June 12th Capitol Report

District 151 Capitol Report

June 12, 2015 

 

 

Dear 151st District Constituents,

Summer is most definitely here!  Many families are going on summer vacations or at the very least spending a lot of time outdoors.  Remember summer safety tips such as drinking plenty of water and using sun screen.  If you have elderly family members or friends, please keep an extra eye on them during this hot weather, the elderly can become dehydrated easily which sometimes leads to confusion and in severe cases death.

I have been enjoying being in district this past week.  I spent the first part of the week in Jefferson City for some meetings including my first official meeting of the Joint Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect.  We heard from the Juvenile Office.  It was very interesting to speak with these individuals and to learn more about what they do and how legislation has impacted their duties either for the good or bad.  Currently the Juvenile Office is working to rewrite their standards of practice.  I am very interested in the outcome of this as the presenters shared with us that currently there is no set standard of practice for many of their duties.  I am going to try to attend one of the Standards Review meetings as soon as I possibly can to learn more about these standards and how the General Assembly can support the adoption of a set of standards that are based on best practices.

While I was in Jefferson City for the committee meeting, I also met and spoke with several other representatives concerning legislative responsibility for oversight regarding the various departments.  Many of us do not have a full understanding of what exactly each department does and how they function as well as how the money appropriated to that department is spent.  Speaker Richardson has given permission for a task force, the State Department Accountability and Review Task Force, to be formed to answer these questions.  I am a member on this task force and will begin work with the other representatives on this task force.  We will be going into every department spending time with each learning more about their work and finding the answers to the many questions that we have.  Our goal is to be able to answer you, our constituents, in regards to any questions that you may have in how your tax money is being spent.  We want to work with each department to identify ways to use taxpayer’s dollars more effectively and efficiently.   I am looking forward to what we will be able to accomplish from this process!

I am continuing to speak with constituents regarding various issues ranging from disability, healthcare and insurances to Waters of the US federal legislation and its impact on us in Southeast Missouri to property rights and many other issues in between.  I may not always have the answer but I know that we will work together to find the answers to any issue facing you.  I and my office are still working on the Unclaimed Property List.  If you think you may have some unclaimed property, please go to www.ShowMeMoney.com.  This website as all the information there.  Just in our district, the total of Unclaimed Property is $1,059,893.27.  That is a lot of property! It is taking us awhile to get through this list but we will work on it until we have contacted as many people as we can.  Please feel free to check out the website to make sure you are not on this list!!

I am going to Washington DC this next week for a conference on Medicaid Health Policy.  I am hoping to bring back information that will allow us to make changes to our current system that will be beneficial for all Missourians.  I am looking forward to learning more about the overall Medicaid Program and how it functions currently compared to how it functioned at the beginning, how state budgets impact the functioning of it as well as discussing the current challenges facing Medicaid including reform of the system and federal subsidy programs.

If you call my cell and cannot reach me, please feel free to send me a text message or call the Jefferson City office and leave a voice message, I will be checking these throughout the week.

Until next week,
Tila

 

Sunday is Flag Day, I wanted to share a little information about the history of this day…

The History Of Flag Day

Information source:  http://www.usflag.org/flag.day.html

The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America's birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885. BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as 'Flag Birthday'. In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, Cigrand continued to enthusiastically advocate the observance of June 14 as 'Flag Birthday', or 'Flag Day'.

On June 14, 1889, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher in New York City, planned appropriate ceremonies for the children of his school, and his idea of observing Flag Day was later adopted by the State Board of Education of New York. On June 14, 1891, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day celebration, and on June 14 of the following year, the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution, celebrated Flag Day.

Following the suggestion of Colonel J Granville Leach (at the time historian of the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the Revolution), the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames of America on April 25, 1893 adopted a resolution requesting the mayor of Philadelphia and all others in authority and all private citizens to display the Flag on June 14th. Leach went on to recommend that thereafter the day be known as 'Flag Day', and on that day, school children be assembled for appropriate exercises, with each child being given a small Flag.

