The sponsor of a bill that would require a hearing within 60 days for state employees placed on administrative leave will seek an overturn of its veto.

State representative Rob Vescovo (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

State representative Rob Vescovo (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

The bill would require that timeline for a hearing for employees of the state or a school district who are placed on administrative leave. Governor Jay Nixon (D) said that could lead to some employees being retained because 60 days wouldn’t allow time for evidence to be developed.

Bill sponsor, Representative Rob Vescovo (R-Arnold), said current policy treats state employees accused of wrongdoing better than members of the public in similar situations.

“Employers aren’t going to pay them to sit at home.  They’re going to try and get to the bottom of things and figure out what had happened, whether it takes zero days to ten days, but they’re going to figure it out in a timely manner because they can’t afford to pay their employees to sit at home.” said Vescovo.

Governor Nixon also said the bill’s requirements would create confusing, inconsistent, or redundant steps and could lead to lawsuits. He also said it would give some public employees opportunities to appeal they don’t have now, including the right to a hearing.

The bill passed with enough support in the House and Senate to override a veto if enough lawmakers hold their positions. Vescovo expects they will.

“I think we had plenty of votes. Now I have reached out across the aisle to some Democrat state representatives that did vote for it and from my understanding unless there’s some unforeseen circumstance, they plan on sticking with that vote,” said Vescovo.

The veto session is September 14.