Every Day Numbers for the 14th District
CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES
Division of Child Support Enforcement
(314) 264-7700
Jewish Family and Children's Services
(314) 993-1000
NAACP - St. Louis County Branch
(314) 389-1552
St. Louis County Human Services
(314) 615-4453
Youth Emergency Services
(314) 727-6294
CONSUMER PROTECTION
Consumer Credit Counseling Services
(314) 647-9004
Consumer
Credit Reports
1-877-322-8228
Missouri Consumer Protection Hotline
1-800-392-8222
Missouri Dept. of Insurance Consumer Information
1-800-726-7390
CRISIS HOTLINES
The Women's Safe House
(314) 772-4535
Youth Emergency Service Hotline
(314) 727-6294
St. Louis Housing Resource Center
(Homeless Hotline)
(314) 802-5444
Life Crisis Services, Inc. (for Adults)
(24-Hour)
(314) 647-4357
Elderly Abuse Hotline
1-800-392-0210
Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline
(24-Hours)
1-800-392-3738
Alcohol Drug Interventions & Drug Treatment Referrals
1-888-762-3750
Trevor Lifeline
(For at-risk LGBT youth: 24-Hours)
1-866-488-7386
HEALTH-RELATED SERVICES
Alzheimer's Association
1-800-272-3900
Birth & Death Records
(314) 615-1720
HIGHER EDUCATION
Missouri School for the Blind
(314) 776-4320
Paraquad, Inc.
(314) 289-4200
HOUSING
Beyond Housing
(314) 533-0600
Housing Authority -
St. Louis County
(314) 428-3200
Home Improvement Grants (North County)
(314) 615-8232
PREGNANCY COUNSELING
Abortion Alternatives
(314) 962-5300
Planned Parenthood & Reproductive Health Services of St. Louis
(314) 531-7526
SENIOR CITIZEN SERVICES
Missouri Rx Program
1-800-375-1406
Long-Term Care Information - Ombudsman
(314) 918-8222
Older Adult Community Action Program
(314) 993-5181
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (Elderly Law Unit)
(314) 534-4200
TOUR THE CAPITAL CITY
State Capitol Tours
(573) 751-2854
TRANSPORTATION
Call-A-Ride
(314) 652-3617
VETERANS BENEFITS
American Red Cross Blood Services
(314) 658-2000
Missouri Veterans Commission
(573) 751-3779
St. Louis County Office of Veterans' Services
(314) 552-9890
VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS
Big Brothers
Big Sisters
(314) 361-5900
Foster Grandparents
(314) 961-8000
ext. 370
Newsletter
May 7, 2015
Friends & Neighbors,
If you would like to learn more about the issues addressed in this newsletter or would like to discuss any matter involving state government, please contact my Capitol office.
Thank you,
Maria Chappelle-Nadal
14th District
(573) 751-4106
On Tuesday, HB 42 – the student transfer bill – was passed by the Missouri legislature, and now proceeds to the Governor’s desk. This bill is the product of two years of careful development, and is a long-awaited remedy to the disorder of the current student transfer process.
On December 1, 2013, I filed SB 516, which contained the foundation of the bill passed on Tuesday. The concepts from my SB 516 that were used to create HB 42 relate to:
School Accreditation By Building: The cornerstone of HB 42 is that individual schools will now receive their own accreditation status apart from that of the district.
Intra-district transfers as 1st option, Inter-district transfers as 2nd: Students may transfer to the best available schools closest to home. Out-of-district options become available if there are no spaces in-district.
Charter Schools: The area in which charter schools may operate is expanded.
Home Visits: Struggling schools are encouraged to adopt home visit policies.
Transient Students: Assessment data of transient students will be phased in for statewide assessment purposes.
Parent Portal: A funding system is established for parents’ access of educational information.
Student Firewall: Students who are severely behind in their education are prohibited from proceeding through the system without basic skills they need for adult life.
Ensuring Students Transfer into Quality Buildings: Only high-performing schools may accept transfer students.
Regional Education Authorities: Three regional bodies are created to coordinate transfers for their respective areas.
