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Health insurers regulated by the state would have to cover treatment for autism under a bill that has passed the House and moved to the Senate.
Rep. Dwight Scharnhorst (R-Manchester) said during his opening remarks on the House floor that his bill would mandate the coverage of a wide range of disorders, called the autism spectrum disorder. HCS HB 1311&1341 passed the House Thursday on a 135-to-18 vote. [Read more...]
A controversial bill a year ago gets new life in the House, which has given tentative approval to a requirement that health insurers cover autism.
A year ago, concerns about the impact on health insurance premiums kept the bill from coming to the House floor for debate. This year, a measure stands on the doorstep of approval.
Sponsor Dwight Scharnhorst, a representative from Manchester, made his final plea prior to the voice vote on HCS HB 1311&1341. [Read more...]
Use drugs, lose assistance from the state, the gist of a bill passing the House and moving to the Senate.
Critics assailed the plan to strip Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, known as TANF, from anyone testing positive for drug use, still it passed Thursday on a 114-to-39 vote. It now moves to the Senate which has stalled in working on its own version. [Read more...]
A bill that would kick Missourians off a welfare program if they test positive for drugs has advanced in the House.
Do drugs; lose Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) money under HCS HB 1377 that advances in the House on a 113-to-40 vote. The bill would strip TANF money from anyone who tests positive for drug use. [Read more...]
Just how far the state can go to keep convicted sex offenders from contact with children is at the heart of a State Supreme Court case on a state law that greatly restricts activities on Halloween.
State law requires registered sex offenders to stay in their homes from 5-to-10:30pm on Halloween, turn off outside lights and post a sign stating “no candy or treats at this residence”.
During oral arguments, Supreme Court Judge Laura Denvir Stith questioned the reach of such restrictions.
“If it’s OK to restrict going outside or opening your door to others or keeping the porch light on on Halloween, although we understand why that was chosen, but legally if that’s permissible what’s the difference between that and saying you can never have your light on or you could never leave your home,” Stith asked.
Audrain County Prosecutor Jacob Shellabarger understands there is a line to be drawn.
“I believe the legislature has tailored these particular restrictions in a particular way and chosen their words carefully in doing so,” Shellaber responded. “I don’t know where the line is, your honor, but I think this is clearly on the lawful side of it.”
The case, State of Missouri v. Charles A. Aynor, doesn’t really center on the constitutionality of the Halloween restrictions, but on whether they are being applied retrospectively to Charles Raynor, who had to register as a sex offender when he moved to Missouri, because of a 1988 conviction in the state of Washington. Missouri law prohibits retroactive enforcement. The trial court found it retrospective. The Supreme Court will rule later.
Brent Martin reports.