Two weeks later on May 8th, the Board of Managers of the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution unanimously endorsed the action of the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames. As a result of the resolution, Dr. Edward Brooks, then Superintendent of Public Schools of Philadelphia, directed that Flag Day exercises be held on June 14, 1893 in Independence Square. School children were assembled, each carrying a small Flag, and patriotic songs were sung and addresses delivered.

In 1894, the governor of New York directed that on June 14 the Flag be displayed on all public buildings. With BJ Cigrand and Leroy Van Horn as the moving spirits, the Illinois organization, known as the American Flag Day Association, was organized for the purpose of promoting the holding of Flag Day exercises. On June 14th, 1894, under the auspices of this association, the first general public school children's celebration of Flag Day in Chicago was held in Douglas, Garfield, Humboldt, Lincoln, and Washington Parks, with more than 300,000 children participating.
 

Capitol News:

On June 5th, Governor Nixon signed the reappropriation and capital improvement bills, House Bills 17, 18, and 19. These bills will provide funds to complete maintenance and repair at higher education institutions and state facilities across Missouri. Additionally, they reauthorize funds previously withheld and recently released by the governor for 50/50 projects at several campuses, as well as funds for maintaining the Capitol building and state parks. 

State Economy Continues to Grow
The latest economic indicators are in and the good news is that Missouri’s economy continues to grow at a healthy rate. For the month of May, general revenue collections increased to $649.6 million, which is up 5.7 percent compared to May of last year. In total, revenues for the current fiscal year are up by 7.5 percent when compared to 2014 – from $7.32 billion last year to $7.87 billion currently.

What this all means is that Missouri’s economy is trending in a positive direction as more folks are working and purchasing goods and services, and more Missouri businesses are benefiting from this activity. However, even with the current good news, economists are predicting slower growth at the end of the third quarter of 2015 for states in the Midwest. An economist from Creighton University has said states that rely heavily on energy or agriculture will see a pullback in economic activity. As a state largely dependent on its robust agriculture industry, Missouri will continue to see economic growth in the months to come, but likely at a slower rate than it has seen so far this year.

Legislation of Interest Awaiting the Governor’s Signature

Money Follows the Person Program (HB 343)
A bill that received final legislative approval this year will establish a committee to assess the continuation of the Money Follows the Person Demonstration Program. The program works to support both aging and disabled Missourians to transition from nursing facilities or habilitation centers to quality community settings. The committee will study sustainability of the program beyond the current demonstration time frame for all transitions to occur by September 30, 2018.

Achieving a Better Life Experience Program (SB 174)
The legislature moved this session to create the "Missouri Achieving a Better Life Experience Program” to help Missourians save for the long-term needs of a child with disabilities. Under the bill, a participant may make tax-deductible contributions to an account established for the purpose of financing the qualified disability expenses of a designated beneficiary. The bill is meant to help people with disabilities achieve economic independence and greater financial security, and help them become less reliant on other public programs, while still being able to access necessary supports and services to live independently in their own homes and communities.

Senior Savings Protection Act (SB 244)
The Senior Savings Protection Act is designed to protect older Missourians from financial exploitation. The legislation will allow financial agents to take action to prevent suspected fraudulent activity that could victimize Missouri seniors.

The bill will let a financial agent refuse to disburse funds in the event they suspect a senior or disabled adult client is being defrauded. The agent would then have time to notify the family of the client and the proper authorities. Current law does not allow a financial agent to raise concerns to anyone not named on the account.


Upcoming In-District Schedule
I will be in district Monday and Tuesday, if you want to meet with me one of these days, please give me a call and I will be glad to do so! I will be out of district from Wednesday through Saturday this week due to being in Washington DC for the Medicaid Health Policy Conference.

Announcements:
My office is continuing to review the Unclaimed Property List that we have received and are working to contact each person that is on this list! If you think you might be on the list, please call my Capitol Office at 573/751-1494.
 

