As Tuesday was Military Appreciation Day at the Capitol, it is especially fitting that my legislation granting reemployment rights to members of our military was unanimously passed by the Senate the very same day.
Under the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), members of the Army or Air National Guard are provided employment protection when they must leave their civilian job for federal National Guard service. Unfortunately, the Act does not apply when a National Guard member must be away from their job because of state service. Each state must pass its own laws enabling National Guard members to gain reemployment rights after active state duty.
Senate Bill 108 provides that Missouri employees who are members of the National Guard of another state and are called up for active state duty by the governor of that state shall be entitled to reemployment rights upon their return to Missouri. Regardless of where they live, if members of our military end up finding jobs in Missouri then are called to serve his or her state, they should be afforded the same rights as Missouri residents to return to their employment positions.
Last year, I was proud to sponsor telehealth legislation to increase the availability of health care in every corner of the state, most especially in our rural communities. And just as technology can bring high-quality health care to patients throughout Missouri, it can also open the door to new educational opportunities for our young people. On Tuesday, I presented Senate Bill 327 on virtual education to the Senate Education Committee. Very simply, my legislation will allow any K-12 student enrolled full-time in a public school to participate in up to two online courses per year, with expenses to be paid by the district.
In 2009, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) launched its Top 10 by 20 program, which aims for student achievement in Missouri to rank among the top 10 states by 2020. The program lists its first goal as seeing that all Missouri high school students will graduate college and career ready.
I believe our teachers and schools are doing the best they can with what they have, but the fact is some school districts — especially our smaller, rural districts — cannot afford to offer the type of challenging courses students need to truly be college ready. Our students must have access to Advanced Placement courses in areas like physics, chemistry and calculus, and modern technology can provide it.
Missouri already has the necessary infrastructure to expand virtual education and give our students access to a wide range of important course offerings that they can access whenever, wherever they need to. In 2006, the Missouri Virtual Instruction Program (MOVIP) was signed into law. My legislation will change MOVIP to the Missouri Course Access Program (MCAP). It also provides that DESE will be responsible for determining what courses are available, and all courses will have to meet Missouri’s quality standards.
I am pleased to say the governor’s budget for Fiscal Year 2018 includes $2 million to expand virtual education course access. Senate Bill 327 is one of three Senate measures relating to virtual education. I will continue to keep you updated on the progress of this important legislation as session moves forward.
In other legislative news, the Senate gave its approval to Senate Bill 146, which I filed to correct the description of St. Francois County in a provision of law concerning expenditure of the county’s special road and bridge tax monies.
Finally, it was my privilege to welcome the following visitors to the Capitol this week: Linda Wolf with Next Step for Life; David Bova, Martha Resinger Terry McDaniel and Richard Rudloff with the Ste. Genevieve School District; Michele Day and Brandon Leach with Serenity Hospice Care; Dr. Victoria Damba, DO; Courtney Mouser with DCAI; Bob Lourwood, Mayor of Ironton; Dustin Winick, Mayor of Leadington; Charlie Lewis, Alderman from Leadwood; and Gary Nelson, Presiding Commissioner of Ste. Genevieve. Thank you to everyone who stopped by.
The following are just a few of the retired teachers who visited for MRTA Day at the Capitol: Vera Knight, Peggy and Ken Tharpe, Nancy Lynch, Diane Clark, Glenda Pulley, Diana Pattengill and many more. I was very pleased to see such a good turnout for their annual advocacy day.
Contact Me
I always appreciate hearing your comments, opinions and concerns. Please feel free to contact me in Jefferson City at (573) 751-4008. You may write me at Gary Romine, Missouri Senate, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101; or email me at gary.romine@senate.mo.gov.