GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVES CYBERSECURITY PROTECTIONS FOR STUDENTS

   PROSECUTING AND CIRCUIT ATTORNEY RETIREMENT SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

In addition, Senate Bill 892, a proposal that makes changes to several public employee retirement systems was also truly agreed and finally passed. The bill aims to stabilize the public employee retirement system for prosecuting and circuit attorneys. The bill also modifies the Public School Retirement System of Kansas City; allows employees of metropolitan planning organizations to join the Local Government Employees' Retirement System; allows employees of soil and water conservation districts to join the Local Government Employees' Retirement System; and allows teachers retired from the Public School Employee Retirement System to be employed in a position covered under the Public Education Employee Retirement System without stopping retirement benefits. 

Long time public servants, who have reached the golden age of retirement, deserve to know the benefits they have earned will enable them to live comfortably as they enjoy the rest of their life with their families. The positive changes adopted in the final proposal reaffirmed Missouri’s commitment to both fiscal sustainability and retirement security.

THANK YOU

The 2018 legislative session required lawmakers to face issues that are unprecedented in the state of Missouri, but we did not let that deter us from approving legislation intended to make our state a better place for all Missourians.

I have served more than ten years in the Missouri State Legislature, however it continues to be an honor to serve my constituents in the 13th Senatorial District and across the state of Missouri. I have to admit, there is nothing more rewarding than working alongside my colleagues to pass meaningful legislation. I would like to thank you all for allowing me to stand up for the issues that matter to you, and trusting me to be a strong advocate for our community. I look forward to being back in our community and learning more about the issues you want to be discussed and debated during next year's legislative session.

The General Assembly gave final approval to the state’s $28 billion operating budget for Fiscal Year 2019.

Elementary and Secondary Education:

This year, the Legislature approved a record amount of funding for K-12 education, and for the second year in a row we fully funded the education Foundation Formula. By funding the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education at this level, we are meeting the State Adequacy Target.

For schools in North St. Louis County this means:

• Hazelwood School District will receive $65,016,369 in the upcoming state budget, an increase of $6,262,121.
• Ferguson-Florissant R-II School District will receive $38,789,994 in the upcoming state budget , an increase of $924,858.
• Jennings School District will receive in FY 2019 will receive $15,529,199 in the upcoming state budget, an increase of $295,329.
• Riverview Gardens School District will receive $35,010,651 in the upcoming state budget, an increase of $961,789.

We also increased school transportation funding by $10 million. In the past few years, transportation funding has been cut and/or withheld drastically (from about 70 percent to 17 percent of what is needed). School transportation plays an important role in the education of our children. I was proud to see my colleagues vote to allocate additional resources for our schools' transportation needs.

Higher Education:

In addition, the General Assembly agreed to restore the $68 million proposed cut to higher education recommended by the governor. In our community, St. Louis Community College could have been affected by this cut. Instead, the college will receive $44,683,289 in the upcoming budget. I am proud that we were able to reach a reasonable compromise in order to ensure Missouri has an educated, well-trained workforce.

Senior Services:

I am happy to say that after all of the hard work and long hours spent trying to address proposed cuts to vital programs for our senior citizens, provider rates for in-home health care will receive an increase in funding for Medicaid patients living in nursing homes. Additionally, the approve budget increases funding for the daily reimbursement rate.

Other provider rate increases include mental health, dental care and primary care providers. These budget increases show our commitment to the elderly and most vulnerable citizens in Missouri.

Public Safety:

Our veterans have sacrificed and served our country, and I believe it is important for them to have access to the resources necessary for them to provide for their families. In FY 2019, the St. Louis Veterans Home is receiving $19,573,293 – an increase of $1,723,508 from FY 2018. The 2019 budget provides two increases specifically for the St. Louis Veterans Home, and those were $1,123,624 for retention salary increases for certain nurses at the St. Louis home, and $161,540 for additional security staff at the St. Louis home.

The final status of my sponsored bills for the 2018 legislative session is as follows:

AN EMERGING PUBLIC SERVANT

LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION IN AUGUST IS: JULY 11, 2018

2018 BALLOT INITIATIVES: PROPOSITION A - Do the people of the state of Missouri want to adopt Senate Bill 19 ("Right-to-Work") as passed by the General Assembly in 2017, which prohibits as a condition of employment the forced membership in a labor organization (union) or forced payments of dues in full or pro-rata (fair-share); make any activity which violates employees' rights illegal and ineffective; allow legal remedies for anyone injured as a result of another person violating or threatening to violate employees' rights; and which shall not apply to union agreements entered into before the effective date of Senate Bill 19?  A “yes” vote will adopt Senate Bill 19 ("right-to-work"), passed by the General Assembly in 2017.  If adopted, Senate Bill 19 will amend Missouri law to prohibit, as a condition of employment, forced membership in a labor organization (union) or forced payments of dues or fees, in full or pro-rata ("fair-share"), to a union. Senate Bill 19 will also make any activity which violates employees' rights provided by the bill illegal and ineffective and allow legal remedies for anyone injured as a result of another person violating or threatening to violate those employees' rights. Senate Bill 19 will not apply to union agreements entered into before the effective date of Senate Bill 19, unless those agreements are amended or renewed after the effective date of Senate Bill 19.  A “no” vote will reject Senate Bill 19 ("right-to-work"), and will result in Senate Bill 19 not becoming Missouri law.  If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.

To find your designated polling place, click here to visit the Secretary of State Website.

LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER IS: OCTOBER 10, 2018

On Tuesday, Aug. 7, the polls will be open for citizens of Missouri to participate in the state's primary election. Below you will find information from the secretary of state's website on voter registration, the new photo voter ID law and a few helpful links to make sure you know when and where to go, and what you will need to bring, on Election Day.

POLLING PLACES ARE OPEN FROM 6 A.M. TO 7 P.M. ON ELECTION DAY.

Important: If you are in line at the closing time of 7 p.m. you have the right to cast your vote.

POLLING PLACE LOCATIONS AND VOTER INFORMATION

Find out where you are registered to vote and where you vote.

ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF VOTER ID

Effective June 1, 2017, the following forms of ID are acceptable for voting purposes in Missouri:

• Non-expired Missouri driver license;
• Non-expired or nonexpiring Missouri nondriver license;
• Non-expired document containing the voter's name and photograph and issued by the U.S. or the state of Missouri; or
• Non-expired or nonexpiring military ID card containing a photograph.

You may also use these forms of ID and sign a statement provided by the election judge at your polling place:

• ID issued by the state of Missouri, an agency of the state or a local election authority of the state;
• ID issued by the U.S. government or agency thereof;
• ID issued by an institution of higher education, including a university, college or vocational and technical school, located within the state of Missouri; or
• A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other government document that contains the name and address of the voter.

If you do not possess any of these forms of ID but are a registered voter, you may still cast a provisional ballot. Your provisional ballot will be counted if you return to the polling place and show a valid photo ID or if the signature on the provisional ballot envelope matches the signature on your voter registration record.

View a sample list of acceptable forms of ID.

HOW DO I GET A FREE PHOTO ID TO VOTE?

If you need a photo ID to vote and do not have one, click on the link below and complete the form to get started. The secretary of state's office will receive your information and help you obtain the documents you need.

Request Help Here

VOTING WITH A PAPER BALLOT

Missouri no longer allows the "straight party" ticket option. You must mark your ballot individually for each candidate you choose.

VOTING ON ELECTION MACHINES

• Know how to properly use your voting equipment and cast your ballot.
• Ask for a demonstration or assistance from an election judge if you need additional assistance.
• Read the instructions posted in your polling place.
• Second Chance Voting — if you accidentally over-vote your ballot (mark more candidates for a race than to be elected), you will have the opportunity to correct your ballot.

ACCESSIBLE VOTING

Curbside Voting: Voters with limited mobility can vote "curbside," or outside the polling place. Just go to your polling place and ask someone to go in and ask poll workers to bring a ballot out to you. They should bring you a ballot within a reasonable period of time.

Accessible Polling Places: If you have physical disabilities and your polling place is not accessible, you may request a different polling place assignment so that you may vote in a more accessible polling place. You may also vote at a central location. Simply contact your local election authority to make this request. Find your local election authority here or by calling 1-800-NOW-VOTE.

Accessible Voting Systems: Every polling place must have an accessible voting system for individuals with disabilities including audiovisual accessibility. Accessible systems include an audio ballot to make your selections or the ability to enlarge text so that you can read the on-screen ballot with ease.

Permanent Absentee Voting: If you have a permanent physical disability, you may request to be placed on a designated list so that your local election authority can automatically mail an absentee ballot application directly to you prior to each election. You will need to make this request directly to your local election authority who will send you further information.

ABSENTEE VOTING

Registered Missourians who expect to be prevented from going to their polling place on Election Day may vote absentee beginning six weeks prior to an election. Absentee voters must provide one of the following reasons for voting absentee:

1. Absence on Election Day from the jurisdiction of the election authority in which such voter is registered to vote;
2. Incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability, including a person who is primarily responsible for the physical care of a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability;
3. Religious belief or practice;
4. Employment as an election authority, as a member of an election authority or by an election authority at a location other than such voter's polling place;
5. Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained; or
6. Certified participation in the address confidentiality program established under sections 589.660 to 589.681 because of safety concerns.

Voters can request absentee ballots from their local election authority in person or by fax. Faxed absentee ballot requests should be submitted to the appropriate local election authority. Relatives within the second degree (spouse, parents and children) may complete an absentee ballot application, in person, on behalf of the voter who wishes to vote absentee. DO NOT SEND ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE. ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS MUST BE SENT TO THE APPROPRIATE LOCAL ELECTION AUTHORITY BY THE DEADLINE IN ORDER TO BE VALID. Contact information for local election authorities and an absentee ballot application form may be found at the links below.

• Local Election Authority Contact Information
• Request for Missouri Absentee Ballot Form

Mailed or faxed absentee ballot requests must be received by the election authority no later than the 5 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to any election. Voters can vote by absentee in the office of the local election authority until 5 p.m. the night before the election. Voters requesting an absentee ballot by mail who have registered by mail and have not voted in person are required to submit a copy of their personal ID unless they provided a copy with their registration application. Examples of acceptable ID are:

1. ID issued by the state of Missouri, an agency of the state or a local election authority of the state;
2. ID issued by the U.S. government or agency thereof;
3. ID issued by an institution of higher education, including a university, college or vocational and technical school, located within the state of Missouri;
4. A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that contains the name and address of the voter; or
5. Other ID approved by the secretary of state under rules promulgated pursuant to Missouri law.

This ID requirement, as well as the notary requirement for absentee ballots, does not apply to overseas voters, those on active military duty or members of their immediate family living with them or voters who are permanently disabled and their caregivers. Additional information for military and overseas voters may be found at the section entitled Military and Overseas Voters. For questions regarding elections in Missouri, contact the secretary of state’s office by calling 1-800-669-8683.

JUNE CONSERVATION EVENTS