CAPITOL REPORT: REPRESENTATIVE PATRICIA PIKE
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCED
JEFFERSON CITY: The Women Legislators of Missouri will sponsor eight scholarships for graduating young women in Missouri during the 2020 session, one from each U.S. Congressional District. This is an opportunity for young women in the 126th district to further their education and participate in the legislative process. The deadline for submission is March 31st, 2020, and the application may be filled out by following this link www.myscholarshipcentral.org.
Victim Impact Program for DWI Offenders: A bill now headed to the Senate (HB 1488) would require a person who is guilty of driving while intoxicated to complete a victim impact program approved by the court.
A victim impact panel is made up of speakers who have either been seriously injured by an impaired driver or have a loved one who was seriously injured or killed by a drunk driver. Members of the panel share their stories with offenders who attend as part of their court sentence.
Victim impact programs currently exist in Missouri and many judges already require offenders to participate in them. The legislation approved by the House would ensure that every judge sends offenders to the victim impact programs by making them a mandatory consequence for drunk or impaired driving offenses.
The sponsor of the bill said the panels work, “By placing offenders face-to-face with people whose lives have been permanently changed by a substance-impaired driver. Victim impact panels provide offenders with the understanding that drunk driving is a choice that impacts the lives of innocent people and is 100 percent preventable.” The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Other Bills Sent to the Senate: HB 1317 requires school districts and charter schools to establish a state-approved gifted program if 3% or more of the students are determined to be gifted by July 1, 2022. The bill also prevents any public school district or charter school from prohibiting a parent or guardian from recording any meeting held under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Supporters say that currently gifted programs are not mandated and the number of districts that offer these programs have decreased. Gifted services are as important as any other special needs and by requiring these programs in districts it will ensure that gifted students will receive educational opportunities. Supporters point out that currently college students receive very little training or education on gifted pupil needs, this bill will ensure that any teacher that provides instruction for gifted programs has additional training.
HB 1693 establishes the “Narcotics Control Act”. The Department of Health and Senior Services shall establish a program for monitoring the prescribing and dispensing of all Schedule II, III, and IV controlled substances, subject to appropriations. Supporters say prescription drug abuse is one of the fastest growing epidemics in the U.S. and a prescription drug monitoring program will provide prescribers a tool to find and address abuses. They say physicians want a monitoring program in the state to deal with doctor shoppers. They also note that data will be doubly encrypted to ensure privacy.
HB 1959 provides that a motor vehicle dealer and persons or entities affiliated with the dealer who, in conjunction with the actual or potential sale or lease of a motor vehicle, provides or makes available to the vehicle purchaser or lessee a third-party motor vehicle report as defined in the bill is exempt from liability to the purchaser or lessee for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies contained in the report that are not based upon information provided directly to the preparer of the report by the dealer. Supporters say motor vehicle dealers generally have no control over the content of the report, and therefore should not be responsible for any inaccuracies or errors; however, most dealers will do all they can to help the customer anyway.
HB 1348 removes the prohibition on cottage food production operations selling food through the Internet. The bill removes the prohibition, provided that the cottage food production operation and purchaser are both located in Missouri. Supporters say the bill would open up new markets across the state to those who operate a cottage food production operation and provide more opportunities to sell their products.
Contact my office at 573-751-5388 or e-mail at Patricia.Pike@house.mo.gov for more information on legislative topics or assistance on State Issues, Flags, Resolutions and Capitol visits. Our office (404) is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. year-round in Jefferson City, MO.