If you have an event that you would like to be listed in the Capitol Report, please email me at tila.hubrecht@house.mo.gov or louie.bench@house.mo.gov.

June 5th Capitol Report

District 151 Capitol Report

 

June 5, 2015

 

 

Greetings! I hope this Capitol Report finds you and your family doing well!  I apologize for the lengthy Capitol Report this week, I have combined last week’s report into this one due to not being able to send last week’s report due to internet issues.

 

I have been very busy these past two weeks since trying to reconnect with everyone.  I have attended several meetings locally of various groups and organizations.  I have been blessed with the privilege of being able to eat or volunteer at most of our local senior centers, I will hopefully be able to be at them all again soon!

 

I have attended several policy related meetings including one in Columbia regarding healthcare data sharing.  This meeting was very informative and the discussion has actually led to much more discussion. The big question that I have from this meeting is “What type of policies do we need to have in place and how do these policies need to be worded or structured to protect a person’s right to privacy while also using the available technology to allow healthcare information to be shared when needed for healthcare purposes of the person?”.  I hope to have an answer to this question, or at least some thoughts toward an answer by the end of this year so that this question may be addressed during the next session.

 

Later this month I will be attending a meeting in Washington DC regarding Medicaid Health Policy.  I have several questions that I am preparing to ask at this meeting.  There are so many changes happening currently in healthcare and with the Supreme Court decision regarding Obamacare, I feel that we will see even more changes in our healthcare.  I hope this meeting will help to prepare me as we plan to meet the challenges ahead of us.

 

There are many issues that myself and my office are looking at regarding education.  We have been reviewing the teacher and student testing issues.  Currently I am comparing the “old” competencies with the “new”.  There have been so many changes recently but I am not sure that our teachers have been consulted.  I would like to find a way to return to more local decisions being made regarding curriculum.  I do not agree with the way the decisions are currently being made from “higher up” and then being passed down without input from our teachers and local school boards.  I will keep you posted as work continues on this.

 

I am looking forward to this next week, I will be able to attend my first meeting of the Joint Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect.  We will be hearing from the Juvenile Office regarding how this office works, scope of practice and authority.  I have many questions and hope to learn the process of how a child enters the juvenile system and exactly what a normal progression looks like as one would go through this process.  I am most interested in learning what the progression looks like from the eyes of a child and the eyes of the parent.

 

I will close for now but please feel free to call my office or my cell number if I can be of service to you!

 

Until next week,

Tila

 

 

Capitol News:

 

Listed below is a summary of the “highlights” from this session.  This summary was created by the House Communications Department and I felt it was a very good summary to share with everyone.

 

2015 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS

 

AGRICULTURE

Dairy Revitalization Act (HB 259)

The governor signed into law legislation designed to give a much-needed boost to the state's struggling dairy industry. The Dairy Revitalization Act takes a three-pronged approach to support this industry that supports 23,000 jobs, either directly or indirectly.

 

The new law will create a dairy producer margin insurance premium assistance program to help dairy farmers obtain financial protection when times get tough. It also will create a scholarship program to encourage young people to pursue careers in the dairy industry. Finally, the bill will require an annual study and a corresponding plan to enhance and grow the dairy industry in Missouri.

 

Supporting Missouri's Agriculture Industry (SB 12)

A bill meant to support the state's multi-billion dollar agriculture industry was signed into law in April. The bill has several provisions including the Dairy Revitalization Act that also was contained in HB 259. In addition, the bill will allow trucks to carrier heavier loads of grains during harvest season and heavier livestock loads year-round. It also will allow the Department of Agriculture to better monitor foreign land acquisitions by requiring the department to review land sales only when buyers do not have proper tax documentation. In addition, the bill contains language to allow beef producers to vote to increase the state beef check off that is used to fund a marketing program to further promote beef and beef products; and it will protect livestock farmers from liability if someone is injured on their farm.