It has been years of work – I’m thankful to all of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle, as well as our staff. This is some of the most complicated legislation of our time, the bill is calculus in words.
The education establishment’s playbook is old, and isn’t working for students trapped in failing schools – the children deserve better. We were determined to craft a bill that gives students an opportunity to succeed elsewhere while preserving sending districts like Normandy for those who choose to stay.
African-Americans represent 79.4 percent of the students in Missouri schools with scores consistent with unaccredited status. The gerrymandering of school districts to trap these children in poor schools and neighborhoods has gone on for generations; it is a crime that offends our most basic American nature. Brown v. Board of Education held that there can be no equality in these conditions. Implied inferiority in society, the reduced security of enjoying certain rights – these are all specific violations of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. They are also present in any racially divided education system; as Chief Justice Earl Warren said, “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." We now right that wrong by tearing down the barriers, and finally giving these children a choice in what shapes their lives take.
I urge the Governor to sign this bill, and allow all Missouri children the chance to pursue opportunity.
For a full summary of the bill, click here.
On Wednesday, April 22, I presented my comprehensive sexual education bill (SB418) to the members of the Senate Education Committee. My bill is all about equipping students with the best resources and information available, so they can make responsible decisions for their sexual health. In the past, the tone of these courses has been slanted towards an emphasis on abstinence-only practices. While I have no problem with this viewpoint, that kind of imbalanced focus has consequences – key information is often left out, and students do not leave fully informed. One young lady underlined this point in her testimony, in which she shared her experiences of inconsistent messages in these courses. In one story, she asked her teacher a question related to sexual education, and the response she got was, “Google it.” Honestly.
As I explained in the hearing, the bottom line here is that, however you feel about it, many young people today are sexually active. With the medical complications and unplanned pregnancies that follow our lack of proper education on this subject, we cannot simply tell our students to look it up themselves – we have a responsibility here. Our job is to educate these students on what they need to know, not dictate their values.
My bill provides that sexual education courses take the correct approach, which is objective and fact-based. The new standards include information on available treatments for sexually-transmitted infections, contraceptives, as well as safety-related lessons such as responsible online behavior, and avoiding sexual predators. I was joined that afternoon by many supporters from various walks of life. Teens, educators, and women’s health advocates all came out to voice their support.
On Tuesday, April 21, my legislation encouraging greater familial involvement in long-term care facilities (SB 82) was heard in the House Committee on Health and Mental Health Policy. I was glad to share my own experiences supporting the need for this bill, as well as those shared with me by constituents. Fostering a community bond among the families of residents in long-term facilities is the best way to guarantee they continue to get the best care, as well as extending the joy of family to all loved ones.
The bill has since been passed out of committee, and is now up for its third reading and final passage in the House.
By now, many are familiar with the long process to confirm Loretta Lynch as Attorney General. Nominated by the President last year to succeed Eric Holder as the head of the Justice Department, she is the first African-American woman in history to serve in this role. Ms. Lynch has a long and decorated career, having worked in numerous areas of law in prominent firms, as well as previously serving as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
She is an experienced and dedicated public servant; subjected, unfortunately, to a round of manufactured controversy by Senate Republicans.
Ms. Lynch had been waiting for three months for a confirmation vote from the Senate. By that point, even GOP members were calling for an end to the stalling. Statements like this came from New York Congressman Pete King, as well as former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who described the current confirmation process as “really tremendously distorted.” The standoff causing the delay was an unrelated human trafficking bill, which was finally resolved recently in an all-too-rare window of bipartisanship. Loretta Lynch was sworn in by the Senate on April 23 – the vote was 56 Yea and 43 Nay – and am happy to see her now officially serving as the new Attorney General.
