JEFFERSON CITY —Early education legislation and a measure asking the state to do a one-time study of the costs of the death penalty sponsored by Sen. Joe Keaveny, D-St. Louis, were heard before committees today. Senate Bill 538 and Senate Bill 539, were heard by the Senate Education Committee and Senate Bill 753 was heard by the Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Committee.

SB 753 would require the auditor to make a one-time report on the costs of administering the death penalty in Missouri. The measure would implement the first comprehensive attempt in the state to determine the cost of applying the death penalty, compared to sentencing individuals to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Sen. Keaveny has fought for this issue in prior legislative sessions, and adds that, considering Missouri’s limited budgetary resources, taxpayers need to know how their hard-earned tax dollars are spent.

“The death penalty is the most serious sentence one can enforce, and we should understand all the aspects of this punishment, from its effectiveness in our criminal justice system, to how it affects Missourians’ pocketbooks,” Sen. Keaveny said. “No formal studies regarding the cost of the death penalty have been conducted in Missouri, and it’s time we educate ourselves on this significant matter.”

SB 538 and SB 539 were heard by the Senate Education Committee. These two pieces of legislation are similar. SB 538 allows school districts and charter schools to receive state aid for children ages 3 through 5 years old who are eligible for free and reduced lunch and are participating in the district's or charter school's pre-kindergarten program. SB 539 would allow school districts and charter schools to receive state aid for children ages 3 through 5 years old participating in the district's or charter school's pre-kindergarten program. The legislation would become effective in the school year after the academic year in which the foundation formula is fully funded and would remain in effect in any succeeding year.

“By investing in our children’s education at an early age, our kids are more likely to retain the knowledge they gain as young students and go on to have successful school years and rewarding careers,” Sen. Keaveny said. “It is vital that we support children’s education at all ages, especially when they are just beginning their educational careers.”

Early childhood education has many benefits for children, adults, and our state as a whole. Early childhood education benefits include:

• Identifying special needs early and saving the state money with early intervention

• More kids in school means more cases of abuse identified by teachers.

• Missouri will spend less money retaining students who are already in school.

• In 2013, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education reported that 19,208 students repeated grades.

For more information regarding this or any legislation filed by Sen. Keaveny, contact his Capitol office at (573) 751-3599 or visit his Missouri Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov/keaveny.