What's Happening Report
May 18, 2020
Missouri Representatives throw their papers in the air to celebrate the end of the Legislative session.

Hello!

The House and Senate finished their sessions last Friday with a record low number of bills passed. After we adjourned sine die (with no further business before the body), Representatives traditionally throw their papers in the air to celebrate. Once again this year, most Democrats did not throw their papers into the air because we found very little to celebrate.

Very few bills passed this year. Some bills passed that I am very concerned about:
  • SJR 38, which puts a provision on the ballot to undo Clean Missouri;
  • SB 631, a Covid-related elections bill that I fear is dangerous to democracy;
  • HB 1963, a transportation bill that repeals the requirement that motorcycle riders wear helmets;
  • SB 739, which prohibits Missouri from contracting with any business that engages in a boycott with Israel for any reason.

Of course, not all of the bills were bad. There were several bills that passed which make needed reforms to the foster care system.

Over the coming weeks, I will be digging into the bills that passed this year so you have more information about them.
Elections Information

June 2 elections are coming up! The deadline for applying for an absentee ballot is Wednesday, May 20 by 5:00 PM . The form is available here for the City and the County .

SB 631 authorizes mail-in ballots for 2020. It also increased the filing fees to run for office and it gives the Secretary of State subpoena power for investigating election fraud.

Will I be able to vote in 2020 without going to the polls?
Yes:
  • You can vote via mail-in ballot for any reason.
  • You can vote an absentee ballot if you meet the following conditions:
  • You will be unable to cast a ballot because you will not be in the county where you live;
  • You are confined due to illness or physically caring for someone who is confined due to illness;
  • Your religion conflicts with your ability to go to the polls;
  • You are an election worker who will be working the polls on election day;
  • You are incarcerated but still entitled to vote;
  • You are in a protection program where your address is confidential; or
  • You have contracted Covid-19 or at risk of contracting Covid-19 and it is 2020. You are considered at risk of contracting Covid-19 if:
  • You are 65 or older;
  • You are in long-term care;
  • You have chronic lung conditions or asthma;
  • You have serious heart conditions;
  • You are immune compromised;
  • You have diabetes
  • You have kidney disease and are on dialysis; or
  • You have liver disease
Will I have to get my ballot notarized?
Yes ,  unless  you are voting absentee because you are confined or caring for someone who is confined due to illness, or if you meet the qualifications for voting absentee because of Covid-19.
A notary cannot charge a fee for notarizing an absentee ballot. A notary can charge a fee for notarizing a mail-in ballot.
How do I get an  absentee  ballot?
You have to apply in person or by mail, electronically, or by fax. You have to state the reason for requesting an absentee ballot.
How do I get a  mail-in  ballot?
You have to apply in person at the election board or by mail. Your application must state your name, the address where you are registered, and the address where your ballot should be sent.
Can I apply for a ballot for someone else?
Only for someone who you are a guardian for or for someone you are related to within the second degree. (This is true for both absentee and mail-in ballots.)
What is the deadline for requesting a ballot?
5:00 PM on the second Wednesday before the election; but if applying in-person for an absentee ballot, you can apply by 5:00 PM on the day before the election.
  • For the June 2, 2020 election, you must request your ballot by May 20. It is uncertain whether you will be able to apply for a mail-in ballot by that time.
  • For the August 4, 2020 election, you must request your ballot by July 22.
  • For the November 3, 2020 election, you must request your ballot by October 21.
What is the deadline for returning a ballot?
The Election Board must receive your ballot by 7:00 PM on the day of the election. Mail-in ballots must be mailed; they cannot be returned in person.
COVID-19 Information

Missouri's stay at home order has been lifted, and we are now under a social distancing order . St. Louis City and County are also under less restrictive orders now.

Covid-19 is a very serious illness, and over 5.5% of those diagnosed in Missouri have died. There is a push to end stay-home orders, but this virus is waiting us out.

Governor Parson does a daily briefing at 3:00, which is also on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GovMikeParson/videos/ . You do not have to be on Facebook to see them.

