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GOVERNOR
MATT BLUNT DECLINES RUN FOR SECOND TERM
In a move that surprised many in the Capitol, Gov. Blunt
announced on Jan. 22 that he will not seek his party's
nomination for a second term as Governor of Missouri.
The following link includes the full text of the governor's
address along with a link to the video of the address
on YouTube: http://www.gov.mo.gov/cgi-bin/coranto/viewnews.cgi?id=EkpEpuEuAFDNHCGdOR&style=Default+News+Style&tmpl=newsitem
As
reasons for his decision, Gov. Blunt cited his desire
to spend more time with his family and his belief that
he has already accomplished what he set out to do within
a single term. Like the first day of session speeches
by Rep. Rodney Jetton and Sen. Michael Gibbons, Blunt's
retrospective sought to put a positive spin on a legacy
of inadequate education funding, harmful healthcare
cuts and job losses suffered due to state budget cuts.
Earlier
in the day, State Treasurer Sarah Steelman announced
her intention to seek re-election as state treasurer,
but following Blunt's announcement, Steelman's staff
acknowledged the possibility that she may reconsider
her determination to seek re-election and consider the
possibility of running for governor.
SENATE
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
The Senate Education Committee heard Senate Bill 713
(Michael Gibbons) on Jan. 23. The bill grants civil
immunity to school district employees who give references
regarding former school employees applying for a job
in another district. The bill limits the immunity to
information affecting the safety and well-being of students.
Missouri NEA has concerns with the proposed language,
which appears to be too broad in granting such immunity.
As drafted, the bill appears to grant immunity in all
such cases, even if the employee giving the reference
violates a district confidentiality agreement regarding
a former employee.
HOUSE
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMITTEE
The House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee
heard House Bill 1314 (Jane Cunningham) on Jan. 23.
H.B. 1314, the “Amy Hestir Davis Student Protection
Act,” contains a number of provisions affecting
school employees. While some provisions appear to be
consistent with recommendations from State Auditor Susan
Montee's recent report on improving the Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education’s procedures
regarding background checks for school employees, other
provisions go far beyond the auditor's findings and
could cause significant problems for school employees
and other individuals in a number of circumstances.
H.B.
1314 grants civil immunity to school employees giving
references regarding former school employees applying
for employment in another district, but the bill goes
even farther than Senate Bill 713 and addresses whether
districts will provide employee evaluation information
to prospective employers. Similar to S.B. 713, the bill
also appears to grant immunity even if the reference-giving
employee gives information that violates a district
confidentiality agreement concerning the former employee.
The
bill adds additional offenses requiring revocation or
denial of a teaching certificate, including two offenses
that do not relate to sexual offenses affecting children.
The bill also grants immunity to non-employees who report
suspected child abuse by a school employee to a school
administrator.
The
bill removes the statute of limitations for prosecution
of sexual offenses against minors. Currently, such actions
must be brought within twenty years of the date the
victim reaches the age of eighteen, except that no statute
of limitations applies to the most serious sexual offenses
against minors. Such limitations exist in part to encourage
timely prosecution while a complete and proper trial
is still possible with all relevant evidence.
Provisions
that appear to be consistent with State Auditor Montee's
findings include requiring the state agencies involved
in conducting and reviewing background checks to develop
procedures to ensure annual review of records relating
to all school employees required to undergo a background
check. Background checks for school employees will include
a check of the sexual offender registry and the child
abuse central registry. The bill also requires superintendents
to report substantiated reports of alleged child abuse
to DESE.
HOUSE
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
The House Ways and Means Committee heard House Joint
Resolution 43 (Charles Portwood) on Jan. 24. If approved
by statewide vote, the HJR would amend the Missouri
Constitution to revise the Article X tax rate rollback
provision to require the current levy, not the maximum
authorized levy, to be reduced to yield the same gross
revenue for existing property as before reassessment,
without any Consumer Price Index adjustment for changes
in the general price level. Missouri NEA strongly opposes
this change.
School
districts need adequate funding to provide the tools
and resources to ensure every child has a great public
school. Local property taxes are a key funding source
for school districts, and districts need, at a minimum,
for local revenues to keep pace with the rising costs
required to hire and retain quality staff and provide
the services our students need. School districts are
only allowed one year's worth of CPI increase in property
tax revenues during every two-year reassessment cycle.
