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Legislative Column
— Week of May 5, 2014 —

Dear Friends:

In an effort to keep you informed about the activities at your State Capitol and how those activities may impact your lives, I am offering a regular electronic newsletter. This column includes information about bills making their way through the legislative process, including legislation that directly affects the citizens of Kansas City. I welcome your feedback and encourage you to contact my office with any questions or concerns you may have.

Thank you.


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Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Heads to Governor

As the ranking Democrat serving on the Senate Appropriations Committee and a lawmaker selected to serve on all the conference committees established to work out the differences between the House and Senate's budget for FY 2015, once again we were able to deliver the state's spending plan for the next fiscal year to the governor ahead of schedule. I'm proud of the increase in spending for our K-12 and higher education institutions; additional funding to strengthen Missouri's mental health system; money allocated to construct the much-needed Fulton State Hospital; and funding to restore dental benefits for prevention, restoration, maintenance, and extraction for Medicaid-eligible adults currently not receiving these services.

The final version of the budget includes a $114.8 million increase for the state's K-12 school foundation formula, in addition to the $3.1 billion in basic state aid. A 5 percent increase in general revenue - $43.3 million - goes toward performance-based funding for Missouri's colleges and universities. Our state students will also benefit from increased funding for several scholarship programs, including Access Missouri ($15 million), A+ ($6.7 million) and an expansion in Bright Flight to include a loan forgiveness component ($7 million).

A lot of discussion over this year's budget focused on how we are going to construct the new Fulton State Hospital, to replace the crumbling facility that opened its doors in 1851. This is the oldest public mental health facility west of the Mississippi River. The FY 2015 budget includes a 25-year bonding proposal to fund construction of this badly needed new facility responsible for treating those who are sentenced by our courts for evaluation or treatment, or who voluntarily commit themselves. The Fulton State Hospital contains four treatment units: the maximum security Biggs Forensic Center, the intermediate security Guhlerman Forensic Center, the Hearnes Forensic Center for the developmentally disabled, and the SORTS, or Sexual Offender Rehabilitation and Treatment Service program.

A few weeks ago, I touted the work of the Senate Appropriations Committee for including $48 million in federal and state funding in the state's FY 2015 budget for much-needed dental care for more than 300,000 adults enrolled in Missouri's Medicaid program. This funding remains in the final budget, which will allow these individuals to receive basic dental coverage, fund increased dentists' rates and establish regional pilot programs. Coverage for dental care could begin the first of the new fiscal year, starting July 1, 2014.

The budget for the 2015 fiscal year also includes $250,000 for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, voted top 50 spots for 50 states by cable news network giant CNN; $150,000 for the World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial in Kansas City to help fund day-to-day operations; $100,000 for the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District. I fought for this funding for Kansas City's top destinations for those who both visit and call our great city home.

Additional Work on Select Conference Committees

This week I was named to serve on several conference committees, including one that would change how our state assigns classification designations to individual schools throughout the state, naming them as unaccredited, provisionally accredited, accredited or accredited with distinction.

In addition, the bill would address how students transfer from one school to another when their home school is deemed unaccredited. Numerous amendments were offered and added to Senate Bill 493 in the House after it passed through the Senate. As a member of the Senate Education Committee, it is important to serve on this legislative panel designed to iron out the differences between the House and Senate on this incredibly important bill that will affect students' futures all across our state.

Food Stamp Assistance Measure Advances
in the House


Legislation I'm sponsoring this session would repeal the lifetime ban for food stamp assistance in our state for those who have a drug felony conviction. I am hopeful Senate Bill 680 crosses the legislative finish line in the last week of session. This week, it advanced in the House of Representatives and still awaits debate by the full chamber.

Right now, murders, child molesters, and rapists are eligible for food stamp assistance. However, those who have felony convictions for possession or use of a controlled substance have a lifetime ban against receiving these benefits. I've attempted for years in the Legislature to level the field for those who receive these benefits.

By allowing these individuals to get back on their feet by lifting the lifetime food stamp ban for felony drug convictions, we can help these citizens move past the stigma of being a past offender and once again become productive members of our society.

Sponsored Legislation Added to House Bill

This week I offered an amendment to House Bill 1390 that would expand the Missouri Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Initiative, which is committed to improving education and supporting development of industry in these STEM fields. This amendment is identical to my sponsored legislation, Senate Bill 941. The amendment was overwhelmingly approved in the upper chamber.

The Legislature acknowledges the importance of developing our future workforce in 21st Century
technology. This is done by increasing the focus on preparing, attracting, training, and retaining skilled and educated citizens to work in critical areas of industries that are vital to our state's future in the competitive global market.

While on the floor introducing my amendment, I informed my colleagues that there are approximately 4,000 information technology (IT) jobs available in Missouri that are not filled because our graduates are not receiving the needed IT certification. However, my legislation, now a part of House Bill 1390, would allow programs developed through grants to provide instruction on skills and competencies essential for the workplace and are in high demand by employers.

House Bill 1390 now goes back to the House for final passage.


About Sen. Curls:
Senator Shalonn "Kiki" Curls, a Democrat, represents part of Jackson County (District 9) in the Missouri Senate. She won a special election to the Missouri Senate in February 2011, and won re-election to the Senate in 2012 after having served in the Missouri House since 2007.

In addition to her legislative duties, Sen. Curls works in real estate development, and currently serves as the 14th Ward Democratic Committeewoman in Kansas City. She is also a member of St. Monica's Catholic Church.

Senator Curls received her education from St. Teresa's Academy in Kansas City and the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Senator Curls was born on Dec. 7, 1968, in Los Angeles, and is the mother of twins, James and Michaela.

Capitol Office:
201 W. Capitol Ave.
Room 434
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 751-3158

District Office:
4609 Paseo Blvd.
Suite 102
Kansas City, MO 64110
(816) 923-6000



Health & Safety Fair
I will be hosting another Public Health & Safety Fair on June 7, 2014, from 10 am. to 2 p.m. at the Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center, located at 825 Euclid Ave. in Kansas City.

Services and events will include health screenings, car and booster seats for those who meet federal poverty income level requirements, bicycle helmets and bicycle giveaways, a mini-football camp and much more!

There is NO COST to participate and I urge citizens to attend this important event.


Affordable Care Act
The federal Affordable Care Act, also known as the ACA, puts you in charge of your health care. Under this law, passed in 2010, you have the stability and flexibility you need to make informed choices about your health.

Benefits of the ACA include improving quality and lowering health care costs through free preventive care, prescription discounts for seniors, protection against health care fraud, and small business tax credits; new consumer protections through the coverage of pre-existing conditions and consumer assistance with your health care decisions; and access to health care by using the health insurance marketplace.

The health insurance marketplace makes buying health coverage easier and more affordable. By visiting www.healthcare.gov, you can compare health plans, get answers to your questions, find out if you are eligible for tax credits for private insurance or health programs, and enroll in a health plan that best meets your needs.

For more information about the ACA, visit www.hhs.gov or call (877) 696-6775.