Serving in the Missouri General Assembly since 2007
Legislative Column for the Week of April 24, 2017

Senator Curls' Biography
Senator Shalonn "Kiki" Curls, a Democrat, represents part of Jackson County (District 9) in the Missouri Senate. After serving in the Missouri House since 2007, she won a special election to the Missouri Senate in February 2011. Senator Curls won re-election to the Senate in 2012 and again in 2016. <<more

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

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.

For more information on how the ACA can benefit you, please click here or visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website at www.hhs.gov.

To sign up for health insurance coverage, please click here or visit the Insurance Marketplace website at www.healthcare.gov

If you or someone you know are at-risk of suicide, there is help available, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or the website www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Legislative News

This week, the Missouri Senate approved the state’s $27.8 billion spending plan for Fiscal Year 2018, which begins July 1. Passing an on-time and balanced budget is the single greatest responsibility my colleagues and I undertake each year.

The biggest highlight of this year’s budget is that state lawmakers have approved full funding of Missouri’s Foundation Formula for the first time since it was passed by the Legislature in 2005. The formula determines the amount of basic funding each school district receives. It was created as a means of ensuring every school district in the state receives the necessary funding to provide an adequate education for their students — regardless of whether they live in a small community or large, urban or rural area. Unfortunately, a variety of circumstances have prevented the Legislature from being able to fully fund the formula, resulting in numerous problems over the years.

The Senate’s decision to fully fund the formula came down to a floor vote on an amendment, which was ultimately approved by an almost equal number of Democratic and Republican senators. The strong bipartisan support is proof of how important fully funding K-12 public school education is and how much desire there was to bring this historic moment to fruition. With a fully funded Foundation Formula, Missouri school districts are set to receive nearly $3.4 billion in basic aid for FY 2018.

Other education budget highlights include a $2 million increase in general revenue funding for virtual education, as well as a $12 million increase for early childhood special education. The Access MO Scholarship program will receive $76.5 million, while Bright Flight will see an increase of $4 million.

In addition, the FY 2018 budget includes: $62 million for State Road Fund Projects for 2017-2021; $5.3 million for the Missouri Job Development Program; $2 million each for the Nursing Education Incentive Program and for re-entry and recidivism programs; and $10 million for Opioid Crisis Grand funding. The budget also restores a 1.5 percent provider rate cut from the Senior Services Protection Fund.

Now that the Senate has approved the budget bills, the House and Senate will form conference committees to reconcile any differences between the two chambers’ budgets. Once a final budget has been agreed upon, it will be sent to the governor for his consideration. Lawmakers have until 6 p.m., Friday, May 5, to send the FY 2018 budget to the governor.

In local news, the Legislature has passed a resolution approving funding for the construction of a new Conservatory of Music and Dance on the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus. Including furnishings and equipment, the projected cost is $96 million. Of that, the state has agreed to pay 50 percent, or $48 million, on or before July 1, 2020, by revenue bonds, which will be secured by a pledge of future appropriations. The remaining costs will be funded by contributions, donations, grants and 30 other funds provided by the Curators of the University of Missouri.

In committee news, I presented Senate Concurrent Resolution 17 to the Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee on Tuesday morning. This resolution urges a commitment to equal rights for people with cognitive disabilities, so they may more easily access and utilize technology and information. An estimated 28 million people in the United States live with a cognitive disability such as an intellectual disability; severe, persistent mental illness; brain injury; stroke or neurodegenerative disorder like Alzheimer's disease.

Access to comprehensible information and usable communication technologies is necessary for all people in our society — particularly for people with cognitive disabilities — to promote self-determination and to fully experience life. Furthermore, these individuals are entitled to inclusion in our democratic society under federal laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Bill of Rights Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Act and more, as well as under state and local laws. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people with cognitive disabilities have limited or no access to comprehensible information and usable communication technologies.

Enhanced public and private funding is urgently required to allow people with cognitive disabilities to utilize technology and access information as a natural consequence of their rights to inclusion in our society. By ensuring access to technology and information for the 28 million men, women and children living with cognitive disabilities, we will also create new markets and employment opportunities.

