Senator Elaine Gannon’s Capitol Report for April 13, 2023

Time to Get the Lead Out

It is definitely time to get the lead out of Senate deliberations as we are quickly approaching adjournment in four weeks and expeditiously working to move bills toward the governor’s desk.

My proposal to extend MO HealthNet coverage for postpartum women from 60 days to one full year following the birth of her child was passed by the House General Laws Committee on April 11, deeming it eligible for debate by the entire House. As one of the top priorities outlined by the governor in his State of the State address, I hope he will be able to take his pen to this bill in the coming weeks to reduce our maternal mortality rates.

I presented a proposal to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on April 12 which will literally help get the lead out of our communities. Those of us who call Missouri’s Lead Belt home are able to see the financial benefits this important mineral brings to our region and state, but the not-so-visible effects of lead are another story. My Senate Bill 507 makes a few changes to our current lead poisoning and abatement policies, better aligning them with HIPAA requirements and increasing access to education and testing for parents with children under four. It also requires parents who live in high-risk geographic areas to provide evidence of lead poisoning testing when they enroll their child in daycare. According to the Department of Health and Senior Services, the Show-Me State is the nation’s top producer of lead, and 65% of Missouri housing was built before 1978 when lead-based paint was still in use. I hope my bill passes to help mitigate the physical, behavioral and cognitive damage that elevated blood lead levels cause, especially to children under six.

If you’ve ever heard the words, “911, what is your emergency,” you know that telecommunicators are the real first, first responders. My legislation to add 911 dispatchers to the definition of first responders in statute and grant local government officials the option to cover telecommunicators as public safety personnel is on the Senate calendar for perfection. These brave men and women are fully trained in lifesaving procedures and truly are the “calm inside the storm” during emergency situations. I believe their compensation and benefits should match these skills and contributions to our communities accordingly.

Introduction of Guests

I absolutely LOVE welcoming visitors from our community who take the time to travel to Jefferson City and advocate for their causes!

Our hardworking first responders celebrated the annual National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week April 9-15 and met with legislators on April 11 to discuss best practices and challenges. I was honored to present resolutions to several 911 directors after introducing them to my colleagues on the floor.

Senator Gannon meets with and presents resolutions to telecommunicators and 911 directors.