House Approves Sunshine Law Extension to Protect Schools
This week we approved legislation on the House floor to allow schools and hospitals to keep their security plans and measures out of the hands of those who would misuse the information. The bill comes in response to a section of Missouri’s Sunshine Law that expired at the end of 2012 that exempted security procedures and plans from the open records law. Reinstating the exemption is an important step to take to ensure the methods schools use to keep children safe remain private.
The bill would reinstate the exemption and give schools the peace of mind to know their security procedures cannot be obtained by what is known as a Sunshine request. Specifically, it would make the exemption to Missouri’s open records law permanent. The exemption protects the key security procedures used by schools, hospitals and courthouses from being released to the public.
In the wake of the tragedy that took place in Connecticut, we must make absolutely certain our schools are as safe and secure as possible. I look for the legislature to move this piece of legislation quickly through the process so this important change becomes law as soon as possible.
The bill would reinstate the exemption and give schools the peace of mind to know their security procedures cannot be obtained by what is known as a Sunshine request. Specifically, it would make the exemption to Missouri’s open records law permanent. The exemption protects the key security procedures used by schools, hospitals and courthouses from being released to the public.
In the wake of the tragedy that took place in Connecticut, we must make absolutely certain our schools are as safe and secure as possible. I look for the legislature to move this piece of legislation quickly through the process so this important change becomes law as soon as possible.
Voter ID Measure Receives House Approval
Legislation to require photo identification to vote was approved in committee last week and this week received approval from the full House of Representatives. The premise of the bill is a very simple one – if you show up at the polling place to cast your vote, you should be able to prove that you are who you say you are. It’s a measure meant to protect the sanctity of the voting process and to ensure that every vote counts by removing the potential for fraud from the elections process.
The photo ID requirement is one we have seen several other states adopt over the years. While some may claim it is meant to prevent some voters from going to the polling place, the opposite is actually true. In Indiana, where they put a photo ID requirement in place in 2008, they’ve actually seen voter turnout improve. In fact, it was a professor from our own University of Missouri who did a study that showed voter turnout increased after the law was in place. It’s a positive change I think can be attributed to the fact voters in Indiana had more confidence that the voting process was fair and free from fraud with the requirement in place.
This year we will work to give voters the chance to approve a similar system here in Missouri. The bills are making their way through the process now and I’ll do my best to keep you updated as they take major steps forward in the coming weeks.
Benevolent Tax Credit Bill Moves through House (HB 87)
The Missouri House of Representatives passed legislation last week that would reauthorize several tax credits designed to encourage donations to charitable organizations. These benevolent tax credits that help organizations like food pantries, pregnancy resource centers and child advocacy centers expired last year.
My colleagues and I in the House tried to extend the programs during the 2012 session, but the issue was ultimately tied to other tax credit programs that were the source of extensive debate in the Senate. This year we hope to separate the issue and keep the focus on the many benefits the charitable tax credit programs provide to the people of Missouri.
The credits encourage private donations to these worthy causes by lowering the state income tax burden for those who donate. In effect, a donor would get back half of their donation to a charitable cause in the form of a credit to the state income tax they owe. It’s a program that worked well over the years and one that costs the state less than $3 million each year.
The truth is that our non-profit organizations do amazing work for the people of Missouri who need help, and we want them and the many other benevolent non-profits to have the opportunity to continue their work. We can give them a helping hand by restoring the tax credits that encourage Missourians to give to these worthy causes.
With our passage of the bill, it now moves to the Senate for consideration. Given the fact the Senate has already approved a similar bill, I think it’s safe to say we will see some form of this legislation on the governor’s desk sooner rather than later.
