Sen. Shalonn Kiki Curls' E-Newsletter

Legislative Column
— Week of April 21, 2014 —

Dear Friends:

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

Thank you.

Senate Appropriations Committee Advances State Budget to Upper Chamber

As the ranking Democrat serving on the Senate Appropriations Committee, I've worked with my colleagues since the beginning of the 2014 legislative session to craft a state spending plan that responsibly allocates your tax dollars and provides programs and services that will benefit all Missourians throughout our state. This week, after going line by line over each funding item, the Appropriations Committee gave its approval to the budget, which now moves to the full Senate for debate.

Included in this budget is $13 million to begin the planning and design process for the construction of a new maximum and intermediate security psychiatric facility in Fulton — the only one in our state. Fulton State Hospital first opened its doors in 1851 and is the oldest state psychiatric hospital west of the Mississippi River. The hospital treats patients with serious mental illnesses who are committed by Missouri courts for evaluation and treatment related to a crime, or who have seriously assaulted patients or staff in other state psychiatric hospitals. Since 2007, Fulton State Hospital has admitted more than 1,000 patients from 99 counties throughout our state and the City of St. Louis.

My colleagues and I also voted to fully fund our state's Bright Flight Scholarship Program. The Missouri Higher Education Academic Scholarship Program, also known as Bright Flight, is a merit-based program that encourages top-ranked high school seniors to attend approved post-secondary schools in our state. Under the Senate's plan, students who take the ACT or SAT and score in the top 3 percent would receive $3,000, while those in the top 4-5 percent would receive $1,000 each year.

The Senate also included in its budget $6 million for our state to refurbish a former hospital site located in close proximity to the State Capitol. The state would take over the old hospital to relocate various state office space and allocate dedicated classroom areas for Lincoln University and Linn State Technical College.

There will be differences of opinion once the $26 billion budget hits the Senate floor regarding what priorities we should fund through various state departments. Ultimately, these differences will be worked out in a conference committee that will determine our final budget for the 2015 fiscal year, which runs July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015.

Preparing Missouri Students for
21st Century Jobs

The General Assembly acknowledges the importance of developing our future workforce in 21st Century technology. This is done by increasing the focus on preparing, attracting, training, and retaining skilled and educated citizens to work in critical areas of industries that are vital to our state's future in the competitive global market. Legislation I am sponsoring this session would expand the Missouri Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Initiative, which is committed to improving education and supporting development of industry in these STEM fields.

Senate Bill 941 was voted out of the Senate Education Committee this week, moving my bill to the full Senate for possible debate. Under this legislation, the Department of Higher Education would be required to develop a process to award grants to our state's two- and four-year colleges and universities and school districts that have entered into agreements to offer information technology certification through technical course work. Programs developed through these grants would have to provide instruction on skills and competencies essential for the workplace and are in demand by employers.

It's important we continue to promote the advancement of programs that teach students in these STEM fields and prepare them for ready-to-enter, high-demand jobs upon completion of their degree or program. The opportunity is there to give our state's citizens the knowledge and skills needed that will allow them to grow our economy and make Missouri an industry leader in cutting-edge technology and professional development.

Nominate Your Neighborhood for
Prestigious City Award

Ivanhoe Pendleton Heights

The City is calling for nominations for its KC Green Neighborhood Program, which recognizes registered neighborhoods that have worked to implement sustainable practices, including home energy efficiency improvements, farmers' markets and home farmstands, rain gardens, litter pick-up programs, curbside glass recycling and compost pickup, and community gardens and urban orchards, to name a few successful initiatives.

The KC Green Neighborhood Program is part of the KC Green Imitative and works to advance social equity, economic vitality and environmental quality by promoting sustainable practices in projects and programs across the Kansas City area.

Last year's winners included Ivanhoe, Avalon View, Pendleton Heights and Center City neighborhoods. This year's top selections, which will be honored at platinum, gold or silver levels, will receive signage for their neighborhoods, acknowledgement for their efforts in the City's publications and cable channel - KCCG-TV2, access to various sustainability workshops, and an eco-gift.

Applications will be accepted until June 2 and forms are available at www.kcmo.gov/kcgreen (click on "Neighborhood Recognition Program") or call (816) 513-3460. Winners will be announced in the fall.

For more information about the KC Green Neighborhood Recognition Program, visit www.kcmo.gov/kcgreen, email kcgreen@kcmo.org or call Colleen Doctorian at (816) 513-1377.

Purge Your Home of ABOPT:
Antifreeze, Batteries, Oil, Paint and Tires

Citizens may drop off their household hazardous waste, tires, electronics, and leaves and brush at the Robert J. Mohart Center (3200 Wayne, KCMO) on Saturday, June 7, 2014, from 8 a.m. to noon. This event is for household waste only. Proof of residency will be required for those who wish to drop off tires and leaves/brush. Space is limited. First come, first served.

For year-round disposal of household hazardous waste, the City's drop-off facility, located at the Environmental Campus at 4707 Deramus, is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Thursdays and Fridays) and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Saturdays). No appointment is required.

For more information about the June 7 drop-off event, contact Augusta Wilbon by calling (816) 392-7924. You may also contact Leigh Blumenthal at (816) 333-7870 ext. 203 or emailing leigh@bhcsmo.org.


About Sen. Curls:
Senator Shalonn "Kiki" Curls, a Democrat, represents part of Jackson County (District 9) in the Missouri Senate. She won a special election to the Missouri Senate in February 2011, and won re-election to the Senate in 2012 after having served in the Missouri House since 2007. In addition to her legislative duties, Sen. Curls works in real estate development, and currently serves as the 14th Ward Democratic Committeewoman in Kansas City. She is also a member of St. Monica's Catholic Church. Senator Curls received her education from St. Teresa's Academy in Kansas City and the University of Missouri-Columbia. Senator Curls was born on Dec. 7, 1968, in Los Angeles, and is the mother of twins, James and Michaela.

Capitol Office: 201 W. Capitol Ave. Room 434 Jefferson City, MO 65101 (573) 751-3158 District Office: 4609 Paseo Blvd. Suite 102 Kansas City, MO 64110 (816) 923-6000


Health & Safety Fair
I will be hosting another Public Health & Safety Fair on June 7, 2014, from 10 am. to 2 p.m. at the Samuel U. Rodger's Health Center, located at 825 Euclid Ave. in Kansas City. Services and events will include health screenings, car and booster seats for those who meet federal poverty income level requirements, bicycle helmets and bicycle giveaways, a mini-football camp and much more! There is NO COST to participate and I urge citizens to attend this important event.


Affordable Care Act
The federal Affordable Care Act, also known as the ACA, puts you in charge of your health care. Under this law, passed in 2010, you have the stability and flexibility you need to make informed choices about your health. Benefits of the ACA include improving quality and lowering health care costs through free preventive care, prescription discounts for seniors, protection against health care fraud, and small business tax credits; new consumer protections through the coverage of pre-existing conditions and consumer assistance with your health care decisions; and access to health care by using the health insurance marketplace. The health insurance marketplace makes buying health coverage easier and more affordable. By visiting www.healthcare.gov, you can compare health plans, get answers to your questions, find out if you are eligible for tax credits for private insurance or health programs, and enroll in a health plan that best meets your needs. For more information about the ACA, visit www.hhs.gov or call (877) 696-6775.