Feb. 2, 2018

Senator Caleb Rowden’s Column for the Week of Jan. 29, 2018

As we come to the end of the first month of the 2018 legislative session, I would like to take some time to highlight some legislation I am sponsoring. These bills have all been heard in various committees in the Missouri Senate and will moves to the Senate Floor for discussion in the coming weeks.

Senate Bill 616 allows for confidential communications between first responders and peer support specialists. First responders are rarely trained on how to handle ongoing mental and emotional stress after experiencing traumatic events in the course of their work. PTSD, alcohol abuse, strained relationships and poor job performance are all very real issues that our first responders face on a daily basis. Peer Support Specialists are trained to listen and discuss events with co-workers who have undergone stressful or traumatic events. This bill was created after findings by the Ferguson Commission demonstrated the importance of the mental health of first responders. The report indicated that sound mental health is vital when it comes to first responders making rational decisions in times of crisis. Our first responders need access to confidential peer support in order to process and recover from the difficult issues they confront every day.

Senate Bill 675 reauthorizes the Champions for Children Tax credit until 2025. This tax credit program allows individuals to contribute to a qualified Court Appointed Social Advocate, a Child Advocacy Center or a Crisis Care Center in Missouri and earn a tax credit worth up to 50 percent of their contribution. These agencies fund services for children who have experienced or are at risk of abuse or neglect. The Champions for Children Tax Credit helps organizations that support kids throughout Missouri and I look forward to moving SB 675 to the Senate Floor for discussion.

These pieces of legislation are just a few of the many bills I have filed during the 2018 legislative session. For a full list of bills that have been filed this year, please visit the Missouri Senate’s website.

I am here to serve you, and my office door is always open to your questions, concerns and suggestions. You can reach my staff at 573-751-3931 and an array of legislative and constituent resources at www.senate.mo.gov/rowden.