Over the course of 19 weeks each year, the General Assembly discusses and debates hundreds of bills on a variety of issues. Some bills are necessary to reform current laws or judgments handed down by the courts in order to make sure we remain good stewards of public money.

Senate Bill 510, which will go into effect on Aug. 28, 2014, changes the definition of “misconduct” as it relates to unemployment insurance claims. Over the last few years, Missouri courts have liberally construed the definition and application of “misconduct” when it came to awarding unemployment benefits. This has led to cases where employees fired for valid instances of misconduct still received unemployment benefits even though they were accused of offenses like repeatedly falling asleep on the job or stealing. Allowing these rightfully terminated employees into our unemployment system has contributed to the huge debt that Missouri businesses must now repay to the federal government.

Any employee who is terminated through no fault of their own should get benefits. Senate Bill 510’s definitions will help make sure only those who qualify will get financial assistance. The measure will also help keep the unemployment fund solvent and make it less likely our employers will face this burden again in the future. Last year, the Legislature passed a similar bill that was later vetoed by the governor. This year, the governor let Senate Bill 510 take affect with no action.  Under the Missouri Constitution, if the governor does not veto a bill within a set amount of time, it becomes law without his approval.

Kerry Messer is a full-time lobbyist at the Capitol who has worked on behalf of Missouri families for more than 30 years. Whether or not you agree with Kerry on every issue, his passion and integrity are well-known and respected. So it is with a heavy heart that I ask you to please pray for the Messer family. Lynn, Kerry’s wife, disappeared sometime on Monday night, before the morning of July 8, without a trace. The Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff’s Department has been conducting a massive search effort, but with no success to date. Kerry has set up a Facebook page, located here or by visiting https://www.facebook.com/findlynnmesser, to help with the search. The website includes photos and flyers that can be distributed. I ask for your help in solving this tragic mystery.

I always appreciate hearing from you. If you have any questions about the topics discussed above, or any other legislative or district issues, please do not hesitate to contact my office.