The First Regular Session of the Ninety Eighth General Assembly came to a close last week. All legislation passed now goes to the governor who can sign, veto or let the bills go into effect. Lawmakers will return to Jefferson City in September for our annual veto session with an opportunity to override any of the governor’s vetoes.
One of my sponsored bills sent to the governor’s desk will help those who have sustained physical or psychological injury as a result of a violent crime. In Missouri, we have a Crime Victims’ Compensation Program, which assists crime victims with funding for medical and counseling expenses, as well as lost wages if the victim was gainfully employed on the date of the crime. If the victim was killed during a crime, the program can also help family members with the costs of funeral and burial expenses, as well as any out-of-pocket expenses not covered through collateral sources. Under current law, the Crimes Victims’ Compensation Fund can pay eligible victims up to $200 per week for the loss of employment and for injury or death. Senate Bill 141 seeks to raise this amount to $400 per week, giving victims and their families a little more money to make up for lost wages or the loss of support. In addition, the bill allows the Department of Public Safety to negotiate with providers of medical care and other services on behalf of the victim. The Crime Victims’ Compensation Program is funded through fines paid by the criminals who commit these horrible acts. The new provisions which passed in Senate Bill 340, if approved by the governor, will go into effect on August 28, 2015.
Senate Bill 426 is legislation I sponsored this session designed to help our public safety officials, community mental health liaisons, courts and citizens communicate with each other during crisis situations. The goal is to form better community partnerships and save valuable resources that might otherwise be expended on unnecessary jail, prison and hospital stays for individuals with behavioral or mental health issues. The bill allows community mental health liaisons to access specific records from mental health facilities and files maintained by courts regarding people with behavioral health issues who have frequent interaction with law enforcement. Senate Bill 426 will help improve the treatment of people with behavioral issues by allowing our mental health liaisons to communicate faster with public safety officials. If signed into law, the new provisions will also go into effect on August 28, 2015.
Thank you for allowing me to serve the citizens of the 28th Senatorial District and the state of Missouri. I always appreciate hearing from you. If you have any questions about the topics discussed above, or any other issues, please do not hesitate to contact my office.
‘Nothing is Politically Right Which is Morally Wrong’ |
