Secretary of State Matt Blunt has informed the Office of Administration that it does not appear to have legal authority to deduct service fees from paychecks of new employees. An official from the Office had sent word to the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Corrections, and the Missouri Veterans Commission that new workers considered for employment after September 1st must agree to either pay union dues or have service fees deducted from their paychecks. Blunt has determined the rule is without legal basis. But, he informed the Office of Administration he would authorize publication of the proposed rule in order to give the Office an opportunity to receive public comment, and then correct the deficiencies in its final order of rulemaking.