Finally, on Thursday, I was pleased to introduce to the Senate Richard Tush, Fred Hartwell and Pat Ertz, all of Raytown.

It continues to be an honor serving the men, women and children of Missouri’s 9th Senate District. As we move forward through session, please know I value your input, and I invite you to visit my Capitol office if you are ever in Jefferson City.

For a complete list of all Sen. Curls' sponsored legislation and committee assignments, please click here or visit her official Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov/mem09/.

Sen. Curls’ Sponsored Legislation for 2017

Bill Number

Description

Status

Senate Bill 25

Allows the Kansas City Police Department chief of police to appoint a lieutenant colonel to be responsible for homeland security matters.

Passed by the Senate; hearing conducted in the House Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee.

Senate Bill 26

Allows Kansas City to employ airport police officers.

Hearing conducted in the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Senate Bill 27

Modifies residential property receivership.

Referred to Senate Small Business and Industry Committee.

Senate Bill 92

Creates a new tax credit for first time purchasers of homes in a blighted area that will be used for owner occupancy.

Referred to Senate Economic Development Committee.

Senate Bill 93

Modifies the length of terms of office for certain members of the Kansas City Public School board of directors to ensure terms are staggered.

Passed by the Senate – Consent; passed by the House Elections and Elected Officials Committee.

Senate Bill 94

Changes the notice requirement to a tenant living in a foreclosed property from ten days to ninety days.

Referred to Senate Small Business and Industry Committee.

Senate Bill 135

Repeals provisions regarding nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings and requires all foreclosure proceedings to be handled judicially.

Referred to Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.

Senate Bill 136

Allows a charter county to submit to voters a proposal for a $5 user fee on instruments recorded with the Recorder of Deeds for an assistance program for homeless persons.

Hearing conducted in the Senate Local Government and Elections Committee.

Senate Bill 137

Specifies that Kansas City may require the registration of certain properties.

Referred to Senate Local Government and Elections Committee.

Senate Bill 298

Modifies nuisance action procedures for deteriorated properties in certain cities and counties.

Passed by the Senate Small Business and Industry Committee.

Senate Bill 299

Allows certain people to enter abandoned property to secure it, remove trash and graffiti, and maintain the grounds, and provides immunity from civil and criminal liability.

Passed by the Senate - Consent; hearing conducted in the House General Laws Committee.

Senate Bill 365

Modifies provisions requiring LLC's owning rental or unoccupied property in Kansas City to list a property manager with the city clerk.

Hearing conducted in the Senate Local Government and Elections Committee.

Senate Bill 373

Establishes the Missouri Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.

Passed by the Senate; hearing scheduled in the House Agriculture Policy Committee.

Senate Bill 387

Modifies provisions of law relating to long-term care certificates of need.

Referred to Senate Health and Pensions Committee.

Senate Bill 388

Allows the Missouri Dental Board to create and issue dental faculty permits.

Hearing conducted in the Senate Professional Registration Committee.

Senate Bill 436

Provides a process for the Parole Board to review the case histories of offenders serving more than 25 years in prison and recommend clemency or allow release on parole.

Referred to Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.

Senate Bill 487

Designates each month of April as “Parliamentary Law Month.”

Hearing scheduled in the Senate General Laws Committee.

Senate Bill 540

Establishes notice procedures for potential adverse action against a State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts licensee who is delinquent on state taxes or has failed to file state income tax returns in the last three years.

Referred to the Senate Professional Registration Committee.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 17

Urges a commitment to equal rights for people with cognitive disabilities to access technology and information.

Hearing conducted in the Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 23

Designates each month of April as "Parliamentary Law Month."

Referred to the Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee.

Senate Joint Resolution 18

Requires certain statewide elected officials, members of the General Assembly, and judges to receive cost-of-living adjustments if such adjustments are provided to all state employees.

Referred to the Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee.

 

 

 

 

Senate Website | Current Media | Sponsored Bills


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