JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri senators are returning to the state Capitol building as they continue working through a special legislative session focused on state economic development.

Senators were meeting Monday, and Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer of Dexter says the Senate plans to ask House members for a formal negotiating session over the economic development legislation.

The state House is not scheduled to meet Monday.

The Senate also plans to consider legislation abolishing state’s presidential primary election, currently set for February 2012. The primary remains on the books but lost much of its significance when the Missouri Republican Party decided to pick national convention delegates through a caucus process. 

Special session measures awaiting the governor’s signature include SB1 sponsored by Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield. If approved, the measure would revise provisions addressing school employee-student communication in SB 54, also known as the Amy Hestir Student Protection Act, which was passed during the 2011 regular session. Under the bill, school districts would be required to submit a written policy regarding student-employee communication by March 1, 2012.

Each district must include its stance on the use of electronic media and the Internet, with the goal of preventing improper communications between students and public school employees.

Cunningham’s bill would take effect 90 days after the governor’s signature.

Another measure passed by the General Assembly is SB7, also sponsored by Mayer. This bill would establish the Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act, also known as MOSIRA. The legislation is designed to attract high-tech science and innovation companies to Missouri.

As with SB 1, SB 7 would take effect 90 days after the governor issues his stamp of approval. However, the bill states that it would take effect only after the passage of SB 8, also sponsored by Sen. Mayer.