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| Legislative Column — Week of May 5, 2014 — |
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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.
The final version of the budget includes a $114.8 million increase for the state's K-12 school foundation formula, in addition to the $3.1 billion in basic state aid. A 5 percent increase in general revenue - $43.3 million - goes toward performance-based funding for Missouri's colleges and universities. Our state students will also benefit from increased funding for several scholarship programs, including Access Missouri ($15 million), A+ ($6.7 million) and an expansion in Bright Flight to include a loan forgiveness component ($7 million). A lot of discussion over this year's budget focused on how we are going to construct the new Fulton State Hospital, to replace the crumbling facility that opened its doors in 1851. This is the oldest public mental health facility west of the Mississippi River. The FY 2015 budget includes a 25-year bonding proposal to fund construction of this badly needed new facility responsible for treating those who are sentenced by our courts for evaluation or treatment, or who voluntarily commit themselves. The Fulton State Hospital contains four treatment units: the maximum security Biggs Forensic Center, the intermediate security Guhlerman Forensic Center, the Hearnes Forensic Center for the developmentally disabled, and the SORTS, or Sexual Offender Rehabilitation and Treatment Service program. A few weeks ago, I touted the work of the Senate Appropriations Committee for including $48 million in federal and state funding in the state's FY 2015 budget for much-needed dental care for more than 300,000 adults enrolled in Missouri's Medicaid program. This funding remains in the final budget, which will allow these individuals to receive basic dental coverage, fund increased dentists' rates and establish regional pilot programs. Coverage for dental care could begin the first of the new fiscal year, starting July 1, 2014. The budget for the 2015 fiscal year also includes $250,000 for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, voted top 50 spots for 50 states by cable news network giant CNN; $150,000 for the World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial in Kansas City to help fund day-to-day operations; $100,000 for the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District. I fought for this funding for Kansas City's top destinations for those who both visit and call our great city home.
In addition, the bill would address how students transfer from one school to another when their home school is deemed unaccredited. Numerous amendments were offered and added to Senate Bill 493 in the House after it passed through the Senate. As a member of the Senate Education Committee, it is important to serve on this legislative panel designed to iron out the differences between the House and Senate on this incredibly important bill that will affect students' futures all across our state.
Right now, murders, child molesters, and rapists are eligible for food stamp assistance. However, those who have felony convictions for possession or use of a controlled substance have a lifetime ban against receiving these benefits. I've attempted for years in the Legislature to level the field for those who receive these benefits. By allowing these individuals to get back on their feet by lifting the lifetime food stamp ban for felony drug convictions, we can help these citizens move past the stigma of being a past offender and once again become productive members of our society.
The Legislature 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. While on the floor introducing my amendment, I informed my colleagues that there are approximately 4,000 information technology (IT) jobs available in Missouri that are not filled because our graduates are not receiving the needed IT certification. However, my legislation, now a part of House Bill 1390, would allow programs developed through grants to provide instruction on skills and competencies essential for the workplace and are in high demand by employers. House Bill 1390 now goes back to the House for final passage. |
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