Months after the close of a legislative session lawmakers closely follow the governor’s actions in regards to signing or vetoing legislation. Many constituents and lawmakers watch the calendar for the date in which all of the signed legislation goes into effect. This year I have several pieces of legislation that go into effect on Friday, Aug. 28.

There are believed to be 575,000 Missourians — of all backgrounds and socioeconomic status —battling eating disorders. Chances are you know someone who is affected by one of these devastating illnesses that affects a person’s psychological and physical well-being. Senate Bill 145 will allow these people easier access to services they need to lead healthier lives because it requires health insurance plans to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders. The bill also requires the provided coverage include a broad array of specialist services, as determined as necessary by the patient’s treatment team.

Treatment of eating disorders include: medical care, psychological care, psychiatric care, nutritional care, therapy and pharmacy care. Insurance companies must make any necessary changes to their coverage plans beginning for the year 2017.

I also sponsored Senate Bill 340 which changes a reference to a statute which provides the time period that a will must be presented before a person can file a petition in probate court for the administration of an estate to determine the heirs when the estate has not commenced and no will from the deceased has been found or presented. This legislation was proposed by a constituent in the 21st District.

The legislature also passed six pieces of legislation relating to our military service members and veterans. Among those House Bill 338, of particular importance to the 21st Senatorial District, designates a portion of Highway 10 from the western border of the City of Norborne to the eastern border of the City of Hardin as the "Ray-Carroll County Veterans Memorial Highway." The costs for the special designation of the highway must be paid for by private donations. Senate Bill 287 allows veterans, their spouses and dependent children, as well as spouses and dependent children of deceased veterans, to be eligible for MO HealthNet benefits. Other veteran specific legislation allows for changes in the absentee voting for deployed service members.

Although not signed by the governor another important piece of legislation I sponsored and spent a lot of time with was House Bill 42. As the chairman of the Education Committee I am particularly proud of the hard work that went into assuring the bipartisan passage of HB 42, which seeks to find a solution to student transfers in failing districts. Hours of hard work and cooperation from both the House and the Senate resulted in a bill that will make meaningful changes to Missouri’s education system, while protecting rural schools from a “one-size-fits-all” approach.

House Bill 42 addresses failing school districts and creates a process for students to transfer out of failing districts. In order to bring accountability while balancing the needs of the districts, the Legislature approved a process to accredit not only entire school districts, but also accredit each individual school building within a district. Students must first attempt to transfer to a successful building within the district of residence before they are allowed to transfer out of a district.  

According to the state constitution no law passed by the General Assembly can take effect until ninety days after the end of the session at which it was enacted, that date is August 28 for regular session. These are just a few of the bills that will have a positive impact on Missouri’s future. For a complete list of bills passed during this session and the governor’s action on those measures, please visit www.senate.mo.gov, and click on “Governor’s Action on Truly Agreed Bills” under the Legislation tab.

As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or (573) 751-2272, or by fax at (573) 526-7381.