Members of the Missouri House of Representatives completed the first half of the legislative session resulting in the passage of several legislative priorities. Some of the highlights include:
No Patient Left Alone Act: Legislation advocates for patients and protects their right to have visits from loved ones during a hospital stay. This bill will empower a patient to designate at least three essential support persons, in addition to a spouse or legal guardian, and allow the spouse or guardian and at least one support person to be present with the patient at all times during their stay. The bill also states that long-term care facilities will allow compassionate care visitation as needed by the resident.
Public School Open Enrollment Act: This is designed to make students and their families the center of the state’s educational focus by allowing inter-district transfers in the public school system. This bill creates the Public School Open Enrollment Act. The bill would allow any student beginning kindergarten or already enrolled in a public school to attend a public school in any nonresident district. If signed into law, it would add Missouri to the list of more than 40 states that have open enrollment.
Addressing the substitute teacher shortage: The House approved legislation to create opportunities to increase the number of substitutes that are available to schools. Under the bill, applicants for certification must complete a background check and also have at least 36 college hours or have completed a 20-hour online training. The bill also requires individuals to have a high school diploma or equivalence. Additionally, the bill provides an alternative route to certification for qualified individuals with technical or business expertise or Armed Forces experience and a superintendent sponsorship.
School Protection Officers: Schools would have more discretion for how they can designate school protection officers. Currently, school districts may designate teachers or administrators to be school protection officers. HB 1481 adds other designated school personnel to the list of employees a school district may designate as school protection officers.
Cracking down on sex offenders: The House has approved legislation that would ensure certain sexual offenders are prohibited from being present within 500 feet of areas where children can be expected to be present. The bill’s provisions apply to offenders who have been convicted of possession of child pornography.
Protecting the rights of belief-based student groups: Belief-based student groups on college campuses would have their rights protected under legislation approved by the Missouri House. Lawmakers approved HB 1724 to protect these groups from being discriminated against because of their sincerely held beliefs. The bill would prohibit public institutions of higher learning from taking any action or enforcing any policy that denies belief-based student association benefits available to other student associations.
Missouri Religious Freedom Protection Act: Missourians would have their right to gather for religious services further protected. This is in part a response to the closures of places of worship that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the bill, no public official could issue an order that has the effect of limiting or prohibiting a religious group or place of worship from holding religious services or meetings. This prohibition would not apply to emergency evacuation orders involving imminent danger from flooding, fires, tornadoes, earthquakes, terrorist threats, civil unrest, or hazardous materials incidents.
Workplace Retirement Savings Plan: Legislation approved by the House would create the Missouri Workplace Retirement Savings Plan to help the more than 40% of workers who do not have access to retirement savings plans through their employers. The bill creates the plan, which would be administered by the State Treasurer’s Office, to allow more Missourians to take personal responsibility for their future and to save for retirement.
If you have any questions regarding any state matters or legislation, please don’t hesitate to contact email me at Darrell.Atchison@house.mo.gov or call 573-751-1066.
Atchison represents District 153, which includes Carter and Ripley counties and parts of Wayne and Butler counties.