Please keep talking about hand washing , what social distancing means, and cleaning and disinfecting .

Missourians in need during COVID-19 can find information about essential services available through the online  Missouri Services Navigator  system. This resource offers instant access to available programs and services such as school meal programs for students, food banks, child care, diaper banks, counseling and organizations that assist with housing, transportation or utilities issues. There are currently over 2,000 services listed, with new services added daily. Users can search by keyword, location and/or service. Every program and service contains a map of the location as well as contact information.

If you or your business needs help, my office stands ready to help.

All Missouri schools are closed through the end of the year. Here are the information pages for schools in District 91: Webster Groves , Lindbergh , Affton , and St Louis Public Schools . Schools are providing meals to free and reduced-price lunch students. While schools hope to be back in session next year, they also planning for how to continue social distancing.

Affton and Webster Groves have announced that their summer school program will be online this year.

The Missouri House Democratic Caucus has put forth recommendations for what the state can do to address the Covid-19 crisis. You can see them at https://www.molegdems.com/covid19.
Fixing Missouri's Medicaid system is an issue I have been concerned about for a long time and have spoken about in past newsletters. The Federal Families First act gives additional matching funds to states for Medicaid, but one of the conditions of these funds is that they do not cut anyone off Medicaid during this crisis. The good news is, Missouri will not cut anyone off Medicaid during this crisis. Also, if you are diagnosed with Covid-19 and meet the Medicaid criteria for a person with a disability (no more than 85% of Federal Poverty Level; asset limit of $4,000 for individuals or $8,000 for families), you can get Medicaid for 90 days .

I looked at Medicaid numbers for April, and the total number of people on Medicaid has increased by 6.5% this year.
My office has published a consumer guide but will not be sending it to the district. We have had a small number printed to make available to constituents, please contact my office if you would like a copy . The consumer guide is ava ilable thr ough my website from the "District Publication" button.

I am working to build a coalition of people with disabilities in my district . If you have a disability and would like to help advise me on disability issues, please let me know . The concept of "nothing about us without us" is important to me and needs to be part of all policy making, especially relating to people with disabilities.
Medical Bills
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If you have received a surprise medical bill, I would like to hear your story. Please e-mail me with the subject "surprise bill" or call my office at
573-751-1285 to tell us your story.

The Department of Insurance is available to advocate for customers who think they have been taken advantage of. You can call their consumer helpline at 573-751-4126 to get help on insurance matters.
RealID Update
RealID compliant drivers and nondrivers licenses are now available with proper documentation . Please note that the Federal government requires a copy of this documentation be kept for several years. You can go to the DMV and request a replacement for your current license with the Real ID for a $5 processing fee.  If you renew your license at the time of the request you will be charged the renewal fee. You need a RealID compliant Identification Card to board an airplane and enter federal buildings; Missouri issued Identification Cards (including drivers' licenses) will be accepted in lieu of RealID until October 1, 2021 . Some military bases require individuals to present a RealID. For more information about RealID, go to dor.mo.gov/drivers/real-id-information/ .

According to the federal Real ID Act, states must retain paper copies of source documents for a minimum of 7 years, and images/microfiche of source documents for at least 10 years, after which point they are to be irretrievably destroyed. Missouri statute complies with this requirement and permits the Department of Revenue to keep these documents within a system not connected to the internet or accessible by any other state or the federal government.

When you get a RealID, please note that the state is required to keep a digital copy of your data for ten years. If you are using a document with private information for identification, like a bank statement, I believe you can redact that information before they scan it.
Census Update
Wednesday, April 1, was Census Day! If you have not completed the census, I encourage you to complete it as soon as possible. In a normal Census year, the census hires individuals to go door-to-door to help people complete the census. Social distancing complicates this exponentially.

If you have any problems completing the census, my office will be happy to help.
Capitol Construction

The Missouri Capitol remains under construction, but it is starting to open up! The protective sheeting around the Capitol is being removed, and the stone underneath is beautiful. Many streets around the Capitol are closed, with signs directing an alternate route. The Capitol Dome is also closed. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2020.

