Senate Approves Measure to Protect Services for 8,000 Missourians
Bill Creates the Missouri Senior Services Protection Fund
JEFFERSON CITY— The Missouri Senate this week approved House Committee Bill 3 that provides funds to restore some services for seniors and vulnerable citizens. Senate Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin, said the funds will help provide services to about 8,000 elderly and disabled Missourians and will also restore about half of the proposed provider rate cut in the budget passed last week by the General Assembly.
“The Legislature worked long hours last week to find ways to fund critical functions of the state while still protecting our most vulnerable citizens,” said Richard. “This tough budget year has led to lots of debate and discussion, and this week the Senate approved a plan to keep certain funds for senior services intact.”
Majority Floor Leader Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, said the tough budget year posed a challenge, but it was everyone’s willingness to work together that finally helped the Senate come to a workable resolution.
“As legislators, we have a commitment to the state to approve a balanced budget by a certain deadline,” said Kehoe. “As that deadline approached, many of us still felt it was important to find a way to save services that would be cut because of a lack of funding. I applaud my colleagues for thinking out-of-the-box to find this solution.”
The measure now heads to the House for consideration. For more on this bill and others, visit www.senate.mo.gov.
Lauren Hieger, Senate Majority Caucus Communications Director
(573) 751-7266 – lauren.hieger@senate.mo.gov