Missouri State Victories
The following NFIB victories will make a real difference for your business.
Recent NFIB/Missouri victories:
Passed comprehensive workers' compensation legislation, helping keep premiums down
The act modifies and tightens the definition of "accident," which will help ensure these accidents are truly work-related. Previously, the employee was always given the benefit of the doubt in compensation cases. SB 1 will ensure that all cases are evaluated fairly. The bill raises the dollar limit for small, non-time loss injuries from $500 to $1,000. This means an employer can pay these claims out of pocket and it will not affect their experience modification.
Passed comprehensive tort reform, helping keep insurance costs down
This bill establishes that if a plaintiff is first injured in Missouri, the venue for all tort actions will take place in the county where the plaintiff was first injured. This legislation allows joint and several liability if a defendant is found to be 51 percent or more at fault. If they are found to be less than 51 percent at fault, they are only responsible for the percentage of the judgment assessed against them. The bill establishes caps of $350,000 for non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases. It should help to slow the ridiculously rising cost of health insurance.
Passed meaningful unemployment compensation reform
The taxable wage base will go up to $12,000 in 2008, but it cannot exceed $12,500 and could even come down depending on the trust fund balance. If you have a zero-tolerance policy in your handbook regarding use of drugs and alcohol on the job, zero will now mean zero. Absenteeism and tardiness may be considered grounds for misconduct if the discharge was the result of the employer's attendance policy and the employee was aware the policy existed.
VICTORY: NFIB/Missouri successfully fought an $18.4 million tax increase in 2002 when the legislature tried to eliminate the employer wage withholding allowance, which is designed to compensate employers for costs associated with acting as the state's "taxman" when collecting employee income taxes and garnishments.
VICTORY: Despite the successful election of a pro-small business legislature in the 2002, NFIB/Missouri will still be forced to fend off tax increase proposals intended to eliminate a $500 million budget shortfall. We will continue to fight for reduced spending and more efficient prioritization
HOT BUTTON: NFIB continues to support legislation which would give small-business owners a tax credit for those that provide health insurance for their employees.
VICTORY: NFIB helped to pass a bill last session that would eliminate the franchise tax for small business and would provide full deductibility for those companies that provide health insurance.
Historical Victory Values:
2000 - NFIB members were instrumental in helping to defeat a bill which would dramatically increase the chances of small employers being dragged into a jury trial for discrimination cases.
1999 - NFIB scored two important victories in 1999. The Governor signed a tax bill which included 100 percent deductibility for self employed business owners who purchase health insurance. The bill also eliminated the franchise tax for 19,500 of the state's smallest corporations.
1998 - NFIB supported an amendment which would prohibit municipalities from having a higher minimum wage than the state. This amendment was filed in response to selected cities around the country trying to establish their own minimum wage.
1997 - NFIB fought a proposal which would allow unemployment benefit amounts to be automatically indexed to the average weekly wage. We held true to our position of having set dollar amounts for benefits. Indexing would have meant an automatic increase each year regardless of the economic conditions.
1996 - NFIB worked to pass legislation which would require a small business cost analysis to be done on every piece of legislation introduced in the Missouri General Assembly. We believe this bill helped raise the awareness of the lawmakers when preparing legislation.
