Wrapping Up the Final Weeks of Session

As we enter into the final weeks of session, the race is on to place important legislation on the governor’s desk. Every piece of legislation that comes through the Missouri General Assembly holds its own importance and impact, ranging from transportation infrastructures to agriculture-related issues. This week, the Senate placed emphasis on Missouri’s youth.

As a member of the legislative body, a retired teacher and a mother, the health and safety of our children will always remain a top priority of mine. Senate Bill 533, legislation that would require day care centers, preschools and nursery schools to notify parents, upon request, of whether there are any children attending who are not immunized, was Third Read and Finally Passed Tuesday (4-28), sending the bill to the House for consideration.

When a non-vaccinated child is brought to a daycare, by law they have to go to the county health department and get a waiver to bring to that daycare.  The problem is that while daycares are required to have people who are not immunized get waivers, they are not required to tell parents who have children under the age of one that there are children in the daycare who are not immunized.  As most know, children under the age of one are too young to be vaccinated for diseases such as: measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox. 

It is only fair that families with children more prone to illness should know if another child at daycare is not vaccinated so that they do not send their child to the same daycare.  As a teacher, I dealt with this same issue when certain children had to stay home because of an illness at school.  It was very dangerous for their welfare, and this bill is designed to keep parents of these young children informed.

Another bill designed to protect Missouri’s children was Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed this week. Wednesday (4-29), the Senate gave its final approval on House Bill 531, sending it to the governor for his signature. This measure, if signed, will require liquid nicotine products (commonly used in vapor devices) to be sold in child-safe packaging in accordance with the child-resistant effectiveness standards. It will also impose a $250 fine for a first time offense of anyone selling these products that are not in compliance with the law. A $500 fine will be administered for all subsequent violations.

Children are very curious and prone to placing things in their mouths, especially children under the age of six. Ingesting something harmful to a child can happen in a split second. With many of these liquid nicotine products being made to taste like candy and their bottles containing bright flashy colors, young children are drawn to them. It is important we include child-safe packaging in order to protect our children from these types of situations so that accidental nicotine poisoning becomes a lesser threat to Missouri’s youth.

Last week I discussed Noranda Aluminum’s request for reduced electric rates and the pending decision of the Public Service Commission (PSC). I was disappointed to see the PSC grant the rate reduction for Noranda on Wednesday, which will lead to higher rates for most of Ameren Missouri customers in order to compensate lost revenue.

Noranda is currently paying a rate of almost $43 per megawatt, but after strong-arming the PSC with threats of a 200 plus worker layoff and moving their business to another state, they will soon receive a 25 percent reduction amounting to $36 per megawatt. It is an unfair practice to shift the burden of the lost revenue onto the majority of Ameren customers, thousands of which are on fixed incomes and could end up with further financial burdens due to the forced increase.

As an elected official, it is our responsibility to protect the interest of Missourians, especially those in the 10th Senatorial District. It is my firm belief that decisions affecting so many Missourians should not be made without a vote by Missouri’s elected officials or a public vote. The well-being of all Missourians is always of great importance to me and will continue to be throughout my time in the Senate.