Lichtenegger: Two Measures Improve Student Health

Business executive and presidential aspirant, Herman Cain, visited the Capitol for Tax Freedom Day. It is purported to be the day that most American’s have paid there their last payment to the US Government, and they can start making money for their families. Mr. Cain, as the CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, turned the company around from bankruptcy.

This week’s survey question: Should the tenure system continue for public school teachers? Call 1-573-751-6662 or email your response to my assistant who will track and file all responses: Survey Response

The following list represents a few of the most recent House legislative activities:

• HB 591, the limited dental teaching license, unanimously passed the House today. This is the bill I filed to address the need for dental school instructors. The bill opens the door to attract more needed instructors and encourage them to set up practice in counties of need.
  
• HB 193, the congressional redistricting bill, passed the House on April 6 and was reported to the Senate. The Senate offered a substitute which the House refused to concur and requested the Senate recede the substitute or grant a conference.
  
• HB 300, the Interscholastic Youth Sports Brain Injury Prevention Act, passed the House today. This bill requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to work with several statewide associations that provide support services for brain injuries to develop by December 31, 2011, guidelines, information, and education regarding the nature and risk of concussion and brain injury, including information on continuing to play after a concussion or brain injury. Every school district must annually distribute a concussion and brain injury information sheet to each youth athlete in a district athletic program which must be signed by the athlete’s parent or guardian and submitted to the school district prior to the youth athlete participating in a practice or competition. A youth athlete suspected of sustaining a concussion or brain injury must be removed from competition at that time and for at least 24 hours. He or she must not return to competition until being evaluated by a licensed health care provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussions, under the guidelines developed by the department, and receiving a written clearance from the provider to return to competition.

STATE –WIDE GOOD NEWS from the Missouri Sentencing Advisory Commission. The Missouri Department of Corrections is praised for its efforts to reduce the recidivism rate –the recidivism rate is the rate at which paroled offenders return to prison. The State of Recidivism: The Revolving Door of America's Prisons, a report published by the Pew Center on the States, praises MO-DOC for its reentry reforms.

Released offenders in Missouri are subject to "'e-driven supervision' (the 'e' is for evidence, which uses a new risk assessment tool to categorize parolees and help set supervision levels," the Report notes. "The payoff has been dramatic: 46 percent of offenders released in fiscal year 2004, for example, were returned to prison within two years, either for a new crime or technical violation. Since then, the rate has dropped steadily, and reached a low of 36.4 percent for offenders released in fiscal year 2009," the report concludes.

You can read the full report: State of Recidivism: The Revolving Door of America's Prisons.

Follow this link for more information about the: Missouri Sentencing Advisory Commission


For those who have never visited the MO House Chamber the large marquee on the wall announces the current bill under consideration, listing the bill number, sponsor, title, bill draft number and House members. The Press Box is in the upper left balcony; directly under is the Speaker’s podium; under that is the Chief Clerk and staff area.

Constituent Corner

Three Southeast Missouri high school students participated in the Annual Sophomore Pilgrimage to the Capitol. They along with other students from more than 30 cities across the state participated in the program which intends to build integral character.


Kyle Thompson, Mandy Anthes, Rep Wallingford, Larry Dauer, Kristen Klaus, Dawn Dauer and Ryan Dewrock came to the Capitol for Young Bankers Day sponsored by the Missouri Bankers Association.

Three ways to contact me

201 West Capitol Avenue, Room 409B, Jefferson City, MO 65101-6806;
573-751-6662;
or donna{dot}lichtenegger{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov