Love note from Jeff City

Greetings, My Fellow Missourians
Wednesday I drove to my office in Jefferson City. Each year I pick up some books for the Osceola Optimist Club’s Book Fair at Osceola Public Schools. While at the Capitol, I visited with several of my fellow Legislators who were in for the special session about violent crime.
Missouri House to Take Deliberative Approach to Special Session on Violent Crime
Lawmakers continue to work toward a legislative solution that will help stem the rising tide of violent crime in Missouri, but this week the members of the Missouri House decided to hit the reset button on the special session called by the governor. Members of the General Assembly will now spend the next few weeks carefully considering the individual components of a plan put forth by the governor to make Missouri communities safer. The special session called by Gov. Parson officially began on Monday, July 27. Last week the Missouri Senate approved an omnibus bill (SB 1) that contained all six provisions the governor asked the legislature to pass. While the original plan was for the House to take up and pass the bill this week, the governor expanded his call as a House committee was considering his original proposal. The committee finished its hearing without passing the bill, and House leadership then met to discuss the best way to advance the governor’s expanded plan. Rather than try to add the new provision to the bill passed by the Senate, House leadership decided Missouri citizens would be better served by ceasing work on SB 1 and starting the process over with individual bills for each provision requested by the governor.
House Leadership issued a statement saying, “In an effort to protect the integrity of the lawmaking process, and to ensure these important issues are thoroughly vetted, we intend to simplify the process with single-subject bills so we can focus on the merits of each bill individually to produce legislation that makes our streets and neighborhoods safer. Given the fact the governor expanded the call as one of our committees was considering the bill he originally proposed, we think it’s important to take a step back and give additional thought and attention to each part of the plan. This will provide a more deliberative process that will allow us to craft the kind of policy that will better protect Missourians from the scourge of violent crime.”
The individually-filed bills in the House will contain provisions requested by the governor that will:
• Eliminate the residency requirement for St. Louis law enforcement so long as the officer lives within an hour of the city. It would also prohibit requiring any public safety employee for the city of St. Louis to be a resident of the city.
• Require the court to determine if a juvenile should be certified for trial as an adult for the offense of unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action.
• Allow certain statements to be admissible in court that would otherwise not be allowed under current statute.
• Create the Pretrial Witness Protection Fund.
• Modify the offense of endangering the welfare of a child for a person who encourages a child to engage in any weapons offense.
• Increase the penalty for a person who knowingly sells or delivers any firearm to a child less than 18 years of age without the consent of the child’s parent or guardian.
• Address the backlog of murder cases in St. Louis by authorizing the attorney general to prosecute the offense of murder in the first or second degree, as well as any other offense that was part of the same course of conduct, in the City of St. Louis.
The bills being considered by the House will receive committee hearings the week of Monday, August 17. The bills are then tentatively scheduled to be debated on the House floor on August 24 and 25. Bills that receive House approval will then move to the Senate for consideration.
Upcoming events: Mark your calendars for the 100 Mile Yard Sale! This year it will be held on Sept. 4th and 5th and includes communities along U.S. Hwy. 54 from Nevada to Camdenton. We need sellers and bargain hunters to make this event a success! For more information and updates, please visit the Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/MOHwy54YardSale.
Interim hours: Now that Session is over for 2020, I will be back in District full time. If you need any assistance my Legislative Assistant Amy Helton will be happy to help you Monday-Thursday.
It is my honor to serve the constituents of District 125. If you ever have questions, concerns, or input, please feel free to contact me any time at (573) 751-4065.
YOUR District 125 Capitol office is 413B, and YOU are always welcome!
If you would like to be added to the e-mail list to receive our Capitol Reports, you may e-mail me at warren.love@house.mo.gov or call the Capitol office at (573) 751-4065 and speak with my Legislative Assistant.