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.

As bills make their way to the full Senate from their respective committees, each measure receives thorough debate, especially those that have the potential to impact large populations of our state. Once such measure, Senate Bill 518, would extend the MO HealthNet Managed Care program statewide by Jan. 1, 2015, for all eligibility groups that are currently enrolled in a managed care plan as of Jan. 1, 2014. Currently, Mo HealthNet Managed Care is in 54 Missouri counties located in the eastern, central and western regions of the state, and serves as the statewide medical assistance program for low-income families, pregnant women, and children.

The bill would require the Missouri Department of Social Services to develop a transitional Medicaid payment plan in order to continue and preserve payments that are consistent with current Medicaid levels for community mental health centers. This action would allow private insurance companies to offer managed-care Medicaid policies that include incentives for Missourians to take a path toward a healthy lifestyle. While at the same time, Senate Bill 518 would provide incentives to providers that hold down costs for health care services.

This proposed change in our state's Medicaid program is in response to one of the recommendations made by members of the Senate Interim Committee on Medicaid Transformation and Reform, which used the time between our last and current legislative sessions to reform MO HealthNet by improving its efficiency, financial stability and delivery of care.

Although this measure does not answer the Senate Minority Caucus' call to expand coverage of our state's Medicaid program for lower-income adults, as provided by the federal Affordable Care Act, it does take a step closer to providing health care to those who need it by updating our state's MO HealthNet program through the adoption of managed care policies for parents and children on a statewide level.

Another measure relating to the health care of our state's citizens was considered by the Senate this week. Senate Bill 639 addresses those Missourians who receive screenings for breast cancer by requiring facilities that perform mammograms to provide additional information to patients if their mammogram demonstrates they have dense breast tissue. This information would let patients know that dense breast tissue could hide abnormalities and they might benefit from supplemental screenings.

Each year, according to the American Cancer Society, more than 200,000 women in our country are diagnosed with breast cancer. Early detection is crucial in fighting and beating this disease, and with this legislation, our state's citizens would be able to address potential medical issues when time is of the essence. Senate Bill 639 was passed by the Senate this week and sent to the House for its consideration.

Members of the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee held a hearing on legislation I filed this session that changes provisions relating to lead abatement and renovation licensing and training in our state, allowing the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to implement a renovation program authorized by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Although lead is a naturally occurring element and has some beneficial uses, it can be toxic to people and animals. Lead can be found in the air, soil, water and even our homes. This element and its compounds in the past were used in a wide variety of products found in and around our homes, including paint, ceramics, pipes, batteries, ammunition and cosmetics.

Federal and state regulations have helped reduce and even eliminate the amount of lead in household products. However, there might be items and building materials in homes across our state that still contain this element, so when getting rid of items that contain lead or renovating buildings that contain this harmful element, we need to take necessary precautions.

One part of Senate Bill 678 would require a licensed firm conducting a lead abatement project to provide an occupant protection plan to those living within a house or building letting them know that information regarding potential lead hazards is available on the DHSS's website. The timeframe for contractors to notify DHSS of a lead abatement and renovation project would change from 10 to five days.

The bill also authorizes DHSS to conduct training audits and compliance inspections of various renovation firms and training providers, in addition to allowing the department to train and issue licenses to those specified professionals related to lead abatement and renovations. In order to provide protections for our state's citizens, no one would be allowed to conduct renovations in target housing or facilities in which children live without having a licensed renovator on each site.

According to the EPA, lead can affect almost every organ and system in your body, and children six years old and younger are most susceptible to the effects of this element. Even low levels of lead in the blood of these children can result in behavior and learning problems, lower IQ and hyperactivity, slowed growth, hearing problems, and anemia. Pregnant women also are at risk to lead exposure, which can result in serious effects to the mother and her developing baby, including reduced growth of the unborn baby and premature birth.

By bringing awareness to these harmful effects, I'm hopeful my bill will move swiftly through the legislative process so it can further protect Missourians who might be exposed to this element through either abatement or renovation of buildings that contain lead.

Legislation I'm sponsoring this year would expand the eligibility requirements in our state for food stamp assistance. Senate Bill 680, pursuant to the option granted under the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996, would allow an individual who has a possession or use of a controlled substance felony conviction to be eligible for food stamp benefits.

