HCSHJR142--MEDICALMARIJUANAFUNDSDISBURSEMENT
SPONSOR: Chipman
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPasswithHCS"bytheStanding
CommitteeonVeteransbyavoteof13to0.
ThefollowingisasummaryoftheHouseCommitteeSubstitutefor
HJR142.
Currently,fundsoftheMissouriVeterans'HealthandCareFund
underArticleXIVoftheMissouriConstitutionstandappropriated
withoutfurtherlegislativeaction.Uponvoterapproval,this
proposedConstitutional amendmentwouldsubjectdisbursementsof
suchfundstoappropriationbytheGeneralAssembly.
Further,thisConstitutional amendmentprovidesthatuseofsuch
fundsshallbeexpandedtoprovidedisbursementsforconstruction
ofadditionalveteranshomesandsuicideprevention.
Thefollowingisasummaryofthepublictestimonyfromthe
committeehearing. Thetestimonywasbasedontheintroduced
versionofthebill.
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthisresolutiongivesthe
legislatureoversightofthemedicalmarijuanaprogrambyproviding
thelegislaturetheabilitytoappropriate. Currently,thereisno
appropriationrequiredinthefundingmechanismofthemedical
marijuanaprogramandthelegislatureshouldhavetheoversight
functioninordertoensurefundsarespentappropriately.
Additionally,theresolutionexpandswhatrevenuecominginasa
resultofthemedicalmarijuanaprogramcanbeusedfor,including
constructionofadditionalveteranshomesandsuicideprevention
services.
TestifyingforthebillwasRepresentative Chipman.
OPPONENTS: Thosewhoopposethebillsubmitedonlinetestimony
TestifyingagainstthebillwasArnieDienoff.
OTHERS:Otherstestifyingonthebillsaythatwhilethefunds
fromtheprogramarenotrequiredtobeappropriatedfromthe
GeneralAssembly,howthefundsarespentispresentedtothe
legislatureannually. Additionally,theMissouriDepartmentof
HealthandSeniorServiceshavebeengoodstewardsoftherevenue
generatedbythemedicalmarijuanaprogram. Itwasalsostated
thatcoststoadministertheprogramhavefluctuatedconsidering startingtheprogramwasexpensive.
TestifyingonthebillwereLyndallFraker,MissouriDepartmentof
HealthandSeniorServicesandAmyMoore,DepartmentofHealthand
SeniorServices.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonycanbefoundunderTestimonyonthebillpageon
theHousewebsite.