Dear Friends:

In an effort to keep you informed about the activities at your State Capitol and how those activities might impact your lives, I am offering a regular electronic newsletter. I will send you information about bills making their way through the legislative process, especially bills that directly impact the lives of Kansas Citians. I welcome your feedback and encourage you to contact my office with any questions or concerns you may have.

Thank you.

The Second Regular Session of the 97th General Assembly is now here. Much of our focus this session will be on finding ways to address our state's student transfer issue, which is already affecting the education system in areas of St. Louis and will start to cause major problems for Kansas City next year when students begin to leave their unaccredited school district and transfer to a nearby accredited school. Serious discussion must occur on behalf of the thousands of children who will be affected by our actions here in Jefferson City. Numerous measures have already been filed in the Senate pertaining to student transfers and school accreditation, which will be among the first topics we debate in the upper chamber this year.

We must address expanding Medicaid, also known as Mo HealthNet, for the 300,000 Missouri citizens who can benefit from federal law that provides money intended for health care to states that raise their Medicaid eligibility. Twenty-five other states have already expanded their Medicaid programs. Based on the overwhelming testimony presented to the Missouri Senate Interim Committee on Medicaid Transformation and Reform, our state has a responsibility to its citizens to expand Medicaid, which would go along with it moral, economic, budgetary and societal benefits. We must make sure Medicaid is expanded to those Missouri citizens with incomes up to 138 percent of Federal Poverty Level without delay; that's $32,499 a year for a family of four. My minority party colleagues who served on the interim committee submitted their own "Minority Report," which includes information and proposed recommendations in order to reform Medicaid by improving system efficiency, financial stability and delivery of care.

Another issue at the top of our agenda for 2014 is revising our state's criminal code. The last time the General Assembly made a major overhaul to the code was in the 1970s. The Legislature agrees now is the time to address our state's laws that pertain to those who commit serious crimes, including sex offenders, intoxication- and drug-related offenses, elder and vulnerable person abuse, repeat offenders, the death penalty, as well as creating new felony and misdemeanor classes. Despite the numerous provisions and sheer size of the legislation, we're hopeful this bill reaches the legislative finish line this year.

I have filed several bills this session, some of which are identical to measures I filed in 2013.

• Senate Bill 676 - Changes the notice requirement that a new owner must give to a tenant following a foreclosure sale of their residence from 10 to 90 business days before they are required to leave their home.
• Senate Bill 677 - Establishes the "Contract for Deed Act," which regulates certain contracts for the sales of residential real estate.
• Senate Bill 678 - Modifies provisions relating to lead abatement and renovation licensing and training, allowing the Department of Health and Senior Services to implement a renovation program authorized by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• Senate Bill 679 - Changes state law that addresses parental support for the educational expenses of a child, which may include room, board, dues, tuition and living expenses during the school year.
• Senate Bill 680 - Modifies the eligibility requirements for certain individuals who have a felony conviction under federal or state law involving possession or use of a controlled substance to be eligible for food stamp benefits.
• Senate Bill 681 - Requires the Missouri State Board of Probation and Parole to review the case history and prison record of offenders who are incarcerated and serving a sentence of more than 15 years who have no prior felony convictions, have served at least 15 years, and have exhausted all state and federal appeals.
• Senate Bill 682 - Allows a court to suspend the imposition of an adult criminal sentence for juvenile offenders.
• Senate Bill 683 - Creates the crimes of assault of an employee of a mass transit system while performing their job, including those working for public bus and light rail companies.
• Senate Joint Resolution 40 - If approved by voters, this constitutional amendment would authorize the creation of Show-Me Small Business Districts, discrete tax-free or reduced-tax geographic districts designed to promote small business development to further economic growth.
• Senate Joint Resolution 41 - Another constitutional amendment that would go before voters sets out to increase the amount of time for repaying Missouri's Budget Reserve Fund when money is appropriated due to a disaster or the governor reduces the state's expenditures.

As my measures make their way through the legislative process, I will provide you updates on these and other important pieces of legislation.

I was recently appointed to serve on the Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Committee. This important panel, which is only found in the upper chamber of the Missouri Legislature, considers all individuals who have been appointed by the governor to serve on a state board or commission. We have more than 200 boards and commissions on which Missourians serve. These individuals help influence critical decisions that guide our state and give advice to the governor, the General Assembly and state agencies on matters that impact the daily lives of those who live in Missouri. Citizens in these positions serve a vital and active role in their state government. Part of my role on the committee is to consider new appointments the governor has made to these boards and commissions before they are confirmed as board or commission members by the full Senate.

You can read more about my sponsored legislation, view a list of important constituent services, or learn more about my work at the State Capitol through my media links by visiting www.senate.mo.gov/curls.