Capitol Report
March 14, 2022
|
|
Hello!
We are on Spring Break this week, so this newsletter will not have information about upcoming hearings. Today I'm sharing several events that I wanted to alert you to.
In the newsletter today:
- In Memoriam
- Scholarship Opportunity
- St. Louis County and Missouri Job Fairs this week!
- New Districts
- Medicaid Update
- Bills
- Other Events
- Session Basics: How to Participate
- House Schedule
- Medicaid Expansion
- Poster Contest
- COVID Funeral Assistance
- COVID-19 Memorials
- Real ID update
- Virtual Tour of Missouri Capitol
|
|
In Memoriam
I would like to take a moment to remember Cora Faith Walker, who passed away suddenly last week. Representative Walker and I were first elected at the same time in 2016, and she served three years in the House. She was smart, funny, loyal, and a good friend to many. After leaving the House, she served as policy chief in St. Louis County Executive Sam Page's office. Her absence will be felt for a long time, and she is truly missed. She was 37.
|
|
Scholarship Opportunity
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Women Legislators of Missouri are encouraging young women set to graduate from high school to apply for a college scholarship. Members hope to spread the word about the scholarship opportunity so that female students from all parts of the state will apply.
“This is a great opportunity for any young woman who is interested in continuing her educational career to receive valuable financial assistance,” said Representative Sarah Unsicker.
The Women Legislators of Missouri Caucus created the senior scholarship program to provide financial assistance to students on the basis of leadership, academics and community service. Candidates must fill out an application and are required to submit a 500-word essay answering the question, “If you were a state legislator, what would you hope to accomplish and why?”
A link to download the scholarship is located at http://bit.ly/molegwomen.
The submission deadline is Thursday, March 24, 2022.
The group will select recipients and then hold a reception in their honor on Monday, April 25, at the Missouri State Capitol. Scholarships will be presented to the recipients in the Missouri House Chamber. For further information, contact Representative Unsicker at 573-751-1285.
|
|
Job Fairs
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO (March 8, 2022) – St. Louis County will host “Spring into a New Career” Hiring Fair on March 15 at The Crossings at Northwest Plaza from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Attendees will be able to speak with hiring managers from County departments including the St. Louis County Police Department as well as St. Louis County Circuit Court. “This is a great opportunity to meet with current employees and learn about career opportunities in departments across our government, have your resume reviewed, and apply for opportunities in a variety of fields,” said County Executive Dr. Sam Page. “I invite you to hear directly from our employees about why St. Louis County is a great place to work.”
Interested candidates can view job openings and even apply for jobs ahead of the hiring fair. Full-time, part-time, on-call, and seasonal positions are all available. On-site interviews will be available for those who apply ahead of time for the following positions: corrections officers, office service representatives and specialists, and secretaries.
St. Louis County offers competitive benefits including four weeks of paid time off, federal student loan forgiveness, discounted Metro passes, free membership at County parks and recreation facilities, career advancement, and much more. Candidates are asked to pre-register for the event by calling 314-615-6055. This step is not mandatory, and no one will be excluded from the event should they not pre-register. For individuals who may need an accommodation to participate in the hiring fair, please contact Carol Flood, County ADA Coordinator at (314) 615-0148 (voice) or call RelayMO 711 or 1- 800-735-2966 (TTY), or by email at cflood@stlouiscountymo.gov. To provide your accommodation, please make your request by March 11, 2022.
Spring into a New Career Hiring Fair
Tuesday, March 15
1 p.m. – 7 p.m.
The Crossings at Northwest Plaza
715 Northwest Plaza Dr. 63074
|
|
New Districts
For the past 5 1/2 years, I have been honored to represent the 91st District. But this year, the districts were redrawn and Shrewsbury, where I live, is now in the 83rd District.
I have filed to represent the 83rd District in the Missouri House of Representatives, and I look forward to getting to know the residents of Affton, Maplewood, Brentwood and Richmond Heights. See candidates for the 83rd District.
I am sad that after this year, I will no longer be representing residents of St. Louis City, Webster Groves, or Crestwood.
-
My constituents in St. Louis City will now be in the 82nd District, currently represented by Representative Donna Baringer. See Candidates
-
My constituents in Crestwood will be in the 96th District, currently represented by Representative David Gregory, who is not running for reelection. See Candidates
-
My constituents in Webster Groves will remain in the 91st District. Representative Jo Doll is the only candidate I know of who will has filed to run in the 91st District. See Candidates
Candidate filing ends on March 29, after which date we will have a final list of candidates.
|
|
Medicaid
As of March 2, there were 71,082 people enrolled in Medicaid expansion. There were 72,657 pending Medicaid applications as of 1/31/22, with an average of 99 days to process applications.
Earlier this month, the Department of Social Services notified Planned Parenthood that they would no longer reimburse Planned Parenthood for pap smears, birth control, and other reproductive health procedures through Medicaid. This, in my opinion, violates state and federal law. Planned Parenthood has filed a lawsuit against this. |
|
Rep. Unsicker's Bills
1589 bills were filed in the House this year. 14 have made it to the Senate, and 1 has made it all the way through the process and been signed by the Governor.
I have filed the following bills:
-
HB 2026: Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act -- allows courts to prevent parents from taking their children to a different jurisdiction during a custody battle when the parent is likely to abduct their children. It is currently law in 15 states.
-
HB 2027: Rental Protections -- prevents landlords from discriminating against tenants based on real or perceived immigration status.
-
HB 2028: Death Penalty -- eliminates the use of the death penalty in Missouri
-
HB 2029: Certificate of Value -- changes the laws regarding real property to require the filing of a certificate of value before transferring interest in real property.
-
HB 2030: Education Expenses -- allows funds distributed from a MOST 529 account to pay up to $10,000 of student loans incurred for postsecondary education expenses
-
HB 2146: Educational Stability -- provides guidelines for educating children in foster care.
-
HB 2659: Requires businesses that sell tobacco products to provide information to the Bureau of Alcohol and Tobacco Control.
-
HB 2804: Related to therapist records in the family court.
-
HB 2805: Related to guardians ad litem.
None of my bills have yet been assigned to committee.
There are a number of COVID-related bills this session, enough that I put them on a separate page!
|
|
My interns this session are Janeka, Jess, Jack, and Rachel. I am excited to work with them! They are working virtually this session.
I am currently meeting people by reservation. You must wear a mask to meet with me. You may also contact us at 573-751-1285 or e-mail at sarah.unsicker@house.mo.gov.
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
|
|
I serve as policy chair of the House Democratic Caucus. |
|
The committees I serve on are:
- Children and Families, Ranking Minority Member
- Budget
- Subcommittee on Appropriations: Health, Mental Health and Social Services
- Joint Committee on Public Assistance
|
|
Representative Sarah Unsicker
573-751-1285
Missouri Capitol, Room 101-C
Paid for by Sarah Unsicker for State Representative, Dan Flaxbart, Treasurer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