 

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIRS

Reauthorization for Unexpended Funds (HB 17)

This bill reauthorizes appropriations previously made by the General Assembly when the authority for the appropriations will lapse before the funds are fully expended. These projects are typically, but not always, multi-year capital construction or maintenance and repair projects. The General Assembly retains complete discretion on which projects are reauthorized.

 

Maintenance and Repair (HB 18)

This bill authorizes expenditures for maintenance and repair on state facilities. State facilities include any building or property owned by the state, not including higher education facilities, or property owned or possessed by the conservation or transportation commissions. Expenditures are authorized from a variety of state funds including the constitutionally mandated Facility Maintenance Reserve Fund pursuant to Article IV, Section 27 of the Missouri Constitution.

New Capital Improvements (HB 19)

This bill includes new capital improvement expenditures. The vast majority of these expenditures for fiscal year 2016 reflect Board of Public Buildings bonding for maintenance and repair projects at state facilities and at higher education institutions throughout the state. Debt service for the bonding is also included.

 

CHILDREN

Achieving a Better Life Experience Program (SB 174)

The legislature moved this session to create the "Missouri Achieving a Better Life Experience Program" to help Missourians save for the long-term needs of a child with disabilities. Under the bill, a participant may make tax-deductible contributions to an account established for the purpose of financing the qualified disability expenses of a designated beneficiary. The bill is meant to help people with disabilities achieve economic independence and greater financial security, and help them become less reliant on other public programs, while still being able to access necessary supports and services to live independently in their own homes and communities.

 

Protecting Children (SB 341)

Legislation takes several steps to ensure young people in Missouri are raised in safe and healthy environments. The bill will require licensed child care centers to follow current safe sleep standards recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for children under the age of one.

 

The bill also requires all public, private, and parochial day care centers, preschools, and nursery schools to notify parents or guardians, upon request, of whether there are children at the facility with an immunization exemption.

 

The legislation also gives the Children's Division of the Missouri Department of Social Services authority to take action when it receives a report of a child under 14 with problem sexual behavior exhibiting inappropriate behavior against another child. Current law allows the division to investigate only abuse allegations against adults and other teens.

 

 

 

 

CONSUMER PROTECTION

Child-Safe Packaging for Liquid Nicotine (HB 531)

The increasing popularity of e-cigarettes led the legislature to approve a bill to put new safety standards in place to protect young people from the dangers of liquid nicotine. The bill is meant to ensure child safety and prevent accidental nicotine poisoning by requiring child resistant packaging. Individuals who engage in retail sales of liquid nicotine containers in Missouri in violation of these provisions will be assessed a fine of $250 for the first violation and $500 for each subsequent violation.

 

Paper and Plastic Bags (HB 722)

The legislature took action this session to ensure Missourians will continue to have the choice of paper or plastic bags at the grocery store.  Legislation now on the governor's desk specifies that all merchants, itinerant vendors, and peddlers doing business in this state must have the option to provide customers with a paper or plastic bag for any item or good purchased. The bill also makes it clear that a political subdivision cannot impose any ban, fee, or tax upon the use of paper or plastic bags.

 

The bill also prohibits municipalities from mandating a "living wage" above the state minimum wage and other rules related to employee benefits.

 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Tax Increment Financing (HB 514)

The legislature gave final approval to a plan that will help finance a redevelopment project in Fenton. The bill allows for designated tax increment financing for the former Chrysler plant in Fenton that closed in 2007. The site will now be developed as a business park with an emphasis on light manufacturing. The redevelopment is expected to help create up to 1,500 jobs within the first two years while adding as many as 2,000 additional jobs over time.

 

Data Center Attraction (SB 149)

The state will have a new tool to attract new data storage businesses and the jobs they create to Missouri under legislation already signed into law by the governor. The bill will allow data centers to forego sales and use tax on the purchase of equipment and materials when expanding or building a new facility. To qualify, an existing facility will have to invest at least $5 million and create 5 new jobs for an expansion. A new facility will need to invest $25 million and create 10 new jobs to qualify. The new jobs will have to pay 150 percent over the county average wage.

