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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A Missouri Senate panel had endorsed a new funding source for a program that serves developmentally disabled children.

A Senate health committee amended a bill Monday to create a $55 million state fund from general revenues to be used for services to the disabled and low-income seniors.

The bill is intended to ensure there is no drop in funding for the First Steps program for disabled preschoolers, nor for several other initiatives.

Last week, the Legislature voted to fund First Steps and those other initiatives with revenues from the repeal of a tax break for low-income seniors and disabled people who live in rental housing. But Gov. Jay Nixon has said he is likely to veto that tax-credit repeal if it is not part of a broad-based tax credit overhaul.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Missouri House has approved legislation creating a test program designed to help children spend more time with their incarcerated parents.

The program would provide transportation for children and their caretaker who live more than 50 miles away from their parent's prison for visits.

Two Missouri men's prisons and two women's prisons would be selected for the program's trial. Prisoners convicted of offenses where the victim was a child or were found guilty of child abuse would be excluded. The Department of Corrections would have to submit a final report to lawmakers on the program's effectiveness in 2017.

The measure is sponsored by Democratic Rep. Penny Hubbard, of St. Louis. The House voted 140-6 Thursday to send the measure to the Senate.