Seeking Solutions
As we conclude the fifth full week of the 2020 legislative session, we’re a bit closer to addressing violent crime in Missouri and finally creating a statewide prescription drug monitoring program.
Three separate measures I sponsored to deal with violent crime were combined into one bill, which was approved by the Senate and will be sent to the House of Representatives for its consideration.
As introduced, Senate Bill 600 eliminated the possibility of probation for persons convicted of second-degree murder and certain dangerous felonies, as well as repeat violent offenders. The expanded version of the bill now also enhances penalties for felons in possession of a firearm and provides additional tools for prosecutors to crack down on gangs.
This bill is the Senate’s first response to the alarming increase in violent crime Missouri has experienced in its metropolitan areas. I served on the Interim Committee on Public Safety and listened carefully to prosecutors and law enforcement officials who said these changes would help combat violent crime. Looking at the statistics over the past decade, there are extremely high recidivism rates among violent offenders. Often, dangerous individuals are given a slap on the wrist and sent back out onto the streets, only to reoffend. This legislation will ensure the most violent criminals remain behind bars, where they belong.
This week, the Judiciary Committee finished its review of Senate Bill 677 and sent the measure to the full Senate. This is my legislation to establish a statewide prescription drug monitoring program. This system will provide a critical tool to physicians, pharmacists and other health care professionals to identify people who are struggling with opioid addiction. These dangerous narcotics are wreaking havoc on communities all across our state. Missouri is the only state in America that does not have a statewide PDMP. It’s high time we change that. I hope the Senate will take up my bill soon and finally get this important legislation passed.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee heard testimony and do passed on my Senate Bills 675 & 676, which limits the growth of property tax assessments and gives sufficient notice to taxpayer to appeal increased assessments.
Finally, this week, it was my honor to join fellow Kansas City-area legislators and members of the City Council of Kansas City in the governor’s office for a ceremonial signing of a measure that passed in 2019. The legislation created a special fund to support a memorial in honor of fallen law enforcement officers from the Kansas City area.
Located adjacent to the Kansas City Police Department’s Regional Police Academy near Shoal Creek, the proposed memorial garden will cover more than three acres and include a Trail of Heroes and a memorial wall bearing the names of fallen officers. The memorial honors more than 178 law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to residents of Clay, Platte, Jackson and Cass counties.
Every day, brave men and women wake up, put on a bullet-proof vest, kiss their families goodbye and head out to the streets to keep us safe. Sadly, far too many of them never make it home. This memorial garden will recognize those fallen law enforcement officers from the Kansas City area who made the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives in the line of duty.
It is my great honor to represent the citizens of Platte and Buchanan counties in the Missouri Senate. Please contact my office at (573) 751-2183, or visit www.senate.mo.gov/mem34.