 

 

ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

Education Reform (HB 42)

The House and Senate agreed on legislation that is meant to clarify and improve an existing state law that allows kids to transfer from poor-performing schools to better-performing ones. The bill includes a number of provisions that would allow the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to accredit individual schools within each district rather than the district as a whole. It would allow students in unaccredited schools to transfer to other accredited schools in the district as a first option, which is meant to save districts from being bankrupted by paying for a mass exodus of students to other districts. The bill also would give students in urban areas the option to transfer to neighboring accredited districts if all slots are full in the accredited schools in their district; and provide an option to transfer to an approved charter school or to enroll in a virtual education program. In addition, the bill would help ease the financial burden on sending districts by giving receiving districts an incentive to accept lower tuition reimbursement for transferring students; and protect receiving districts from being overwhelmed by transferring students by allowing them to establish policies regarding classroom size and student-teacher ratio.

 

Sexual Education and Harassment Training (HB 501)

The General Assembly gave final approval to legislation meant to ensure young people are educated regarding the potential dangers of sexual predators and the increased risks associated with the Internet. The bill requires any course materials and instruction relating to human sexuality and sexually transmitted diseases in a public or charter school to teach students about the dangers of sexual predators, including on-line predators. Pupils must be taught how to behave responsibly and remain safe on the Internet and the importance of having open communication with responsible adults and reporting any inappropriate situation, activity, or abuse.

 

HEALTH CARE

Allowing for New Model of Medical Care (HB 769)

The General Assembly approved legislation this session to pave the way for a Direct Primary Care model of health care delivery. The model has been compared to having a doctor on retainer in much the same way a client would keep an attorney on retainer.

 

In the arrangement, the patient would pay a set monthly fee and could then receive all the direct primary care they need. Under the bill, patients would be able to pay for these services with pre-tax dollars from a health savings account. In addition, employers could offer to pay these fees or reimburse their employees who choose to participate in direct primary care arrangement.

 

Treatment Coverage for Eating Disorders (SB 145)

The legislature approved a bill this session to provide assistance to Missourians with an eating disorder. The bill will require insurance companies to cover the diagnosis and medically necessary treatment of eating disorders. The bill is not a mandate on insurance, but lays out how eating disorder coverage decisions must be made.

 

Medicaid Funding (SB 210)

 

 

Legislation given final approval by the General Assembly reauthorizes a tax on medical providers that is responsible for billions of dollars in funding for the state's Medicaid program. The bill will extend the taxes on providers such as hospitals, nursing homes, and ambulances for an additional year. The reauthorization will generate approximately $3.6 billion in funding for Missouri's system of Medicaid.

 

Medical Malpractice Reform (SB 239)

Legislation already signed into law will limit the amount an individual can receive for noneconomic damages in a medical malpractice lawsuit. The bill reinstates limits similar to those that were put in place in 2005 and then struck down in 2012 by the Missouri Supreme Court. The legislation will cap most noneconomic awards at $400,000. For catastrophic injuries such as paralysis or even death, the bill will cap noneconomic damages at $700,000. The bill also includes a provision to increase the caps by 1.7 percent annually.

 

HIGHER EDUCATION

Campus Free Expression Act (SB 93)

The General Assembly approved legislation to protect free expression on the campuses of public institutions of higher education. The bill designates the outdoor areas of campuses of public institutions of higher education to be traditional public forums. Public institutions of higher education may maintain and enforce reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions in service of a significant institutional interest only when such restrictions employ clear, published content and viewpoint-neutral criteria, and provide for ample alternative means of expression.

 

A+ Schools Program Residency Requirement (SB 224)

Legislators gave final approval to legislation that would prevent illegal immigrants from receiving scholarship benefits through the state's A+ Schools Program. The bill requires a student to be a United States citizen or a permanent resident in order to receive benefits.

