Tim Jones: Majority Minute: Approval of Local Control Would Be "Dramatic Sea Change In Public Policy"

As we enter our seventh full week of Session, the House Floor Calendar is becoming ever more populated and Floor Activity will surely be ratcheted up as we enter the second third of the Legislative Session year…

A Glimpse at the Week Ahead

House Bills for Perfection

HCS HB 14 and HB 15 (Rep. Ryan Silvey, R-38) will be up for perfection on Tuesday morning. These two bills are budgetary supplemental bills that are common at this point in Session each year.

HB 139 (Rep. Jason Smith, R-150), HB 209 (Rep. Casey Guernsey, R-3), HB 107 (Rep. Jason Smith, R-150)) and HCS HB 205 (Rep. Kevin Elmer, R-141) are all expected to follow on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Highlights: HB 107 requires special elections to fill vacancies in the positions of United States Senator, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Auditor, and State Treasurer. Rather than have the Governor pick and choose who is appointed to these elected positions, the responsibility for filling these positions is again placed at the hands of the voters. HCS HB 205 changes the laws regarding unlawful discriminatory employment practices as they relate to the Missouri Human Rights Law and establishes the Whistleblower Protection Act. This bill would help eliminate frivolous lawsuits, protect employers by returning Missouri law back to being consistent with federal Civil Rights Law, remove provisions which currently make an employer liable for the actions of an employee, and establish a graduated scale for damages based on the number of employees; providing a level of uniformity in awarding damages.

House Bills for Third Reading

HB 71, (Rep. Jamilah Nasheed, D-60), was perfected last week by a vote of 123 to 34. Now slated for Third Reading on the morning of the 22nd, HB 71 would allow the City of St. Louis to establish and maintain a municipal police force completely under the city's authority. The implications of this legislation are far reaching and if it passes the entire General Assembly, it will be a dramatic sea change in public policy.

Throughout Session, I will continue to send The Majority Minute to my constituents, colleagues and friends across the State. If you ever have any questions, feel free to contact my office at 573-751-0562.

Until our next update, I am, and remain, in your service.