|
Hello Colleagues,
We are well into session and are working hard for you in Jefferson City! Below, find some of the work being done by myself and NASW-MO’s lobbying team. We are actively reading bills, testifying in committee hearings, and meeting with legislators throughout the week. We are proud that recently two of our Board members came to testify against a bill NASW-MO opposed (see below). I encourage you to read our updates regularly and carefully.
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Passionate about advocacy issues? Here are three great opportunities!
Register for NASW-MO’s Virtual Conference MACRO FOR EVERYONE on March 1-2. We will have sessions to increase your advocacy skills! Sign-up for NASW-MO’s LEAD Day. Come to the Capitol with us. The pre-training is on February 23. Want more information regularly? Attend our Legislative Advocacy calls (click here for the Zoom link) on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month, from 3-3:30pm.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES!
1. Anti-Poverty Efforts – NASW MO Chapter supports policies to relieve financial hardship and provide adequate assistance for individuals living in poverty. Bills related to this policy area include:
-
Create a series of tax credits to spur investment in childcare to improve access and affordability. HB 1488, sponsored by Representative Brenda Shields (R-St. Joseph), passed the House and is awaiting referral to a Senate Committee. SB 742, sponsored by Senator Lauren Arthur (D-Kansas City), is on the Senate Perfection Calendar. NASW MO Chapter testified in support of these bills in committee.
-
Remove the restrictions blocking individuals with felony drug convictions from accessing SNAP benefits. NASW MO Chapter supported HB 1777, sponsored by Representative Chad Perkins (R-Bowling Green), in committee. This bill passed the House Corrections Committee and is awaiting a vote in a Rules Committee.
2. Children and Youth – NASW MO Chapter advocates for policies to educate and protect Missouri’s youth, especially marginalized individuals, such as LGBT+ youth, homeless youth, youth living in poverty, and youth of color. Bills related to this policy area include:
-
Criminalize the negligent discharge of firearms in municipal limits. Blair’s Law is named in memory of a child killed by celebratory gunfire in Kansas City. NASW MO Chapter has supported bipartisan Blair’s Law bills in committee. This language has been added to multiple packages, including HB 1659, sponsored by Representative Lane Roberts (R-Joplin), which requires one more vote to pass the House; and SB 754, sponsored by Senator Tony Luetkemeyer (R-Parkville), which is on the Senate Informal Perfection Calendar.
-
Provide homeless youth with a free copy of their state ID. HB 1775, sponsored by Representative Chad Perkins (R-Bowling Green), passed the House Transportation Committee and was referred to a Rules Committee. NASW MO Chapter supported HB 1775 in committee.
4. Health and Behavioral Health – NASW MO Chapter supports affordable access to physical and behavioral health services, with an emphasis on individuals who are uninsured, underinsured, or Medicaid participants. Bills related to this policy area include:
-
Streamline the prior authorization process for healthcare providers by providing a pathway for providers to be exempt from prior authorization requirements. HB 1976, sponsored by Representative Melanie Stinnett (R-Springfield), unanimously passed the House Healthcare Reform Committee and a Rules Committee. NASW MO Chapter supported this bill in committee.
-
Codify that audio-only technologies can be used for telehealth services. This is essential to ensuring access for individuals without sufficient broadband access. NASW MO Chapter supported three versions of this language in committee: HB 1907, sponsored by Representative Melanie Stinnett (R-Springfield); HB 1421, sponsored by Representative Mike Stephens (R-Bolivar); and HB 1873, sponsored by Representative Patty Lewis (D-Kansas City). HB 1907 passed the House Healthcare Reform Committee.
5. Human Rights – NASW MO Chapter advocates for policies that affirm the dignity of all individuals, especially marginalized communities such as LGBT+ individuals and people of color. Bills related to this policy area include:
-
Open the door to further discrimination against the transgender community by protecting individuals and institutions who refuse to provide gender affirming care. NASW MO Chapter opposed HB 1519, sponsored by Representative Brad Hudson (R-Cape Fair), during its committee hearing. This language was added onto Representative Hudson’s HB 1520, which would remove the expiration date and grandfather clause from the gender affirming care restriction bill passed last year. This new package passed the House Emerging Issues Committee and a Rules Committee.
-
Increase risks for discrimination against LGBT+ students on college campuses by enshrining additional protections for religious and ideological campus groups. Two NASW Board Members, Jess Harmon (MSW Representative) and Thomas Way (BSW Board Representative) came to Jefferson City and opposed HB 1518, sponsored by Representative Brad Hudson (R-Cape Fair), in committee. This bill passed the Emerging Issues Committee and was referred to a Rules Committee.
6. Protecting the Social Work Profession – NASW MO Chapter advocates for policies that protect the profession of social work and the individuals we serve, including licensure standards, continuing education requirements, and scope of practice. Bills related to this policy area include:
-
Require social workers to complete two hours of continuing education relating to sex and human trafficking awareness each renewal cycle. This language was filed on HB 1706, sponsored by Representative Jeff Myers (R-Warrenton), and SB 906, sponsored by Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R-Arnold). NASW MO Chapter has instead proposed requiring educational hours on human trafficking awareness for initial licensure. This would build a better understanding of trafficking while preserving flexibility in social workers’ CEs on an ongoing basis.
-
Enact onerous restrictions on DEI-related programs in healthcare training institutions. NASW MO Chapter opposed HB 2567, sponsored by Representative Ben Baker (R-Neosho), in the House General Laws Committee. NASW also opposed four bills prohibiting state departments from expending funds on DEI programs. These bills are: HB 2365, HB 2448, HB 2569, and HB 2619.
| 
