Register to Vote

August Ballot Measures

Sponsored Legislation Signed by Governor

Guidance for Missourians in Wake of Storms

Section 8 Voucher, Waiting List Open in
St. Louis City

Free Fishing Event in Forest Park

Annual Back-to-School Health Fair to be Held

Department of Insurance Services Available Online

Actions Taken at June Department of Conservation Commission Meeting

Today, Wednesday, July 9, is the the deadline to register to vote in the Aug. 5 election. Eligible Missouri citizens can register online (www.sos.mo.gov/elections), or at their local election authority and still be able to vote in the Aug. 5 primary election. Mail-in registration must be postmarked by the end of the business day, while online registration must by completed by 5 p.m.

The August primaries will decide each party's nominees for office in legislative and congressional seats. One of those nominees will then be chosen as the new office holder in the Nov. 4 general election. Just one statewide position, state auditor, is on the ballot this year. Deadline to register to vote in the November election is Oct. 8.

Voting is one of the most important privileges we have in our country, and I urge you to make your voice heard regarding state government at the primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 5. You can view a sample ballot by visiting www.stlelections.com.

Visit www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2012ballot to learn more about what will be on the ballot this year. You can also click here to learn more about voting in Missouri, including how to vote and how you can become a poll worker.

Legislation I sponsored was signed by the governor in late June. Senate Bill 500, in relation to trusts, will become effective Aug. 28.

I worked on this very beneficial legislation with The Missouri Bar’s Trust and Probate Committee. This measure will make it easier for people navigating legal trusts for themselves or families.

This measure contains three trust provisions, including:

• Joint ownership with a right of survivorship into a qualified spousal trust;

• When an irrevocable trust contains a no-contest clause, an interested person may still file a petition with a court for a ruling on whether a particular claim for relief would trigger forfeiture; and

• A provision in a trust instrument requiring mediation or arbitration is enforceable.

On July 9, the governor signed House Bill 1689, sponsored by Rep. Kathryn Swan, R- Cape Girardeau. This legislation that contains language found in Senate Bill 538, which I sponsored to expand access to early childhood education.

Senate Bill 538 allows a school district to receive state funding for students between the ages of 3 and 5 who are eligible for free and reduced-price lunch.

The final version of the legislation:

• Requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to update local effort calculations based upon boundary changes;
  
  
• Updates the Free and Reduced-Price Lunch pupil count to meet federal guidelines;
  
  
• Allows DESE to prorate payments based upon appropriations and prohibits reductions to non-formula districts; and
  
  
• Gives priority to unaccredited districts, then provisionally rated districts and finally to all districts regarding state funding for pre-K education.

This legislation will also take effect on Aug. 28. 2014.

Following sever storms across the state earlier this week, the Missouri Department of Insurance wants to remind Missourians with property damage from these storms to contact their insurance agent or company as soon as possible.

Policyholders who have questions or concerns about their insurance coverage should contact the Insurance Consumer Hotline at 1-800-726-7390 or visit www.insurance.mo.gov.

John M. Huff, director of the department, said Missourians impacted by these, or any storms, should never delay in contacting their insurance company or agent if they suffer damage. Those with damage are encouraged to make temporary repairs to prevent further damage.

The Department of Insurance offers these tips for consumers affected by the storms:

• Contact your insurance agent or your company’s toll-free claims number as soon as possible.
  
  
• If you have lost the contact information for your insurance company, the Department of Insurance may be able to help you locate it. Contact the department at www.insurance.mo.gov or by calling 1-800-726-7390.
  
  
• Make temporary repairs to prevent further damage. For example, a hole in the roof should be covered by a tarp or other materials to keep out rain. The same goes for a broken car window. Otherwise, further damage will likely not be covered by your insurance policy. Keep the receipts for materials you buy so you can be reimbursed.
  
  
• Don’t make permanent repairs until your insurance company has inspected the damage. If you do, the company may not reimburse you.
  
  
• Once your claim is processed, get estimates from contractors or auto repair shops known to you or recommended by someone you trust.
  
  
• If you believe your insurance company has not handled your claim properly, file a complaint. The department will determine whether your insurance company has followed Missouri law when processing the claim.
  
  
• Don't let contractors inspect your property if you’re not watching. Some unscrupulous companies will cause damage to drive up the repair cost, and your insurance company will likely not cover the additional cost.
  
  
• Don't pay the whole repair bill in advance. Pay in full only when the work is completed according to the agreement.
  
  
• Business owners can refer to the “Small Business Insurance” Web page, which offers information on commercial property, business interruption insurance and more.

In 2007, when the Section 8 Housing Voucher System was opened for the last time, more than 8,000 people were added to the list. Police had to be called because of the large crowd at the sign-up location. Now, six years later, that list has been completed and the housing authority estimates that as many as 10,000 people will be placed on the list this time. About 6,000 people were placed on a waiting list in 2010 when they were chosen out of a lottery of 30,000 applicants.

Section 8 requires recipients pay 30 percent of their income toward rent, the rest of the rent is paid by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) directly to the landlord. HUD funds the program and the local housing authorities manage it.

Online pre-applications for vouchers are encouraged to be submitted before the 8 a.m., July 14, sign-up date.

Pre-applications must be submitted online at www.slha.org. Applicants will receive a confirmation number after submitting the application. There is no wait and applications are accepted 24 hours a day during the time the waiting list is open.

There are a variety of free events for children and families. Click here to read the Missouri Department of Conservation's Conservation Connections newsletter.

Discover Nature - Fishing Lesson 1: Equipment, Casting and Proper Fish Handling

Location: Forest Park: Old Fish Hatchery
Date: Thursday, July 10, from 6 to 8:00 p.m.

Lesson 1: Equipment, Casting and Proper Fish Handling combines instruction with hands-on fishing to teach young anglers and families basic fishing techniques and skills. Those participating will learn how to properly and safely cast a spincast fishing pole, parts of a fishing pole, how to fasten basic fishing tackle and how to properly handle and release a fish.

Participants are limited to those 7–15 years old and their families.

Fishing equipment, instructors/coaches and bait/lures will be provided. Adults who do not wish to fish must accompany the youth participants at all times. For reservations, call (636) 441-4554.

For more information, go to www.mdc.mo.gov/node/27175.

The Missouri Department of Conservation's Forest Park office is located in the lower level of the Dennis and Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center in Forest Park. Click here for directions and more information.

There will be health screenings, free school supplies and attendance prizes at the annual Back-to-School Health Fair.

Annual Back-to-School Health Fair
July 26
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
The People’s Health Center
5701 Delmar Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63112

The Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration (DIFP) is responsible for consumer protection through the regulation of financial industries and professionals.

The Department of Insurance announced Missourians can now print licenses and educational transcripts on demand through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) online State Based Systems (SBS).

The department partnered with the NAIC and the National Insurance Producers Registry (NIPR) to offer the self-service tools. As part of the initiative, that started July 1, the department will no longer mail licenses to producers, business entity producers and other licensees. This online functionality will save time because individuals will no longer have to wait for their license to be mailed to them by the department.

For more information about SBS and licensing, visit http://insurance.mo.gov/agents/.