The Missouri Senate gave final approval this week to legislation aimed at reducing recidivism rates among our youngest offenders. Senate Bill 36 expands the eligibility of Missouri’s Dual Jurisdiction program.

For background, this program was created back in the 1990s in response to rising crime rates. Under Dual Jurisdiction, juvenile offenders under the age of 17 who have been certified as adults can remain in the custody of the Division of Youth Services. We did this for a handful of reasons. Young inmates are obviously more vulnerable in our prison system. They’re also easily influenced. Many young offenders placed in adult prisons learn from their fellow inmates, setting them up for a lifetime spent in our corrections system.

The Dual Jurisdiction program seeks to prevent this from happening by keeping these young inmates separated from adult prisoners and focusing on rehabilitative measures to put them back on the right path.

Senate Bill 36 makes two small changes to the program. It increases the age of eligibility from 17 years old to 17 and a half to account for court delays that often prevent youths from placement in Dual Jurisdiction. The bill also requires judges to consider Dual Jurisdiction as an option for juvenile offenders. It does not mandate them to place these youths in the program, it simply clarifies that the courts at least consider it.

We also gave final approval to Senate Bill 129 this week. The legislation will make it easier for doctors to volunteer their time at free clinics. Currently, physicians who wish to volunteer at a non-profit clinic must carry a separate liability insurance policy, which can costs thousands of dollars a year. This requirement prevents many doctors from volunteering their time.

Senate Bill 129, also known as the Volunteer Health Services Act, allows doctors to provide volunteer services without risk of liability, unless the physician acts with a conscious disregard for the safety of others. The legislation also limits doctors to performing acts within the scope of their license and practice.

Senate Bill 36 and Senate Bill 129 now go to the House for consideration.

Two bills I filed this session were heard in committee this week. Senate Bill 248 was heard by the Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee on Wednesday. This bill deals with an issue currently affecting citizens in our area. Neighborhood Improvement Districts (NID) are created in communities where residents wish to improve public facilities like sidewalks, parks or streetlights. The improvements are paid for by special tax assessments to property owners in the area of the project. But, these improvements can sometimes take a while to complete, and in that time, residents may sell their homes. When the new owner then purchases the home, they may not be aware a NID tax assessment has been placed against the house, or, in some instances, a lien. This bill simply makes that information more easily accessible so prospective buyers know exactly what they’re getting into.

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee also considered Senate Bill 282 this week, which increases penalties for moving violations and traffic offenses within an active emergency zone. Countless emergency responders, MoDOT workers and others have lost their lives because of careless driving. This bill is an effort to better protect those who work in emergency zones.
Both measures await approval by their respective committees.

If you have any questions or comments about this or any other matter regarding your state government, please feel free to contact me at (573) 751-1503; you are also welcome to e-mail me at jay.wasson@senate.mo.gov.