This person would have to successfully participate in, be accepted for treatment or on a waiting list for, or satisfactorily complete a substance abuse treatment program; be determined by a division-certified treatment provider to not need substance abuse treatment; or comply with all obligations imposed by the court, Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse and the Division of Probation and Parole. In addition, those falling under these provisions would have to meet all other factors for food stamp eligibility.

This legislation is identical to bills I have filed in previous years to expand requirements for food stamp assistance. By allowing those working to get back on the right path, we can help recipients make this move and once again become productive citizens of our society. My bill was heard in the Senate Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Committee and awaits action by the committee before it can be considered by the full Senate.

As citizens start to tackle their state and federal taxes this year, I would like to share some tax filing tips provided by the Missouri Department of Revenue:

• File electronically, also known as "E-filing," to avoid errors. Many citizens qualify for free electronic filing through the Federal Free File Alliance - http://www.freefile.irs.gov.
• Even if you decide to not "E-file," you can still save time and reduce errors by using electronic forms, which can be printed and mailed. These forms include 2-D barcodes that help speed up the processing of your forms after they are mailed into the department. Those who use 2-D barcode forms are also given the option to direct deposit their refund. You can find these electronic forms online at http://dor.mo.gov/form. Remember: If you're using a public computer, such as in a library, do not save drafts of your confidential returns. These computers have open access to everyone.
• Officials at the Department of Revenue are available to answer your questions about filing tax returns - you can view a list of frequently asked questions online at www.dor.mo.gov, call in your questions by dialing (573) 751-3505, or email the department at income@dor.mo.gov. As always, all citizens are welcome to ask questions in person. There are tax assistance centers located in seven cities throughout our state, including one right here in Kansas City: 615 E. 13th St., Rm. 127, Kansas City, MO 64106 (map). Regarding business or income taxes, please call (816) 889-2944 or email kctax@dor.mo.gov.
  

To many, our pets are our family. And during these cold winter months — with many of these months containing days with negative zero-degree temperatures — we need to make sure our "family members" are well taken care of by protecting them against extreme temperatures.

Your pets' ears, tails and paws can develop frostbite quickly, so limit their time outdoors as much as possible. Towel or blow-dry your pets when you bring them indoors if they are wet from the rain or snow. To help keep pets warm, many use space heaters. However, these need to be kept out of reach of your pets, because they can end up causing severe burns.

Adequate shelter is required by law, so if you have dogs that live outside, they must have well-insulated and draft-free houses. The opening of their house should face the south and have a sturdy cover that prevents ice and wind from getting inside, and the floor should be lined with straw, not hay. If you have cats, they should be kept inside at all times.

Wintertime also brings out chemicals used to combat the cold, but can be deadly to your pets. Pets are attracted to the sweetness of antifreeze and rock salt, but if ingested, is lethally poisonous. If your pet comes in contact with these products, contact your vet immediately.

Make sure you provide your pets with fresh food and water. During these winter months, pets need extra energy to regulate their body temperatures. So if they are spending time outdoors on these cold days, make sure they have plenty of food. And remember, snow is never a substitute for fresh water.

The City reminds residents that if proper steps are not taken to take care of pets during these cold days, Animal Control will impound pets found outside and citations will be issued to the owners. Residents may report animals that are left outdoors by calling the City's 311 Call Center or dialing (816) 513-1313. The center is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; non-emergency police can be reached at (816) 234-5111 to report pets left outside after-hours.

I urge citizens in the Kansas City area to attend an upcoming local public hearing regarding a natural gas rate case filed by Missouri Gas Energy, a division of Laclede Gas Company (MGE). The hearing will be held on Feb. 26, 2014, at 1 p.m. at the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center Auditorium (3700) Blue Parkway.

Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) staff will be present to provide information and answer questions. Sworn statements will also follow the hearing.

On Sept. 16, 2013, MGE filed a natural gas rate case with the PSC seeking a general rate increase of approximately $23.4 million. MGE serves approximately 500,000 natural gas customers throughout our state.

This rate case has the potential of impacting hundreds of thousands of Missourians across our state. Citizens need to be informed of any potential increase in their natural gas rates, especially when families throughout Missouri budget every dollar on basic necessities.

Individuals wishing to attend and/or participate in the hearing should call the PSC hotline at 1-800-392-4211 or Relay Missouri at *711 before the hearing.

For more information regarding this upcoming hearing, please contact Mr. Kevin Kelly at the PSC: (573) 751-9300.