 

LABOR AND MANAGEMENT

Right-to-Work (HB 116)

For the first time in Missouri's history, the General Assembly passed a Right-to-Work bill to give workers the freedom to choose whether to join a union. The legislation prohibits an employer from requiring a person to become a member of a labor organization as a condition or continuation of employment. The bill is meant to make Missouri a more attractive location for new and existing job creators.

 

Unemployment Reform (HB 150)

The General Assembly approved and the House overrode the governor's veto of legislation meant to protect the state's unemployment system from insolvency in the event there is another economic downturn. The legislation is designed to make sure the state has enough money in its unemployment trust fund so that businesses don't lose a portion of a federal tax credit they normally receive. The bill requires increased payments from employers to help the state's Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund reach a balance that is capable of paying for benefits without going into debt. The bill also ties unemployment benefits to the average unemployment rate so that more benefits are available when unemployment is high. If the state were in a position of high unemployment (9 percent or higher) benefits would be available for 20 weeks. In periods of low unemployment (lower than 6 percent) benefits would be available for 13 weeks.

 

The bill still requires a successful veto override in the Senate before going into law.

 

POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS

Municipal Court Reform (SB 5)

Legislation sent to the governor's desk is designed to protect Missourians from municipalities that have used excessive traffic tickets and fines to generate revenue. The bill limits the amount of revenue municipalities can generate from traffic tickets to 20 percent, which is down from the current limit of 30 percent. The bill further limits municipalities in St. Louis County, which has been plagued by excessive traffic violations, so that only 12.5 percent of their total revenue can be derived from traffic tickets.

 

The bill also creates additional protections for Missourians by capping the total fines and court costs for minor traffic violations at $300, and ending the process of courts issuing failure to appear charges against defendants for missing court dates on minor traffic violations. The bill also would prevent courts from ordering jail time for minor traffic offenses. In addition, the bill includes provisions to ensure accountability from municipalities by requiring they meet minimum standards – police services, balanced budget, insurance, etc. – or possibly be dissolved.

 

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

Welfare Reform (SB 24)

Legislation that was enacted over the governor's veto will put the Strengthening Missouri Families Act into effect as law. The legislation will lower the lifetime benefits for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients to 45 months from the current limit of 60 months. In addition, it will add Missouri to the list of 37 other states that require welfare recipients to take immediate steps to seek employment in order to receive benefits. The legislation then takes the savings generated by the reforms and invests them in child care, education, transportation, and job training assistance for participants in the TANF program.

 

SPECIAL DAYS/WEEKS/MONTHS

Organ Donor Recognition Day (HB 88)

Legislation approved this session will designate July 3 of each year as "Organ Donor Recognition Day" and recommends people of the state to observe the day by participating in activities that will increase awareness of organ donation. The bill is meant to bring recognition to the importance of organ donation and the approximately 1,300 Missourians currently waiting for organ transplants.

 

Epilepsy Awareness Month (HB 400)

The bill designates the month of November each year as "Epilepsy Awareness Month" and encourages citizens to participate in activities and events to increase awareness of epilepsy and its related symptoms.

 

Missouri Safe Boating Week (HB 402)

The bill designates the first full week of May before Memorial Day as "Missouri Safe Boating Week" and encourages citizens to observe the week with appropriate activities and events. The designation will mirror the federal Safe Boating Week designation.

 

Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week (HB 861)

The bill designates the first full week of March each year as Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week in Missouri and encourages citizens to participate in appropriate activities and events to increase awareness of multiple sclerosis.

 

Jackie Robinson Day (HB 859)

The bill designates April 15 of each year as Jackie Robinson Day in Missouri and encourages citizens to observe the day in honor of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play major league baseball.

