The 2020 Legislative Session begins this week and I’m looking forward to working with my fellow senators and having a productive session. I wanted to give you a quick overview of a few pieces of legislation I have filed so far this year.
Justice for Victims of Sexual Violence
When I learned that there were over 5,000 untested sexual assault kits sitting in hospitals and police departments throughout the state, I decided something needed to be done for the thousands of victims of sexual violence. Senate Bill 569 will allow sexual assault victims to track, obtain reports and receive updates on the status and location of their SAFE kit through a secure website. This legislation requires all medical providers, law enforcement agencies, laboratories, court personnel and any person or entity that has custody of the kit or is involved in the destruction of the kit to participate in the secure tracking system. This act also mandates that records entered into the electronic tracking system shall be confidential and not subject to disclosure under the state’s Sunshine Law. This bill also requires state officials to develop and maintain a facility for unreported SAFE kits that will preserve the integrity of the evidence contained in the kits.
Getting a Handle on Property Tax Assessments
Many residents in St. Louis County have seen their property values spike, and as a result, a much higher tax bill. I’ve filed Senate Bill 705 to ensure that the assessed valuation of a residential property cannot exceed the previous assessed valuation by more than 5 percent or the rate of inflation.
Keeping Your Taxes Low
Senate Joint Resolution 40 will prohibit the General Assembly from setting an income tax rate higher than 5.9 percent. This provision must be approved by voters before it goes into effect. Missourians deserve to keep their hard-earned wages, and I am hopeful this legislation will prevent any significant increases in income tax rates in the future.
More Educational Opportunities for Missouri Students
Missouri students deserve more, not less, when it comes to their education. This is why I’ve filed Senate Bill 707, which would create the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program. This program would allow taxpayers to contribute to “an education assistance organization” and claim a certain tax credit. Under this program, a student is eligible to receive funds in a Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Account if he or she is identified as having a disability, is a child of a parent in active military service, is a ward of the state or can certify the he or she has been bullied. A high school student may be eligible if he or she is enrolled in a vocational education program at his or her high school, an area vocational school or in any job training or educational program offered by a labor organization. I think it is important for students and their parents to choose where their child attends school, regardless of their ability to pay tuition.
Ending the Use of Your Tax Dollars in Flood Plains
Our state has seen a number of historic floods in the past few decades that have destroyed communities and the livelihoods of thousands. Yet, at the same time, through the use of tax increment financing (TIF), your tax dollars have been going towards financing risky developments in flood plains. The risks of building in a flood plain far outweigh the potential benefits, which is why I’ve filed Senate Bill 570 to protect communities’ public dollars from being used to fund projects in flood plains, and to encourage developers to avoid building in dangerous areas. I am hopeful this bill will prohibit the use of tax increment financing in flood plains and ensure that your tax dollars go towards entities that actually need them.
The Fresh Start Act: A Second Chance for Missourians with a Criminal Record
Many Missourians with a non-violent criminal record have a difficult time finding work after serving their time. Senate Bill 647 establishes the Fresh Start Act of 2020. This bill provides a pathway to work by lifting licensing restrictions for Missourians with a record. No person shall be disqualified by a state licensing authority from pursuing or practicing in any occupation requiring a license solely because of a prior conviction of a crime, provided that crime is not related to the duties and responsibilities of the licensed occupation.
As always, it is an honor and privilege serving you in the Missouri General Assembly. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, concerns or ideas to improve our state government. Thank you for reading my Capitol Report and I look forward to sharing more of our work with you soon.
Sincerely,
