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“This week, I was able to meet with many different groups to discuss my efforts concerning a variety of issues, like domestic violence, suicide prevention, library funding, and Alzheimer’s awareness. I’m continuing to fight for these issues in some of my current bills. For example, Senate Bill 289 would aid the survivors of domestic violence by allowing them to terminate their lease or change their locks in order to protect themselves and their families. Additionally, my efforts to promote suicide prevention and awareness have been progressively successful. Senate Bill 52 will be heard by a committee in the House of Representatives next week. It is great to see our community advocating for such important issues and I pledge to continue the fight to prioritize constituents’ interests.” – Sen. Nasheed
On the Floor
Modifying workers’ compensation laws
On Thursday, Feb. 23, Senate Bill 113 was perfected on the Senate floor and sent to the House. This bill would reduce workers’ compensation for those found using drugs. It would also give $25,000 in compensation to the survivors of a deceased law enforcement officer. This bill faced much controversy surrounding the extent of its provisions. Some saw the bill as going too far and others did not believe it was far enough. Although Senator Nasheed voted no, the bill was perfected and sent to the House.
Enacting a prescription drug monitoring program
On Wednesday, Feb. 22, the Senate granted first-round approval to a highly restrictive version of legislation to create a statewide prescription drug monitoring program. However, since the bill is sponsored by a longtime drug monitoring opponent, program proponents say it falls well short of what it needs to be effective.
Missouri is the only state that has yet to enact a prescription drug monitoring program, which is intended to combat prescription narcotics abuse by tracking patients who obtain multiple prescriptions from different doctors. Prescription drug monitoring legislation has long been blocked on the grounds of being unwarranted government invasion of patient privacy.
Under Senate Bill 74, which its sponsor touted as a compromise, doctors would have limited access to patient records and would be able to track prescription drug use through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. However, individual prescription records would be purged after 180 days. The bill would also pre-empt local governments from operating monitoring programs, which many have launched in recent years due to the state’s continued inaction on the issue.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Missouri Medical Association immediately labeled the bill as “fake PDMP.” Supporters of a more expansive monitoring program are expected to continue to push for it in both legislative chambers. The bill requires a second vote to advance to the House of Representatives.
Bills and Committee
Senate Bill 52 – This bill would require public institutions of higher education to develop and implement policies that advise students and staff through suicide-prevention programs available on and off campus. These policies would also inform students and staff about ways to identify and address the needs of students exhibiting suicidal behavior.
With the passage of SB 52, Sen. Nasheed became the first Democrat of the 99th General Assembly to get her bill passed through the Missouri Senate.
After the Senate passed the bill, it sent SB 52 to the House, where the bill was referred to the Health and Mental Health Policy Committee. The Committee will conduct a hearing on SB 52 in House Hearing Room 7 at noon or upon the conclusion of the morning session on March 1, 2017. The committee chairman is Rep. Keith Frederick.
Senate Bill 180 – On Thursday, Feb. 23, the Committee on Transportation, Infrastructure, and Public Safety heard SB 180. This bill would limit the use of physical restraints on pregnant or postpartum offenders while they are incarcerated. Senate Bill 180 would also require the Department of Corrections to establish policies and procedures for the transportation, evaluation and treatment of pregnant and postpartum offenders. Last session, this bill passed through committee and was stuck on the calendar, never being presented on the floor. This session we are working with the same coalition of advocates and we are determined to pass this much-needed bill.
Senate Bill 217 – On Thursday, Feb. 16, the Committee on Economic Development reported SB 217 with a senate committee substitute (SCS). Senate Bill 217 would add donations to soup kitchens to current tax credits for donations to food pantries. On Thursday, the Senate put the bill on the calendar for consent.
“Senate Bill 217 is a step in the right direction to address the issue of homelessness, not only in St. Louis but also across the state of Missouri,” said Sen. Nasheed. “I have filed bills like Senate Bill 217 that pertain to homelessness in our state, and I have no doubt that these bills will help improve our city.”
Senate Bill 288 – On Tuesday, Feb. 21, the Committee on Local Government and Elections heard SB 288. This bill would allow the circuit court in St. Louis City to collect a fee that doesn’t exceed twenty dollars, rather than fifteen, to go toward its law library to give it the funding it desperately needs.
Senate Bill 344 – On Monday, Feb. 20, the Committee on Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence heard SB 344. This bill would recognize those affected by sex trafficking as victims of a crime of coercion, not as criminals. It would allow victims of sex trafficking to have prostitution charges expunged from their record. There are a few bills coming up for hearings in the coming weeks.
Senate Bill 287 – On Monday, the Committee on Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence will hear SB 287. This bill would help reduce the presence of biased policing.
