Carter: Supporting funds for Amachi, Committee Actions

At Right: Representative Chris Carter at the Sheltered Workshop in St. Louis

Recently funding for the Amachi/Boys and Girls Club Program was brought up in the Public Safety and Corrections Appropriations Committee I on which I sit.  This mentoring program focuses on one of the most at-risk group of young people in our state; children with an incarcerated parent or parents. 

This year, with budget constraints squeezing funds from even the most worthy of causes, it may seem odd that a youth mentoring program would receive this sort of attention from a committee focusing on funding the state's efforts to fight crime and promote public safety.

These are your tax dollars and I feel an obligation to inform you on how they are being spent, and to do my best to see that we in Jefferson City appropriate your tax dollars wisely.  To that end, I believe funding Amachi is an important investment in our future.  Seventy percent of children who grow up with an incarcerated parent will become incarcerated themselves.  Besides improving the wellbeing of many at-risk youth, Amachi helps reduce crime by supporting people who are very likely to commit crime without the positive influence a mentor provides. 

While old sayings do not fit every situation, it is certainly true that in terms of crime, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  If we can reach at-risk youth before they commit crimes instead apprehending them as offenders later on, we save the state costs in courts and in prisons.  More important then the costs, though, is preventing these youth from perpetuating a sad cycle of neglect and crime in their own lives and with their own children.

For some of you it may not be your family specifically that is torn apart by crime but we have a shared burden to see that everyone's tomorrow can be brighter than today.  Like President Obama has said, "It is that fundamental belief- that I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper- that makes this country work."  It is absolutely critical that we use the resources we have at our disposal to fight crime and build better, safer communities.  That is exactly what the people at Amachi are doing, and that is why I fought successfully to see that they continue to receive funding for the excellent job they are doing.

FLOOR ACTIVITY

All activity as of February 22, 2010

# House Bills Filed - 1,052
# of HBs Referred to Committee -340
# HBs Reported Do Pass - 37
# HBs Reported Do Pass Consent - 20
# HBs Perfected -8
# HBs Third Read - 8
# HBs Reported Do Pass in the Senate - 1
# HBs Third Read in the Senate - 0

COMMITTEE ACTION

During the last three weeks, House Committees have been busy holding public hearings and passing legislation on to the House Floor.  Following is a summary of some of this legislation.

• The House Special Standing Committee on Health Insurance voted do pass HB1311 and HB1341, which requires health carriers issuing or renewing a health benefit plan to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.
  
• The House Special Standing Committee on General Laws voted do pass HJR48, HJR50, and HJR57, which propose a constitutional amendment prohibiting any person, employer, or health care provider from being compelled to participate in any health care system.
  
• The House Committee on Elections voted do pass HB1497, which requires special elections to fill vacancies in the offices of Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Auditor, State Treasurer, and United States Senator.
  
• The House Committee on Healthcare Transformation held a public hearing for HB 1548, which would establish the High School Sports Brain Injury Prevention Act, which requires school boards to work with the Missouri State High School Activities Association to develop guidelines regarding head injuries.
  
• The House Committee on Elections held a hearing for HB 1966, which would allow for an advance voting period for an election in which any statewide office is on the ballot. The committee also heard testimony on HJR 64, which proposes a constitutional amendment
  changing the laws regarding voter identification.
  
• The House Committee on Public Safety held a public hearing on HB 1205, which would prohibit all drivers, regardless of age, from text messaging while operating a moving motor vehicle on any highway in this state.  The Committee also held a hearing on HB 1472, which adds 1-Pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole to the list of Schedule I controlled substances.
  
• The House Committee on Crime Prevention held a public hearing for HB 1695, which would change the laws regarding driving while intoxicated.  The Committee also heard testimony on HB 1695 and HB 1742, which change the laws regarding driving while intoxicated.
  
• The House Special Committee on Urban Issues voted do pass on HB 1519, which changes the laws regarding the crime of assault ofa law enforcement or corrections officer, emergency personnel, or highway worker by adding transit operators and employees of mass transit systems
  
• The House Committee on Energy and the Environment heard testimony on HCR 46, which urges the Environmental Protection Agency to rescind its formal endangerment finding on greenhouse gases and urges Missouri's congressional delegation to vote against H.R. 2454 known as Cap and Trade.
  
• The House Special Committee on Children and Families held a public hearing for HB 2000 and HB 1327, which change the laws regarding the consent requirements for obtaining an abortion and creates the crime of coercing an abortion.
  
• The House Committee on Corrections and Public Institutions held a public hearing for HB 1644, which specifies that use of force by a parent or other caregiver of a minor or compentent person; a teacher; certain operators of vehicles; or a physician is justifiable if the person is acting in self defense.