It has been over two weeks since we finished the first session of the 96th General Assembly where there were 149 bills that passed through the process and were sent to the Governor’s desk for signing. The summary of these bills was 193 pages long. We accomplished our goal of balancing the state budget without raising taxes and there were many initiatives that will affect the lives of Missourians. However, each of us would have a different opinion on the importance of a bill and what that affect may be. I will try to outline some of these bills in the coming weeks to give a better understanding of the content and consequences.
A bill that passed during the final week of the legislative session will help not only disabled Missourians but also low-income seniors. This bill will extend the highly successful Missouri Rx Plan. This program helps bridge the gap for approximately 226,000 low-income seniors and disabled residents so they can afford their prescription medications. There was much debate on whether to fund this $20 million dollar program and I received many letters and calls from concerned seniors. Funding was maintained and the program, which was set to expire this August, will continue on until 2014.
Another piece of legislation that passed in the final moments of the 2011 legislative session will expand gun rights for Missourians. This bill will lower the age requirement to carry a concealed gun from 23 to 21. Missouri put the age requirement of 23 into effect when the original concealed carry law was implemented in 2003. According to the National Rifle Association, that requirement is the highest among states that allow residents to carry a concealed weapon. Most states have an age requirement of 21, while some allow citizens as young as 18 to carry a concealed weapon. To help ensure the safe use of these weapons, the bill also increases the training requirements for an individual seeking a concealed gun permit.
A bill that did not receive a lot of attention but one that will make a profound difference in the lives of many will overhaul Missouri’s domestic violence laws for the first time in four decades. The bill approved was based on suggestions that came from a specially created task force organized by our state attorney general’s office.
One of their most important suggestions was a change to how Missouri handles orders of protection. Under this bill, judges will have additional authority to customize the terms of protection orders based on the particular facts of the situation. The legislation also ensures people seeking a protection order will not be charged filing fees when asking courts to enforce the orders.
Another important change contained in the bill will remove an expiration date for a program created in 2007 that gives victims of sexual assault, rape, stalking and domestic violence an alternative mailing address. The purpose of the program is to prevent abusers from tracking down victims through mail or public documents. It allows victims of abuse to have mail sent to the secretary of state’s office under the alternative address and then forwarded to their home. We want to continue to provide every protection we can to these victims and this legislation will help us to do that.
If you have questions, you may reach me at my Capitol number 573-751-9465, at the local district number, 660-582-4014, by email at mike.thomson@house.mo.gov or by mail at Room 401B State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.
No comments:
Post a Comment