was agreement about the need to increase funding for security.

Schaefer told Kincade that was the real question for the two committees.

"Are there areas that money should be appropriated to make sure Missourians are being kept safe in light of the current situation that's going on, which is not only an issue for the state of Missouri. It's an issue nationally," Schaefer said.

Shortly before the hearing, House Democrats issued a statement proposing a $36 million security plan:

• $1.5 million to fund Highway Patrol verification of refugee screenings
• $3 million to the Highway Patrol for intelligence information collection and distribution
• $2 million to assess state and local vulnerabilities
• $6 million for information technology security enhancements
• $2 million to partner with "infrastructure providers" to share and coordinate information
• $1.5 million to ensure cyberspace safety for children
• $10 million for cybersecurity grants to local governments
• $10 million for training grants to local law enforcement agencies

Twelve St. Louis County communities filed suit to block a law that lowers the limit how much of a city's budget can be financed by municipal court fines.

The lawsuit was filed in Cole County Circuit Court on Thursday, November 19.

It charges that the limits passed by the legislature are unfair because they impose a lower limit for towns in St. Louis County than for the rest of the state. 

Current law imposes a 30 percent limit on how much of a city's budget can be financed by traffic fines.

Under the measure, which will take effect in January, no more than 12.5 percent of the budget of a city in St. Louis County could be financed by municipal traffic fines.

The limit for towns in the rest of the state will be 20 percent. 

"If they had made it 20 percent, like every other county in the state, the other 113 counties, we would not be complaining about that aspect of the bill," said the David Pittinksy, a Philadelphia, Pa. lawyer hired by the cities to represent them in the case.

However, the lawsuit also complains that in addition to cutting city revenues from traffic fines, the new law also imposes additional requirements on municipal courts such as annual audits and additional financial reports.

The lawsuit argues that the law "has imposed staggering unconstitutional unfunded mandates on the St. Louis County municipalities" that will amount to tens of thousands of dollars in costs for the cities. 

The sponsor of the bill imposing the new limits issued a stern attack on the city officials challenging the new law.

"This is a lawsuit against the people and especially the poor and disenfranchised. And what makes it even more stunning is that it's filed by bureaucrats with taxpayer money, I might add, who have turned on the very people they were elected to represent," said Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-St. Louis County.

The limit on how much of a city budget can be financed by traffic fines is termed the "Macks Creek Law" in reference to a now-dissolved central-Missouri community that had gained a national reputation for a speed trap that generated fines that financed most of the town's budget.

Within two years after the initial limits, then 45 percent of a city's budget, were passed in 1995, Macks Creek went bankrupt.

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The 19-year-old student who was arrested after posting anonymous threats targeting African-American students and staff at MU has been released on bond, but confined to his parent's home.

Hunter M. Park, who is a student at the University of Missouri's Rolla campus, was tracked down by police after using the anonymous messaging application Yik-Yak to threaten black students and staff.

Park was arrested in his dormitory room in Rolla and taken to Boone County for processing.

Park's bond was set at $10,000 to give him the opportunity to return to his parent's home in Lake St. Louis.

The court ordered that Park must stay in his home while wearing a GPS tracking device, begin psychiatric treatment and is prohibited from accessing the Internet.

Senators throughout the state are asking for Gov. Jay Nixon to suspend accepting Syrian refugees into Missouri and state agencies have little information on the matter.

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education communications coordinator Sarah Potter said they have not received any information regarding Syrian refugees.

Potter said there is a standard process already in place for all refugees that includes the School Impact program.

The program funds impacted school districts so they can provide activities to school-age refugees. These activities include English as a Second Language instruction, parental involvement programs, and after-school tutorials.

Department of Public Safety communications director Mike O'Connell also had no information regarding refugees.

O'Connell said that if state agencies had information or plans regarding refugees, it is not something they would report to the Department of Public Safety.

The Department of Social Services has also not responded for comment regarding its plans for assisting Syrian refugees.

This is the second day members of the Governor's administration have not responded to questions concerning their comment.

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Attorney General Chris Koster issued a statement urging the federal government to re-evaluate how refugees will be screen.

But like Gov. Jay Nixon, he did not call for the federal government to stop plans for acceptance of refugees nor that the state refuse to accept Syrian refugees.

The issue initially was raised by Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder who wrote the governor Monday to urge state agencies suspend resettlement of Syrian refugees in Missouri until there are assurance from the federal government that terrorists would not be able to masquerade as refugees.

Just a few hours later, Nixon effectively rejected Kinder's call for stopping any state cooperation. In his statement, noted that screening of refugees is a responsibility of the federal government.

Four hours after Nixon's statement, Koster issued his statement that urged the federal government "to ensure we are preventing terrorists from entering our country."

But like Nixon, Koster did not call for any restrictions from state government in facilitating Syrian refugees into the state.

Eighteen Missouri GOP Senators issued a statement calling on Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon to oppose any federal effort to send refugees from Syria into Missouri.

"We call upon our governor to do his duty and protect the safety and well-being of the citizens of the Show-Me State by opposing this misguided plan," Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard, R-Joplin, was quoted as saying in the Senate GOP statement.

"We cannot allow poorly vetted individuals to come to our state without an in-depth screening process."

The Senate Republican statement came more than four hours after a similar call was issued by GOP Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder.

Like Kinder, the Senate GOP statement calls for a delay of acceptance of Syrian refugees until the federal government can provide assurance of security.

Jay Nixon's administration has not responded to questions as to plans or discussions there have been with the federal government concerning location of Syrian refugees into Missouri.

Instead, the governor's office issue a two-sentence written statement from the governor that "the screening process for refugees is the responsibility of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security."

In his written statement, Nixon added "I call on our federal partners to implement the strongest possible safeguards to protect our state and nation."

There was no response to an emailed request to the governor's communications director for an interview.

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder sent a letter to Missouri's governor urging Jay Nixon to refuse Syrian refugees being located to Missouri "until the federal government ensures a proper vetting is in place."

Kinder urged Nixon to join the growing number of other states whose governors have sought to delay any resettlement in the aftermath of the Paris terrorist attacks.

"I think it is time for state leaders to stand up and say this must be done and push back, we're seeing it across the country," Kinder said in response to a growing number of state governors who voiced concerns or opposition to moving Syrian refugees in their states.

Shortly after Kinder's letter, Gov. Jay Nixon issued a written statement that refugee screening was a federal issue. "I call on our federal partners to implement the strongest possible safeguards to protect our state and nation."

Kinder, however, questioned whether the federal government was doing enough and said that warranted state action.

"As of today, I don't believe that the federal government can assure us that these Syrian refugees have been vetted. Is there even a functioning government there that can issue legitimate passports. Or are the terrorists, is ISIS, able to print their own passports and call them Syrian passwords? We don't know," Kinder said in an interview.

Initial reports from France indicate that one of the Paris terrorists was a refugee from Syria who used a fake passport to enter into Europe.

Nixon's office did not immediately respond to a request for an interview.

His office also did not respond to written questions as to what the state may be doing to facilitate federal resettlement efforts of Syrians into Missouri or whether there have been discussions on the issue with federal officials.