Reducing Burdensome Regulations
This week was another busy one at the Capitol! I filed HB 2175 on Wednesday, which would require the Children’s Division to refer all cases in which a birth mother or infant tests positive for illegal controlled substances after childbirth to the Juvenile Office. In light of recent changes within the Dep. of Social Services, this bill will help ensure that when the birth mother or her infant test positive for illegal substances that the proper authorities are notified and that such instances do not go unnoticed or unchecked. The full bill text can be found here: https://goo.gl/raEipq
In other news, the first bill the House passed this week was a ban on lobbyist gifts. Similar to legislation the House has passed in each of the last two sessions, the bill would ban gifts from lobbyists to legislators and other statewide elected officials.
The House also passed HB 1500, known as the hair braiding bill. This bill lowers regulations for certification, making it easier to open a small business. Just over 47% of all workers are employed by small businesses. Lowering regulations, like hair braiding requirements, will create more jobs in Missouri.
Also, another important piece of legislation passed through the House this week was HB 1246. The passage of this bill is a step forward in addressing the human trafficking in Missouri. HB 1246 requires certain places, such as airports and train stations, to display posters informing victims of resources and services available to them. More on these bills below.
The discussion and passage of legislation to combat human trafficking took place in the Missouri House as the nation paused to observe National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. To raise awareness of this modern form of slavery, the president proclaimed January as a month to educate Americans about human trafficking.
Trafficking is one of the largest and fastest growing criminal enterprises in the world. It involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Each year millions of men, women, and children are bought and sold for commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. The illegal industry generates billions of dollars in profits by victimizing people in countries in all parts of the world.
The Department of Homeland Security says everyone has a role to play in combating human trafficking, The first step in identifying victims is recognizing some of the key signs of human trafficking.
To get help from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, call 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733).
You may read in more detail about what is happening at your State Capitol below.
As always, I will work diligently for you as your State Representative.
-Jason
House Approves Bill to Reduce Burdensome Regulations (HB 1500)
The members of the Missouri House gave bipartisan support Wednesday morning to legislation meant to cut burdensome red tape and reduce government overregulation so that businesses can thrive in Missouri. The House approved HB 1500 to remove unnecessary burdens for those who want to braid hair in Missouri.
Under current law, hair braiders must complete 1,500 hours of training to receive a cosmetology license despite the fact the training does not cover hair braiding. The bill’s sponsor told his colleagues that the current requirements force hair braiders to undergo more training than it takes to become a police officer. He said his bill is meant to remove “unnecessary and irrational burdens” for those who wish to braid hair in Missouri.
The bill approved by the House would specify that hair braiders do not have to obtain a cosmetology license in order to earn a living. The bill would require individuals engaging in braiding to register with the State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners. No education or training would be required to register, except that the hair braider would need to complete a self-test on infection control techniques and diseases of the scalp.
Missouri is currently one of just 13 states that require some form of cosmetology license for hair braiders. The bill sponsor said passage of the bill will help get the government “out of people’s hair.”
The bill passed the House by a vote of 131-17. It now moves to the Senate for consideration. The House passed similar legislation in 2017, but the bill failed to secure Senate approval before the session ended.
House Members Approve Lobbyist Gift Ban Legislation (HB 1303)
Also, on Wednesday morning, House members worked to once again pass legislation meant to diminish the influence of lobbyists. Similar to legislation the House has passed in each of the last two sessions, the bill would ban gifts from lobbyists to legislators and other statewide elected officials.
Missouri currently has no limits on lobbyist gifts. The bill House members passed this week would create a gift ban on gifts such as meals or tickets to concerts or sporting events. The bill contains some common sense exceptions such as one that would allow for events to which every member of the House and Senate are invited at least three days in advance. The sponsor explained the exception is meant to allow for grassroots-driven events where large groups of Missourians have the opportunity to meet with all members of the legislature. The bill also contains an exception that would allow a legislator to receive an award or accept flowers for the funeral of a loved one without breaking the law.
Supporters of the bill said it is meant to restore the public’s trust in its elected officials by eliminating any appearance of impropriety and banning all gifts that could give a lobbyist undue influence.
The bill passed with bipartisan support with a vote of 134-12. It now moves to the Senate for consideration. Previous versions of the bill did not receive Senate approval before time ran out in past legislative sessions.
House Members Approve Bill to Fight Human Trafficking (HB 1246)
Legislation is now on its way to the Senate that is meant to provide rescue information to victims of human trafficking, and educate citizens across the state about the growing criminal industry. The House approved HB 1246 by a bipartisan vote of 139-5.
According to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, Missouri currently ranks 20th in reported human trafficking cases. The state saw 74 human trafficking cases reported in 2017, and more than 200 cases reported over the last two years, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
The bill approved Wednesday morning would require the Department of Public Safety to develop a poster to promote the use of the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline. The posters would be displayed at common areas where human trafficking can occur such as hotels or motels that have been cited for prostitution, and train and bus stations.
The sponsor of the bill said it will help to save lives and bring victims home to their families. She noted that studies have shown that when victims utilize hotline numbers, they have a better chance of getting rescued. The sponsor also pointed out that the bill will provide law enforcement officers with increased access to tips to allow them to combat trafficking.
If approved by both chambers and signed into law, Missouri would join more than 20 other states that already have similar posters in place.
Observing National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
The discussion and passage of legislation to combat human trafficking took place in the Missouri House as the nation paused to observe National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. To raise awareness of this modern form of slavery, the president proclaimed January as a month to educate Americans about human trafficking.
Trafficking is one of the largest and fastest growing criminal enterprises in the world. It involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Each year millions of men, women, and children are bought and sold for commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. The illegal industry generates billions of dollars in profits by victimizing people in countries in all parts of the world.
The Department of Homeland Security says everyone has a role to play in combating human trafficking, The first step in identifying victims is recognizing some of the key signs of human trafficking. Some common indicators provided by the department to help recognize human trafficking include:
- Does the person appear disconnected from family, friends, community organizations, or houses of worship?
- Has a child stopped attending school?
- Has the person had a sudden or dramatic change in behavior?
- Is a juvenile engaged in commercial sex acts?
- Is the person disoriented or confused, or showing signs of mental or physical abuse?
- Does the person have bruises in various stages of healing?
- Is the person fearful, timid, or submissive?
- Does the person show signs of having been denied food, water, sleep, or medical care?
- Is the person often in the company of someone to whom he or she defers? Or someone who seems to be in control of the situation, e.g., where they go or who they talk to?
- Does the person appear to be coached on what to say?
- Is the person living in unsuitable conditions?
- Does the person lack personal possessions and appear not to have a stable living situation?
- Does the person have freedom of movement? Can the person freely leave where they live? Are there unreasonable security measures?
Not all indicators listed above are present in every human trafficking situation, and the presence or absence of any of the indicators is not necessarily proof of human trafficking. To get help from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, call 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733).
Capitol Visit
Yesterday, members from Missouri Realtors traveled to the Capitol to advocate for the opposition of changes to the historic tax credit and low-income housing credit, and for the support of first-time home buyer’s savings accounts and real estate licensee immunity from liability. It was great to see so many realtors from the 120th District!
I am committed to serve the constituents of the 120th District, so please feel free to contact my office anytime at 573-751-1688. Your District 120 Capitol Office is 201 W Capitol Ave, Rm 415-B, Jefferson City, MO 65101. If you wish to unsubscribe from this report, please email Dylan Bryant at [email protected]
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