It's crunch time for the governor to sign bills.
Last week he signed several pieces of legislation designed to make life better for Missourians. SB 635 requires the Department of Education to develop guidelines for the screening of students for dyslexia. The same bill requires 30 minutes of training in hands-only CPR and Heimlich maneuvers prior to graduation. HB 1583 modifies the definition of bullying and requires school districts to include additional components in their anti-bullying policies.
HB 1877 strengthens protections against child abuse and neglect. It helps to ensure that individuals convicted of child abuse are reported properly to the Central Registry and that victims are seen by appropriate medical professionals. It also adds child pornography to the list of crimes that require placement on the registry and requires child abuse investigations of children three and under to include an evaluation by a Forensic Examination-Child Abuse Resource and Education provider. Additionally, it creates the Missouri Task Force on the Prevention of Infant Abuse and Neglect, requires Children's Division Investigators to receive four hours of training on medical forensics yearly, allows foster parents to make reasonable decisions regarding their foster children's extracurricular activities, and gives more clarity to the courts when determining when a child over 18 is allowed to return to foster care.
I carried HB 2355, which creates within the Office of the State Court Administration the Missouri Juvenile Justice Advisory Board the means to provide recommendations for best practices within the juvenile court system and juvenile officer standards. If you think maybe we are spending too much time working on child abuse issues, 102,100 Missouri children suffered from abuse or neglect in 2014 according to statistics from Children's Division. These numbers are not growing smaller; they are increasing! We've got a lot of work to do.
SB 997 dealing with higher education issues was also signed last week. Among other things, this allows any two-year college to offer course options to high school students. A process is developed which will certify a Higher Education institution as a dual credit provider. The act even provides a scholarship opportunity for qualifying students to be reimbursed for up to 50 percent of the tuition costs. The bill establishes a concurrent enrollment program where students may be enrolled in a two- and four-year institution at the same time to streamline the path to degree completion. It also establishes a financial aid benefit to wartime veterans' survivors. We are serious about providing better opportunities for our high school and college students.
Thursday, I had the pleasure of meeting with the New-Mac CASA group. Tamera Boyt, the Program Director, assembled Board Members and volunteers for a question-and-answer session. I explained the purpose of our Joint Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect and asked them for input on how we should direct our efforts next session. We all agreed that there is a need for more volunteers and a pressing need for more foster homes in our southwest area. One great suggestion that I promised to follow up on was to work on a way to speed up referrals to the CASA office when a child is removed from the home. Enabling electronic filing of reports was another project they recommended. I don't think I have ever met with a group that wanted to help kids more than the New-Mac CASA. I invited anyone who wished to attend our Committee hearings to come and participate.
My hat's off to MoDot! Highway 59 is open! The contractor has done a great job of getting it open well ahead of schedule. It sure didn't come any too soon. The traffic on H was fierce at times, and I know the campgrounds will be sighing in relief to be able to move their campers and canoes quicker and safer.
Please keep an eye out for your older neighbors during this extreme hot weather. Every time there is a heat wave like this, there is a tragedy involving seniors. It only takes a minute to make a call or drop by and check on them, and it could be a life-saving gesture.
I'm off to Jefferson City this week for a Committee Hearing. I'm also anxious to see how the Capitol Building repairs are coming along. I'll let you know next time.
Until then, I am and remain in your service.
-- State Rep. Bill Lant may be reached by calling 417-437-8223 or 573-751-9801, or emailing [email protected]. Opinions are those of the author.
Community on 06/23/2016