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Sen. LeVota's 2014 Bills to Improve Missouri

Sen. LeVota Leads Medicaid Expansion Debate

Senate Education Committee Holds Hearing on Sen. LeVota's School Transfer Legislation

Honor and Remember Flag Flown at Capitol

Local Town Hall Meetings
Senator LeVota Introduces Bills to Improve Missouri

This session, Sen. Paul LeVota, D-Independence, has introduced a variety of legislation to stand up for the people of Missouri.  The different bills range from large measures that can help working people throughout Missouri to modest proposals that deal with specific needs in the 11th Senatorial District.
Shown above, Sen. Paul LeVota speaks on the Senate floor during the 2014 legislative session.

“I believe that it is crucial to introduce legislation focused on improving the lives of Missourians,” said LeVota. “It is my hope that we can make some progress toward a better state this session.”

The final day to file legislation in the Senate for the 2014 session is Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014.  Senator LeVota has introduced the following bills:

  • Senate Bill 624 modifies provisions relating to school accreditation and student transfers;
  • Senate Bill 626 allows local school boards to adopt a year-round educational program;
  • Senate Bill 627 establishes campaign contribution limits;
  • Senate Bill 636 increases the $2 surcharge for criminal cases in cities or counties with domestic violence shelters to $4;
  • Senate Bill 644 modifies the time period for fiscal notes to analyze proposed legislation;
  • Senate Bill 645 modifies laws relating to the number of professional boards that an executive director can serve on and who can request licensee information;
  • Senate Bill 646 moves sections of law known as the "Animal Care Act" and "Canine Cruelty Prevention Act" to the Occupations and Professions Chapter;
  • Senate Bill 648 transfers the Real Estate Appraisers Commission from the Division of Professional Registration to the Division of Finance;
  • Senate Bill 661 provides for the expansion of MO HealthNet services beginning on January 1, 2015;
  • Senate Bill 665 creates crimes related to counterfeit, fake, diluted, or black market drugs;
  • Senate Bill 685 creates procedures for an adopted person to obtain a copy of an original birth certificate;
  • Senate Bill 686 modifies the minimum wage laws;
  • Senate Bill 687 authorizes an earned income tax credit;
  • Senate Bill 688 requires health carriers to file their premium rates and accompanying information with the Department of Insurance for approval;
  • Senate Bill 751 modifies the law relating to election authorities and central polling places;
  • Senate Bill 752 provides that appointed officers shall only hold office until their term ends;
  • Senate Bill 780 allows constitutional charter cities that have 100,000 or more inhabitants to enact certain types of ordinances;
  • Senate Bill 781 modifies the law relating to election authorities;
  • Senate Bill 806 eliminates the deduction for federal income tax liability and raises the personal exemption from $2,100 to $21,100;
  • Senate Bill 807 expands the list of criminal offenses eligible for expungement and specifies that courts close petitions and hearings for expungements of certain suspended sentences;
  • Senate Bill 813 modifies the membership and functions of the Ethics Commission and imposes campaign contribution limits;
  • Senate Bill 848 requires the Department of Higher Education to establish a reimbursement procedure through the A+ Program for a student's portion of fees for dual enrollment courses;
  • Senate Bill 876 relates to the designation of the Len Dawson bridge; and
  • Senate Concurrent Resolution 24 encourages the State Board of Education to take certain actions to address struggling school districts.

 
Senator LeVota Leads Medicaid Expansion Debate

Senator LeVota made headlines this month when he proposed an amendment to expand Medicaid eligibility to roughly 300,000 uninsured, lower-income adults in Missouri during floor debate on Senate Bill 518.  The amendment was defeated by the Missouri Senate 23-9 along party lines.

"It's the easiest and simplest way to improve our health care in our state and improve our economy," said LeVota. "This isn't a crazy idea. This is an idea whose time has come."

Approximately half of U.S. states have expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, which offers participating states federal payments covering the full enrollment costs of newly eligible participants from 2014 to 2016.

