Volume 2, Issue 2 – The Week of Jan. 27, 2020
Committed to Committees
This week, I’d like to focus on some of the important work being done in the various committees I serve on in the Missouri Senate. These committees cover a wide range of topics as you’ll see below.
Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence
In the Senate’s Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, we’ve heard several bills over the past few weeks described as being “tough on crime,” including Senate Bill 538, 562 & 601. I understand the impulse behind these bills, but I believe they do little to actually address the root cause of the violent crime plaguing our communities (i.e. poverty, underemployment). Instead, these bills only end up adding to our already overcrowded prison and jail systems. There is also a concern bills like this will undo the progress we’ve made with criminal justice reforms over the past few years. We need smarter solutions that address the root causes of crime, not tougher penalties that lock people away for unnecessarily long periods of time. I’m hopeful that by working with my colleagues, we can come to a compromise on these issues.
Government Reform
This week, the Senate’s Government Reform Committee debated the issue of expanding charter schools. This is one of the most contentious issues we deal with in the General Assembly. We all want our children to receive a quality education, however we often disagree on how to achieve that goal. Some believe charter schools (publically-funded, independent schools) provide an alternative to underperforming public schools. Others, myself included, are concerned that by diverting funding away from public schools to charter schools, we fail to address the real issues facing our public schools. We must improve the existing public school structure before further draining its funding.
Seniors, Families and Children
Recently, the Senate’s Seniors, Families and Children Committee voted out three pieces of legislation which will have a positive impact on our state. Senate Bill 580 allows Missourians to create long-term savings accounts, so they can begin saving money for their future health and medical needs. We also approved Senate Bill 609, which requires any money the state receives from opioid-related settlements to be used to fund opioid addiction treatment and related health services. This is a fitting use of opioid-related settlement money. The committee approved Senate Bill 623, regarding guardian ad litems (GALs). Under this bill, GALs are court-appointed advocates working in the best interest of children who have been abused and neglected. Because of the special responsibilities of GALs, SB 623 requires them to meet face-to-face with a child within three business days after being appointed to work with them, in order to establish a relationship early in the court process. All three of these bills now head to the Senate floor for further consideration.
As the committee approves legislation, we also continue to hear new bills. This week, we heard Senate Bill 584, re-establishing the “Hand-Up” pilot program. This pilot program will provide transitional childcare benefits to certain eligible applicants who may not otherwise receive similar benefits because of income requirements. Too often, our strict income requirements for public assistance force individuals to choose between earning a slightly higher wage or receiving much needed state benefits. The Hand-Up program is meant to help families by allowing them to transition to higher wages while still receiving some childcare assistance. I think SB 584 is a positive step forward and truly has the potential to give hard-working Missouri families a hand-up.
Lastly, we debated Senate Bill 531, regarding child custody cases in committee this week. This legislation adds a rebuttable presumption that awarding 50/50 parenting time is in the best interest in the child when deciding child custody cases. A rebuttable presumption is essentially an assumption by the court that something is true, unless proven otherwise. Supporters of SB 531 argued the bill creates a level playing field for both parents in custody cases. Opponents of the bill say it treats all families the same and neglects the complexities of family life. This was a heavily debated issue in committee. If you have thoughts on this piece of legislation, I’d love to hear from you.
Thank you for your interest in the legislative process. I look forward to hearing from you on the issues that are important to you this legislative session. If there is anything my office can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (573) 751-3599.