Submitted by the Office of Jim Kalberloh
To the Constituents of the 126th District,
It has been a great week to be a Missourian! The Kansas City Chiefs winning another Super Bowl was a great way to start off the week!! Wednesday was a light day here at the Capitol as many of the KC area representatives went home to be part of the parade.
The Missouri Retired Teachers Association (MRTA) was in the Capitol this week on their yearly visit to us. It was nice to have Anita Hartley and Janice Putnam, from St. Clair county, stop by my office and visit and talk about education legislation.
We also passed the Supplemental Budget that included an 8.7% pay raise for state workers and follows is also 2 bills that passed the house this week.
House Members Approve Proposal to Improve Pay for Kansas City Police Officers (HBs 640 & 729)
The Missouri House gave preliminary approval this week to a legislative proposal that would help the Kansas City Police Department attract and retain the very best law enforcement personnel. With a first-round voice vote, House Members approved legislation that would allow the department to offer better pay to officers and the chief of police.
HBs 640 & 729 would eliminate the current authorized salary ceiling for the Kansas City police chief and allow the Board of Police Commissioners to establish a salary ceiling by resolution. The bill would also eliminate the existing salary ceilings for police officers, computed according to rank, and empower the board to use the salary minimums as a base in pay ranges for officers in crafting their comprehensive pay schedule program.
The bill’s sponsor said it is important to put the power to establish a salary schedule in the hands of the Board of Police Commissioners rather than the hands of the state. The sponsor noted the Kansas City Police Department is currently down 254 police officers and is losing officers to surrounding areas where they can receive better pay.
Another provision in the bill would remove the current requirement that the Kansas City police chief be under 60 years of age. During discussion on the floor, members also approved an emergency clause that would allow the bill to go into effect immediately if it is approved by both chambers and signed into law.
Protecting Businesses from Costly Mandates (HB 184)
Lawmakers approved legislation this week aimed at protecting businesses, schools, and churches from burdensome government mandates. By a vote of 105-36, the House approved HB 184 to prohibit local ordinances requiring businesses to pay for new electric vehicle charging stations.
The bill’s sponsor said his legislation comes in response to a trend that has seen municipalities mandate that small businesses, shopping centers, and churches install and pay for electric charging stations whenever they make improvements to their facilities. He said an ordinance in St. Louis County requires businesses to add and pay for electric charging stations even if they expand their parking lot. One supporter said he has seen the impact of the mandates in his area where businesses have put off making improvements to avoid the additional costs associated with installing charging stations.
He said, “They don’t even want to repave their parking lot because they have to put in 10 to 15 grand worth of electrical vehicle stations. They don’t have the money to do it. It’s an unnecessary mandate.” He added, “I think this helps our small businesses greatly.”
HB 184 also prohibits any political subdivision from requiring any school or religious organization to install an electric vehicle charging station. The bill’s sponsor told his colleagues, “I don’t think it’s the government’s responsibility to be the marketing department for General Motors and Chrysler, or BMW.” He added, “Businesses develop their business, they develop their parking lots, for their customers, not as fueling stations. Let the free market fend for itself. If there’s a demand, it will be there.”
Supplemental Funding Bill Sent to the Senate (HB 14)
By a vote of 151-2, Missouri House members approved a supplemental spending bill and sent it to the Senate for consideration. The legislation (HB 14) will allocate more than $627 million in funding for the current state operating budget.
Some of the highlights of the supplementing spending plan include:
- 8.7% pay increase for state workers
- Does not include general assembly and statewide elected officials.
- Additional $2 an hour shift differential for night shift direct care workforce (prisons, hospitals, other care facilities).
- $286.5 million in spending authority for the State Emergency Management Agency.
- $628,750 appropriation to the Department of Agriculture to help address the growing black vulture problem impacting livestock owners statewide.
- $20 million to establish school safety programs, including physical security upgrades and associated technology, bleeding control kits, and automatic external defibrillators.
I am honored to serve as your Representative in the Missouri House. If at any time, you have questions, concerns or ideas regarding state government, please feel free to contact me at 573-751-5388 or Jim.Kalberloh@house.mo.gov.
Jim Kalberloh
State Representative
126th District