Senate Bill 289 – On Tuesday, Feb. 28, the Committee on Small Business and Industry will hear SB 289. This bill would strengthen efforts to protect victims of domestic violence by allowing them to terminate their lease or change their locks.
Senate Bill 341 – On Monday, Feb. 13, the Committee on Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence successfully heard SB 341. The Missouri Coalition of Children’s Agencies and the Missouri Children’s Leadership Council testified in support of Senator Nasheed’s Juvenile Prostitution Offenses bill — tough on crime, not on victims.
This bill would protect underage individuals who are suspected of prostitution. It would provide harsher penalties for those committing heinous crimes connected to sex trafficking and prohibit the state of Missouri from charging underage persons with the offense of prostitution. Senate Bill 341 would also heighten the charge for those patronizing prostitutes: a Class A misdemeanor will be increased to a Class E felony in the cases where the individual patronized is 15, 16 or 17 years old. Also, a Class E felony will be changed to a Class D felony when the individual patronized is 14 years old or younger.
Senate Bills 314 & 340 – The bill would establish the Missouri Narcotics Control Act. Senate Bills 314 & 340 would require the Department of Health to develop a program to monitor the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances by licensed professionals in the state of Missouri.
“The heroin epidemic ravaging communities across Missouri can be traced largely to the over-prescription of opioids by doctors who do not have the resources to track potential addicts in our state.” said Sen. Nasheed.
Senator Nasheed has co-sponsored legislation that would support a statewide prescription drug monitoring program. The fight against prescription opioid abuse must have bipartisan support. These bills would provide a safe and secure system that will protect patient privacy and aid in the prevention of opioid abuse.
Appropriations
This week, the Appropriations Committee heard from the Department of Transportation to review the department’s budget for this year.
Other News
On Tuesday, Feb. 21 the Committee on Education heard SB 98, which would require that all school restrooms, locker rooms, and shower rooms accessible for use by multiple students be designated for and used by male or female students only. During the hearing, the committee heard an overwhelming amount of testimony from LGBTQ community members of all ages calling for the senators to vote no. This bill blatantly discriminates against transgender children and would put them in serious danger. We must prioritize the safety of our children and protect them from outdated legislation that will put them at risk for assault or harassment.
St. Louis Police Retirement System
The St. Louis Police Retirement System currently has $6.5 million invested in Russian-based organizations. After the sudden resignation of national security advisor, Michael Flynn, it is time for us to take the necessary steps in protecting our nation against threatening countries like Russia. The St. Louis Police Department must divest from these Russian organizations.
“The brave men and women of law enforcement put their lives on the line to ensure our safety. It makes no sense to send their retirement investments overseas to a country that seeks to undermine that very safety. On behalf of our retired and active duty police officers in St. Louis, we should bring these dollars home” – Sen. Nasheed
House approves legislation that would slash unemployment benefits
The House of Representatives, on Feb. 23, voted 100-56 to advance legislation that would cut the maximum length of unemployment benefits in Missouri from 20 weeks to 13 weeks. Missouri already offers some of the least generous unemployment benefits in the country, and is one of just eight states that provides fewer than 26 weeks of benefits.
Under House Bill 288, the maximum duration of benefits would be based on the statewide unemployment rate during the previous year. Maximum benefits would range from just 13 weeks if the statewide rate is below 6 percent to 20 weeks if the statewide rate is 9 percent or higher.
Missouri’s statewide unemployment rate has remained under 6 percent for more than two years. It stood at 4.4 percent in December, the last month for which information is available.
House Bill 288 now goes to the Senate for further consideration. Members of the majority party attempted to enact similar legislation – House Bill 150 – over a gubernatorial veto in 2015, but the Missouri Supreme Court later ruled its passage invalid because leaders of the majority party failed to properly follow constitutional procedures.
House takes first step on Real ID
The House of Representatives, on Feb. 21, gave preliminary approval to legislation that would bring Missouri drivers’ licenses and non-driver identification cards into compliance with the federal Real ID Act. One day later, however, the Senate set aside a similar bill after three hours of debate and isn’t immediately expected to return to it.
The 2005 federal law sets minimum standards that state identification cards must meet in order to be used to enter a federal building or military base, and to board a plane. Many states initially resisted complying with the law, and the federal government repeatedly delayed enforcement. However, Missouri is now just one of five states that remain noncompliant, and the federal government plans to fully enforce the law in 2018.
Even with the looming possibility that Missourians may soon be prohibited from boarding a plane unless they have a compliant alternative form of ID, such as a U.S. passport, many state lawmakers on the other side of political aisle remain steadfastly opposed to Real ID, saying it violates personal privacy and states’ rights.
The House version, House Bill 151, needs a second vote to advance to the Senate. Even though the Republicans holds 116 seats in the House, support from the Democrats will possibly be required to reach the minimum 82 votes necessary for final passage.