After several months of hard work at the State Capitol to pass legislation to better the well-being of Missourians and their families, the Legislature wrapped up the 2013 session on Friday, May 17. Listed below are some of my top legislative priorities. Throughout this session, I aimed to help spur economic development and pay close attention to Missourians with the greatest needs, particularly citizens with autism and people who have been injured while at work.

Addressing Workers’ Compensation and the Second Injury Fund

A major issue I’ve worked tirelessly on is reforming the state’s workers’ compensation laws and fighting to sustain the currently insolvent Second Injury Fund to help countless Missourians who have been seriously injured on the job. Many people throughout our state who were hurt while at work have been awaiting their settlements from the fund and are struggling without that money. Senate Bill 1 would help bring relief to countless families, without hampering efforts of Missouri businesses to achieve success in the marketplace.

Senate Bill 1 would create a funding mechanism to bolster the Second Injury Fund. Missourians who received a claim from the fund will receive their settlements first, and liabilities would be addressed in the order in which they were adjudicated. The bill would also allow employees of sheltered workshops who sustain certain work-related injuries to access to the Second Injury Fund. These workshops employ citizens with disabilities, and I’m very dedicated to ensuring these Missourians’ good health and well-being.

My legislation would also make clear that occupational diseases are exclusively covered under workers’ compensation laws. The bill would create enhanced benefits for Missourians who have certain occupational diseases and create the Missouri Mesothelioma Risk Management Fund to pay Mesothelioma claims brought against contributing members.

Senate Bill 1 was sent to the governor for his signature. He has until July 14 to sign or veto the bill. If he takes no action, the legislation will automatically become law on its effective date (Jan. 1, 2014).

Protecting Citizens’ Private Information

As many are aware, concerns have come to light over the Missouri Department of Revenue’s new system of scanning Missourians’ personal documents when they go to obtain a driver’s or non-driver’s license. Citizens are worried about allegations that the department has shared their private information with third party entities. Missourians don’t want unjust eyes looking at their private records, and at a time when criminals are getting more skilled at stealing citizens’ personal information, the people want to avoid any possibility of getting engulfed in identity theft.

Senate Bill 252, sent to the governor, would help protect your private information by prohibiting DOR from retaining copies of source documents used to obtain driver’s and non-driver’s licenses. In addition, when the Legislature approved the budget plan for FY 2014, special attention was brought to DOR’s funding. Several services within DOR will receive eight months of full funding; the agency will receive the rest of its funding if DOR has stopped copying and retaining source documents when the General Assembly reconvenes in January.

Encouraging Economic Development in Missouri

Several job-creating bills received the Legislature’s final approval. Senate Bill 20 has already been signed by the governor and will extend certain benevolent tax credits to people who make donations to pregnancy centers, child crisis nurseries, and food pantries. Encouraging Missouri donors to personally direct their charitable dollars to local programs that strive to make a positive impact in the lives of others is not only fiscally responsible, but it eases future burdens on the state budget and will help to avoid bureaucracy and the political process. The people of our state are happy to lend a helping hand to their neighbors, and SB 20 further encourages acts of good in Missouri.

My sponsored SB 287 also received the governor’s signature. The legislation addresses Missouri’s captive insurance law. A captive insurance company allows a company or group to manage some of their own risks as part of an overall risk management strategy, and can provide for better control of risk management and opportunities to reduce costs. My bill will help businesses lower their insurance costs. Establishing sponsored captive insurance companies in Missouri creates a new business market, stimulating competition and economic growth for our state.

Passing a Balanced Budget and Providing Funding for Autism Projects

As vice chair of the Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee, I’m dedicated to ensuring financial responsibility for our state. In my position, I helped to ensure that the Senate passed a balanced budget and fought for increased funding for education to provide quality learning experiences for Missouri students.

Another aspect of the budget that was very important to me was appropriations for our state’s five Regional Autism Projects. The final budget plan sent to the governor includes an additional $1 million in general revenue funding for these programs. These projects collectively provide services for approximately 3,500 families across the state, which include behavior management training, crisis intervention, life skills, music therapy, and parent/caregiver training. As autism becomes more prevalent amongst citizens — it now affects one in 88 children and one in 54 boys — these services are vital to help provide families with support and give citizens quality therapies and services to improve their quality of life. I’m glad to see solid funding for such important programs in our state.

If you have any questions regarding the matters discussed in this legislative column, please don’t hesitate to contact my Capitol office. Thank you and God bless.