missouri legislative session

A task force has released its recommendations on combatting sexual abuse of children in Missouri. There are 22 recommendations in all. They include requiring people who are legally obligated to report sex abuse incidents to directly contact the state’s Children’s Division, instead of just reporting incidents to superiors within their own organizations. That particular recommendation will be sponsored by State Representative Marsha Haefner (R, Oakville). “The failures that were witnessed as the story of continued abuse at Penn State unraveled could also happen in Missouri under our current law," Haefner said. "My proposed legislation...will put the responsibility of reporting directly on the mandated reporter.” Other recommendations include removing the statute of limitations on first-degree statutory rape and statutory sodomy, and improving mental health services for kids who have been sexually abused and who’ve demonstrated sexually inappropriate behavior. State Senator Bob Dixon (R, Springfield) was also a member of the task force. “A wake-up call has been sounded, a discussion has begun, and I believe this report is really truly a blueprint for action," Dixon told reporters Thursday at the State Capitol. The recommendations were delivered to the Governor and lawmakers one week before the start of this year’s legislative session. The panel created by a 2011 state law included legislators, law enforcement officers, children's advocates and other experts. Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter: @MarshallGReport

In the wake of the mass shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, Missouri lawmakers will have competing gun proposals when they convene…

Forecasters call for Missouri’s revenues to grow by just over 3 percent during the next fiscal year, and a conservative group wants any left over money to…

Monday was the first full day that Missouri lawmakers in both chambers can pre-file bills for next year’s regular session. Much of the legislation…

A proposal in the Missouri House would make it illegal for retail stores to open for business on Thanksgiving Day. It’s one of several bills pre-filed…

Regional news coverage from the KBIA newsroom, including:A wrap of of the legislators' final actions of the 2012 Missouri legislative sessionAttorney…

Missouri lawmakers continue debating bills in the closing minutes of the 2012 regular session. Among the bills passed so far today is one that would require legislative approval before a health care exchange can be created in Missouri. State Rep. Ryan Silvey (R, Kansas City) accused Governor Jay Nixon (D) of trying last year to create an exchange via executive order.

Regional news coverage from the KBIA newsroom, including:Movement on bills in the Missouri House and Senate 2 days before the legislative session closesA…

The Missouri Senate has passed a tax credit measure after hammering out an agreement between GOP leaders and fiscal conservatives who’ve been trying to reign in tax breaks for years. The agreement would cap historic preservation tax credits at $75 million per year, give a one-year extension to food pantry and other charitable tax breaks, and create incentives to draw amateur sporting events to Missouri. State Senator Eric Schmitt (R, Glendale) urged the chamber to pass it before time runs out on the regular session.

Missouri lawmakers return to Jefferson City today for the start of this year’s legislative session. The year 2011 was marked by House and Senate…