Despite the estimated $1.7 billion Missouri could receive from the federal government in 2015, opponents argue that Missouri cannot afford it.
Senate Education Committee Holds Hearing on Sen. LeVota's School Transfer Legislation

The Senate Education Committee held a hearing this month on Senate Bill 624, legislation sponsored by Sen. LeVota to address problems associated with the state’s school transfer law. The issue is one of the most urgent facing the Legislature this year and among Sen. LeVota’s top priorities for the 2014 session.

The measure would prohibit the State Board of Education from making decisions regarding a school’s accreditation unless all congressional districts in the state are represented on the board.

It would also set limits on the number of students from unaccredited districts' schools that receiving districts would have to accept while still allowing for an appeal process to the State Board of Education, among other provisions.

“One of our most important duties as legislators is ensuring that every child in Missouri, regardless of where they live, has a fair shot at a life of opportunity, and we do that through supporting education. And yet right now, there are thousands of students whose futures are in jeopardy because of a lack of comprehensive action on the school transfer issue,” said LeVota. “We have to make this our No. 1 priority. My legislation is by no means the entire solution, but it takes very strong steps toward fixing a problem that is having dire consequences on the families of our state.”
Shown above, Sen. Paul LeVota listens to testimony at a Senate committee hearing during the 2014 legislative session.

During the hearing, witnesses testified that the bill would go far in protecting accredited school districts from accepting more students than they can accommodate. However, the legislation also prevents a district from being classified unaccredited if the constituents in the congressional district of the schools aren’t represented on the Board of Education.

The school transfer law, which was upheld by the Missouri Supreme Court last year, allows students from unaccredited districts to transfer into adjacent accredited districts. Last year, the law caused chaos in St. Louis, home to two unaccredited districts.

Many are now calling on the Legislature to find a solution to the issue before it affects both of Missouri’s major metropolitan areas.

However, Sen. LeVota says he sees the problem as a statewide issue, not a regional one.

“The school transfer law is a huge problem, but it’s also just a symptom of a deeper one:  The lack of commitment on the part of some lawmakers to put education in this state before politics,” said LeVota. “It’s time for action. The people of Missouri are looking to us, their elected officials, for a solution. We have to do everything in our power to find one. The school transfer issue is bankrupting our schools and tearing our neighborhoods apart. Let’s make sure we’re upholding our duty to the children of our state and get this done.”

Senate Bill 624 contains an emergency clause. If approved, it would go into effect upon receiving the governor’s signature. The bill requires a final vote from the committee before it can advance to the floor of the Senate for debate.

Honor and Remember Flag Raised at Capitol as Part of Sen. LeVota’s Ongoing Efforts to Recognize Veterans

The Honor and Remember flag was raised for the first time on the Missouri Capitol grounds this month. The noteworthy occasion is a result of legislation filed and handled by Sen. LeVota during the 2013 session.
Shown above, the Honor and Remember flag was raised at the Missouri Capitol for the first time on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014.

LeVota led the effort last year to allow the memorial flag to be flown at state buildings and parks in recognition of American service members who have died in combat.

“As a state, and as citizens, we have a duty to recognize our military members’ sacrifices, and to acknowledge the costs they paid in defense of home and country,” said LeVota. “This flag represents our unwavering gratitude to the brave men and women who gave their lives to preserve the democracy we’ve built, and a humble reminder of the sometimes high price of freedom.”

The Honor and Remember flag memorializes the sacrifice of American services members who have died while serving their country. The emblem was created by the parents of a soldier who lost his life while serving in Fallujah, Iraq.

“I was honored and humbled to support the measure,” said LeVota. “But the real credit goes to the veterans and military families who testified on the importance of this bill, and worked tirelessly to see their fallen brothers and sisters in arms recognized. They have my deepest thanks.”
Local Town Hall Meetings

Senator LeVota will host a town hall meeting at Truman High School in Independence, 3301 S. Noland Rd., at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27. He will discuss with constituents recent developments in the Capitol and answer questions from the public.

A similar event will be held on Thursday, March 27, at 7:00 p.m., at William Chrisman High School, 1223 N. Noland Rd., in Independence. All members of the public are invited to attend.

Senator Paul LeVota
State Capitol Building, Rm. 421
(573) 751-3074
Paul.LeVota@senate.mo.gov