Legislative News

State senators spent the first several days of session this week debating yet another “pro-business” piece of legislation that will harm Missouri workers by making it more difficult for those who have been discriminated against to get justice. Despite minority caucus members’ best efforts to prevent this damaging legislation from advancing, the numbers ultimately are not on our side, and the measure, Senate Bill 43, easily passed along party lines (23-9).

Currently, to win an employment discrimination case, an employee only has to prove a protected status, such as race or religion, was a contributing factor in their termination or mistreatment. Now, thanks to SB 43, an employee will have to prove bias was a motivating factor in their employer’s discrimination. Among several other harmful provisions, SB 43 also caps the amount of punitive damages an employee who has been discriminated against can receive.

We did offer an amendment that would have added gender identity and sexual orientation to the list of protected classes under the Missouri Human Rights Act. Unfortunately, that amendment failed by a vote of 20-10.

While we were able to achieve some level of compromise, it was nowhere near enough to get SB 43 to a place where I and my fellow members of the minority caucus could support it. There is no other way to put it, SB 43 will make it easier for employers to discriminate against their employees. As a woman and an African American, I find this legislation particularly egregious, troubling and hurtful.

In other news, the Senate passed two measures I filed this week. Senate Bill 25 allows the Kansas City Police Department to add an additional lieutenant colonel, who will be responsible for investigating matters relating to homeland security in the Kansas City area and coordinating disaster relief efforts when necessary. Our current statue only allows five lieutenant colonels in our police department. My legislation would simply raise the number from five to six to accommodate the growing need for homeland security investigations.

Finally, the Senate also approved a piece of good neighbor legislation I filed to allow a person who is not the owner of an abandoned property, and who is acting in good faith, to enter the abandoned property to secure it, remove trash and graffiti, and maintain the grounds. Senate Bill 299 also provides immunity from civil and criminal liability, except in cases where gross negligence or willful misconduct has occurred. This measure seeks to address some of the issues we are having in Kansas City with unsightly vacant and abandoned property.

We have over 16,000 vacant properties in the area, and almost 60 percent of our vacant housing stock is owned by out-of-town banks or other out-of-town institutions. These properties are overgrown with weeds, and there is trash and debris everywhere. Many of our neighborhood organizations want to maintain or clean up some of these properties without liability of trespassing. Senate Bill 299 will allow our neighborhood organizations to address these ongoing and frustrating issues.

It continues to be an honor serving the men, women and children of Missouri’s 9th Senate District. As we move forward through session, please know I value your input, and I invite you to visit my Capitol office if you are ever in Jefferson City.

For a complete list of all Sen. Curls' sponsored legislation and committee assignments, please click here or visit her official Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov/mem09/.