It was about time. Hopefully, the compromise that allowed her nomination to finally be considered is not just one rare window of begrudging productivity, but part of a greater pattern in cooperation between the branches of government.
 |
Plan to Fix Missouri's Student Transfer Law Goes to Governor (The Columbia Missourian)
Missouri Lawmakers Approve Limits on Municipal Courts in First Response to Ferguson (Daily Journal)
Missouri Senate green lights lower municipal ticket revenue cap (MissouriNet)
Governor weighs plan to fix Missouri's student transfer law (SF Gate)
Missouri legislature sends student transfer bill to Nixon (KRCU)
Municipal court bill nearing passage after compromise on ticket cap (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
After Senate's OK, House Mulls Missouri's 'Deadly Force Law' (Ozarks First)
Officials express shame at state of Normandy schools (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Lawmaker involved in Ferguson protests responds to critics (KMOV)
Fox Files: Missouri man faces life for marijuana use (FOX 2-STL)
Another year brings another bill to address school transfer issues to Nixon’s desk (PoliticMo)
Missouri legislature sends student transfer bill to Nixon (St. Louis Public Radio)
Missouri Senate Green Lights Lower Municipal Ticket Revenue Cap (OzarksFirst)
Senate sends bill changing Missouri's deadly force law to the House (The St. Louis American)
When should officers use deadly force? Senate bill would update law (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Senate Passes Deadly Force Revisions (KRCG-TV)
New deadly force law gets first approval in Senate (The Missouri Times)
Law clarifying deadly force gets first approval (Southeast Missouri Times)
National Guard Called Protestors ‘Enemy Forces' (KMOX)
Neto's Tucson: Setting the table for change (Arizona Daily Star)
'This is not Ferguson': Muddled mantra heard again after Freddie Gray death (The Washington Post)
House gives first approval to bill restricting police body camera footage from public (KSMU)
Conference committee appointments gives some hope for transfer fix (The Missouri Times)
State Senate to Consider School Transfer Law (KMMO)
“The Institute is lucky to count you among their greatest champions.” – Jennifer
“Thank you very much for the birthday notice. Thank you for your beautiful smile,” – Lee B.
“Thank you so much for taking some time to chat with me last week about the Senior Savings Protection Act.” – Elizabeth Z.
“Thank you, Sen. Maria, for fighting for our munis on bill 221. Chesterfield's attempts to financially starve our cities so they can prosper is so unfair and immoral. It is our money, too. I really appreciate your efforts on this. I heard about how well you and others laid out the issues in the debate last night. I am in Orlando with my sister and Dad - will return this weekend.
Thanks again!” -
Monica Huddleston
“Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal,
Bravo to you, Gina Walsh and your colleagues for your successful Filibuster last night to say aside Senate Bill 221. Tim Green said that our Senators’ efforts were heroic and I applaud you for your efforts to prevent Chesterfield and Fenton from compromising the rest of St. Louis County. Florissant is fortunate to have two fighting female Senators on our side advocating for tax distribution fairness.
Kindest Regards,” -
Mayor Tom Schneider
“I have heard you several times on a televised news station talking about how protesters should be peaceful, and how the peaceful protesters should stand against those who cause violence. Thank you for supporting a peaceful way to cause change. I completely agree with what you have said.” - A Young
On April 10, I met with clergy members from my district for a breakfast and discussion at New Horizon Christian Church. Our conversation focused on emerging issues that affect our communities, and what the direction for policy should be. It was wonderful to hear the ideas and reflections of the spiritual and community leaders of our region. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the clergy members who attended, as well as to Reverend B.T. Rice for opening his doors to us.
On Friday, I visited Tucson, Arizona, where I joined the amazing women of the YWCA to speak at their 98th Anniversary Breakfast. Our talks involved racial profiling, incarceration and poverty – all areas in which we have a lot of work to do. It was an honor to discuss these topics with these wonderful civic leaders.
Craig Lucas Appointment
Congratulations to Craig Lucas, who was appointed to the Missouri Board for Architects Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors, and Professional Landscape Architects! Mr. Lucas has demonstrated his skills in management and engineering in many building projects, which include improvements to St. Louis schools.
Road Riders at the Capitol
The most active citizen advocates that come to the state capital to testify regularly are the Road Riders. They are relentless and productive.
Intern Shout-Out
Katelyn Freund and Alex Smith have interned in my office this legislative session. They have both worked hard for the 14th Senatorial District and I am honored and pleased with their effort and success.
Library Advocacy Day