 

STATE CONTRACTS

Fairness for Fee Office Bids (HB 137)

The Missouri General Assembly gave final approval to legislation that would change the way the state considers businesses or groups to run local license offices. Currently, the Missouri Department of Revenue more favorably considers contract bids for these offices if the bidder promises to pay back some of the profits to the state. The policy is currently being challenged by a lawsuit filed by several license office operators. The legislation would prohibit the Commissioner of the Office of Administration from awarding points on a request for proposal for a contract license office to a bidder for a return-to-the-state provision offer.

 

TAXATION AND REVENUE

Tax Amnesty (HB 384)

The state will generate millions of dollars in additional revenue under a legislative proposal already signed into law by the governor. The bill authorizes a tax amnesty period that will allow Missourians to pay back taxes without penalty. Specifically, it will set up a period between September 1 and November 30 when delinquent taxpayers can pay off their tax debt. The bill will then require those who utilize the amnesty period to comply with all state tax laws for a period of eight years.

 

Tax Notification (SB 18)

Legislation sent to the governor's desk is meant to protect Missouri businesses from unannounced changes in state tax policy. The bill seeks to end to the process of "notification by audit" by requiring the Department of Revenue to post all tax policy changes on its website; and to notify businesses either by mail or email.

 

VETERANS AND MILITARY

Making Missouri a Purple Heart State (HB 403)

The bill designates Missouri as a "Purple Heart State" to honor the state's combat wounded veterans for their service. The bill also removes any additional fees charged for subsequent sets of Purple Heart license plates.

 

Office of Military Advocate (HB 1070)

The House and Senate worked together to pass legislation to establish the Office of Military Advocate within the Missouri Military Preparedness and Enhancement Commission for the purpose of advocating for the military in Missouri. The office must be administered by the military advocate, who will be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The advocate will serve a term of six years and the Department of Economic Development must provide administrative support and staff as needed to support the office.

 

VICTIMS RIGHTS

Crime Victim Compensation (SB 141)

Legislation approved this year will provide additional compensation to victims of crime. Current law allows the Crime Victims' Compensation fund to pay eligible victims up to $200 each week for the loss of employment and for injury or death. The bill approved by the General Assembly will increase the reimbursement amount to $400 per week.

 

Orders of Protection (SB 321)

The House and Senate took action this year to address an oversight in Missouri law that has prevented victims of rape and sexual assault from obtaining an order of protection against their assailants. Missouri's existing law regarding orders of protection has been limited to victims of domestic violence and stalking victims. The bill also expands the definition of stalking to include unwanted activity directed toward the members of the victim's household.

 

VULNERABLE PERSONS

Money Follows the Person Program (HB 343)

A bill that received final legislative approval this year will establish a committee to assess the continuation of the Money Follows the Person Demonstration Program. The program works to support both aging and disabled Missourians to transition from nursing facilities or habilitation centers to quality community settings. The committee will study sustainability of the program beyond the current demonstration time frame for all transitions to occur by September 30, 2018.

 

Human Trafficking Task Force (HCR 38)

The General Assembly approved legislation to create the Human Trafficking Task Force with the mission of raising awareness of the human trafficking problem in Missouri and providing organizations and agencies that enforce human trafficking laws and assist victims with a central place to share information. The task force is charged with reporting a summary of its activities and making any recommendations for legislation to the General Assembly by January 1, 2017.

 

Senior Savings Protection Act (SB 224)

The Senior Savings Protection Act is designed to protect older Missourians from financial exploitation. The legislation will allow financial agents to take action to prevent suspected fraudulent activity that could victimize Missouri seniors.

 

The bill will let a financial agent refuse to disburse funds in the event they suspect a senior or disabled adult client is being defrauded. The agent would then have time to notify the family of the client and the proper authorities. Current law does not allow a financial agent to raise concerns to anyone not named on the account.

Announcements:

My office is continuing to review the Unclaimed Property List that we have received and are working to contact each person that is on this list! If you think you might be on the list, please call my Capitol Office at 573/751-1494.