Hello and thank you so much for reading this week's Capitol Report!!
 
This week has been incredibly busy for us. I sit in on Budget hearings nearly every available moment, as we are still working very hard on the proposed budget cuts and the current budget shortages.  I do want to make it very clear there will be cuts somewhere in the budget, however I am advocating for cuts to areas that will impact as least as possible those who cannot care for themselves.  I am talking daily with individuals from our district that are watching numbers and the projected impact of various proposals. I truly want the outcome to be one which is right for Missouri and the people of the 151st district.
 
There are quite a few pieces of legislation beginning to hit the floor as well as in the various committees. My Utilities Committee has been hearing a significant amount of testimony. I have a lot of reading to do this weekend over these bills!  The Employment Securities Committee also heard more testimony this week on Workers Compensation; the Department of Labor presented a very informative presentation to us about what happens with a claim after it is filed.
 
Tuesday evening I presented House Bill 174 to the Children's and Families Committee.  This bill will put into place protections for Alternative to Abortion agencies.  I feel these protections are very much required by the recent actions taken place by the city council in St. Louis.  This bill will provide employers and the agencies working from a faith based view the protections they need.  I am very grateful to the Catholic Arch Diocese for the support they are giving to me on this bill.  The services that these agencies offer are an incredible resource and are very important to pregnant women who want to carry their unborn children to term. They range from providing a place for the woman (and child/children) to live, transportation to and from medical appointments, food, clothing and much more.
 
On Wednesday afternoon, House Bills 226 and 405 were both voted out of Health and Mental Health Committee.  House Bill 226 deals with provisions related to Emergency Medical Services and treatments.  It will allow a pathway for EMTs to administer the emergency medication of a patient with a rare disorder who carries the emergency medication on their person. With such disorders, the medication must be administered as quickly as possible; without it, the patient will die or suffer long term consequences.  House Bill 405 clarifies some confusion in current statute as it relates to hospice patients.  The clarification will state that patients under the care of a licensed hospice agency, no death investigation will be required if the death certificate is signed by the hospice physician and will require the coroner to be notified via written communication within 24 hours of the death.
 
I am staying an extra day in Jefferson City this week due to the first board meeting I will attend for ACT-MO.  I was recently selected to serve on the Executive Board and am excited to begin!  ACT-MO is a group focused on drug prevention and education.  I am looking forward to working with this group and hopefully assisting to decrease the drug addictions in our state.
 
I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day this week!!  I look forward to updating you more next week!
 
Until then,
 
Tila