You can take a virtual tour!

Here is a 30-minute virtual tour of the art of our Capitol that was produced by Ozarks Public Television a few years ago. Here is the link:

Stately Images - The Public Art of Missouri's State Capitol

Also, House Communications produced a virtual Capitol dome tour that highlights our famous whispering gallery and the view from the top of the building. Here is the link:

Nancy and I will not be meeting people or answering phones in the office, but we will return phone calls and e-mails. You may call at 573-751-1285 or e-mail at sarah.unsicker@house.mo.gov .

I had two interns this year: Abby, from the University of Missouri, and Noelle, from Washington University's Brown School. They have been incredibly helpful to my office.

I enjoy opportunities to meet with people in the community and participate in local events. It's one of the best parts of my job!
Thanks for reading. Have a great week!

Sarah
Representative Sarah Unsicker
91st District
Leadership
I serve as policy chair of the House Democratic Caucus.
Committees
The committees I am on are:
  • Children and Families (Ranking member)
  • Rules - Legislative Oversight (Ranking member)
  • Health and Mental Health Policy
  • Subcommittee on Healthcare Reform
  • Joint Committee on Public Assistance
Bills Filed (2020)
  • HB 1270, relating to Department mailings for blind pension recipients (Reported out of Consent committee);
  • HB 1271, banning retailers from selling crib bumpers (Passed Children and Families);
  • HB 1272, erasing the waiting period for enrolling children in CHIP health insurance (HB 2379, filed by Representative Steve Helms (R-Springfield), containing the provisions in this bill, was heard 2/24 in the Health and Mental Health Committee);
  • HB 1273, relating to how often we verify eligibility for Medicaid recipients;
  • HB 1274, requiring children to be in rear-facing child safety seats until they are two years old (HB 2199, filed by Representative Elaine Gannon (R-De Soto), which is very similar to this bill, was voted out of the House and is going to the senate);
  • HB 1275, relating to when schools must report discipline incidents to law enforcement (scheduled for hearing 3/17 in Special Committee on Student Accountability; this committee hearing was cancelled);
  • HB 1276, requiring agencies that work with people with disabilities to help them secure competitive, integrated employment;
  • HB 1277, banning the death penalty;
  • HB 1278, requiring a certificate of value before transferring interest in real property;
  • HB 1670, maintains enrollment for eligible children on Medicaid for one year (HB 2379, filed by Representative Steve Helms (R-Springfield), containing the provisions in this bill, was heard 2/24 in the Health and Mental Health Committee));
  • HB 1671, extends and relocates the trauma-informed schools program;
  • HB 1672, expands eligibility for the show-me healthy babies program to infants (currently cannot enroll a child after it is born);
  • HB 1673, maintains enrollment for eligible individuals on Medicaid who are aged, blind, or disabled for one year.
  • HB 2158 related to the drug utilization review board;
  • HB 2159 related to regulating tobacco products;
  • HB 2160 requiring the Department of Revenue to add information about tax credits to its annual report.
  • HB 2357, requiring insurers to cover certified midwife services if they cover nurse midwives
  • HB 2358, requiring a report on the Governor's initiative to make Missouri a Model Employer for people with disabilities. (SB 974, with the same language, was heard in the Senate on 3/10.)
  • HB 2438, which modifies the Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board to require the board to consider social determinants of health and racism when reviewing severe maternal morbidity and maternal mortality.
  • HB 2439, requiring Missouri to follow federal guidelines when redetermining eligibility for Medicaid and to reduce unnecessary burdens.
  • HB 2440, adding tobacco and vapor products to the drug-free education program in schools.
  • HR 4542, regarding inclusion for people with disabilities in the workforce and in the classroom
  • HB 2601, creating protections for immigrant tenants
  • HB 2609, allows school districts to annex onto special school districts.
  • HR 4542, regarding inclusion for people with disabilities in the workforce and in the classroom
Representative Sarah Unsicker
573-751-1285
Missouri Capitol, Room 135B-C
Paid for by Sarah Unsicker for State Representative, Dan Flaxbart, Treasurer