HJR 43 moves in the wrong direction by eliminating the
CPI adjustment, rather than allowing it to occur every
year and better match local revenues with district need.
IMMIGRATION
AND HIGHER EDUCATION
The House Special Committee on Immigration heard House
Bill 1463 (Jerry Nolte) on Jan. 23. The bill bans all
undocumented aliens from attending public institutions
of higher education. Missouri NEA went on record in
opposition. The Association believes that denial of
education services is not a substitute for comprehensive
immigration policy reform.
FINDING
INFORMATION ABOUT BILLS
To find out more about legislation this session, go
to: http://www.mnea.org/capitol/legissues.htm.
This
page contains numerous links, including the NEA Legislative
Action Center, which addresses key education issues
at the federal level, and the Missouri NEA Legislative
Action Center, which will address key education issues
at the state level. This page also will contain links
to legislative updates, the MNEA Legislative Platform,
legislative priorities and other policy-related links.
To
find information about a specific bill currently pending
before the Missouri General Assembly, go to: http://www.house.mo.gov/billcentral.aspx.
Type the bill number (example: HB1000) or sponsor name
in the “search” box to find a link to the
bill. This link will take you to a “home page”
for the bill that provides bill text, bill summaries,
fiscal notes and information on legislative action on
the bill.
MISSOURI
NEA’S COMPREHENSIVE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS PROGRAM
Missouri NEA will depend on a grassroot’s lobbying
effort led by MNEA and carried out by our Government
Relation Teams and our membership. Our teachers and
other staff must take the initiative to contact legislators
about the key issues affecting public education. Here's
what you can do to support MNEA's legislative agenda:
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Be a part of your local Government Relations Team.
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Take the initiative to contact local legislators now
to discuss our key issues.
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Attend the legislative brunch in your area.
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Attend the Missouri NEA Capitol Action Days for your
governance district. Capitol Action Days begin in
early February and include most Tuesdays and Wednesdays
until the first week of May.
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Receive and read the daily MNEA Daily Legislative
Update 2008 via e-mail while the legislature is in
session from January to May.
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Visit the Missouri Legislative Action Center: http://capwiz.com/nea/mo/state/main/?state=MO
The
Missouri Legislative Action Center is a convenient,
Web-based way to lobby state legislators (and other
elected officials) on key education issues. MLAC uses
a program called CapWiz to make sending an e-mail on
a priority issue quick and easy. As priority issues
move forward this session, the MNEA Daily Legislative
Update will provide links to Action Alerts on the MLAC
Web site.
CAPITOL
ACTION DAYS
MNEA will continue the successful program of Capitol
Action Days begun in 2007. A series of Capitol Action
Days throughout most of the session will allow planned,
face-to-face contact with legislators throughout the
session. Capitol Action Days will be on Tuesdays and
Wednesdays starting with the first week in February
and continuing through the first week of May. Your MNEA
calendar includes the dates that members of the MNEA
Board of Directors selected for your governance district.
If you are not able to attend on these designated days,
feel free to contact Otto Fajen (otto.fajen@mnea.org)
to arrange to attend a different Capitol Action Day.
Each Capitol Action Day will start with a briefing at
10:00 a.m. to provide you with the most up-to-date information.
Typical
Capitol Action Day Agenda
10:00
a.m. Meet for briefing, 2nd Floor Capitol Rotunda,
Senate side alcove under the grand staircase
10:15 a.m. Visit with your legislator/watch floor
debate
12:00 noon Invite legislator to lunch
1:00
- 4:30 p.m. Committee hearings, floor debate, visiting
legislators
PLAN
TO ATTEND YOUR MNEA LEGISLATIVE BRUNCH!
Legislative involvement is close to home at your MNEA
Legislative Brunch. The brunch is a great opportunity
to visit with local area legislators and hear a legislative
briefing.
Area
legislative brunch schedule:
Jefferson
County – Jan. 26, 2008
Kansas City – Jan. 26, 2008
St. Charles – Mar. 8, 2008
St. Louis – Mar. 15, 2008
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