Latest news with #SenateBill71
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Missouri eyes free college tuition for public safety personnel and dependents
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — New legislation headed for the governor's desk would provide free tuition in Missouri for a wide-range of public safety personnel if approved, a new tool designed to address staffing shortages and boost recruitment. Senate Bill 71, sponsored by Sen. David Gregory, R-St. Louis, would provide college tuition awards for public safety personnel such as police officers, firefighters, paramedics, telecommunicators, first responders, emergency medical technicians or advanced emergency medical technicians. Public safety personnel with at least six years of service shall be entitled to an award worth up to 100% of the resident tuition charges, including fees, for an institution of higher education located in Missouri. The legal dependent of public safety personnel with at least ten years of service is also eligible for a tuition award if he or she executes an agreement with the institution of higher education outlining the terms and conditions of the tuition award, including the legal dependent's commitment to reside in Missouri for the next five years. Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett called the measure a new and innovative" tool that would not only benefit public safety personnel and the departments they work for, but the communities they serve by offering new ways to recruit and retain valuable officers in Missouri. "This is a good hand in glove kind of concept because the more we train, the more we educate our staff, the better they serve the community," he said. "It's a win-win. It keeps our folks here in the state of Missouri and it allows our universities that have really quality programs to continue to prosper." Puett said the measure would focus on degree programs designed specifically for public safety and public safety-oriented fields. Individuals who have already earned a baccalaureate degree are ineligible to use the tuition award to earn another degree. The measure passed both the Missouri House and Senate this legislative session and now awaits approval from Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe. The governor has identified fighting crime and enhancing public safety as a top priority. "Kudos to the governor, Department of Public Safety and the legislature because the governor came in with a law enforcement priority and he is holding true to those values," Puett said. "This is one of the planks in that effort to recruit and retain good law enforcement officers for our state. Puett said if the measure is ultimately approved, the department would look to utilize it immediately, helping them save local tax dollars that are currently used for tuition assistance. According to a fiscal analysis, the measure would lead to a decrease of roughly $3.4 million in general revenue funding. Four St. Joseph Police officers talk at the scene of a shooting at 16th and Grand streets in 2024 in St. Joseph. Cameron Montemayor | News-Press NOW
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Missouri eyes free college tuition for public safety personnel and dependents
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — New legislation headed for the governor's desk would provide free tuition in Missouri for a wide-range of public safety personnel if approved, a new tool designed to address staffing shortages and boost recruitment. Senate Bill 71, sponsored by Sen. David Gregory, R-St. Louis, would provide college tuition awards for public safety personnel such as police officers, firefighters, paramedics, telecommunicators, first responders, emergency medical technicians or advanced emergency medical technicians. Public safety personnel with at least six years of service shall be entitled to an award worth up to 100% of the resident tuition charges, including fees, for an institution of higher education located in Missouri. The legal dependent of public safety personnel with at least ten years of service is also eligible for a tuition award if he or she executes an agreement with the institution of higher education outlining the terms and conditions of the tuition award, including the legal dependent's commitment to reside in Missouri for the next five years. Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett called the measure a new and innovative" tool that would not only benefit public safety personnel and the departments they work for, but the communities they serve by offering new ways to recruit and retain valuable officers in Missouri. "This is a good hand in glove kind of concept because the more we train, the more we educate our staff, the better they serve the community," he said. "It's a win-win. It keeps our folks here in the state of Missouri and it allows our universities that have really quality programs to continue to prosper." Puett said the measure would focus on degree programs designed specifically for public safety and public safety-oriented fields. Individuals who have already earned a baccalaureate degree are ineligible to use the tuition award to earn another degree. The measure passed both the Missouri House and Senate this legislative session and now awaits approval from Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe. The governor has identified fighting crime and enhancing public safety as a top priority. "Kudos to the governor, Department of Public Safety and the legislature because the governor came in with a law enforcement priority and he is holding true to those values," Puett said. "This is one of the planks in that effort to recruit and retain good law enforcement officers for our state. Puett said if the measure is ultimately approved, the department would look to utilize it immediately, helping them save local tax dollars that are currently used for tuition assistance. According to a fiscal analysis, the measure would lead to a decrease of roughly $3.4 million in general revenue funding. Four St. Joseph Police officers talk at the scene of a shooting at 16th and Grand streets in 2024 in St. Joseph. Cameron Montemayor | News-Press NOW
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill would give free scholarships for Missouri's first responders
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – As Republicans take a victory lap following Wednesday's passage of a sweeping public safety bill, more safety-related legislation is passing through the Missouri Legislature. Freshly-passed Senate Bill 71 would create a scholarship program for existing first responders. The bill's sponsor, Sen. David Gregory, R-St. Louis County, said there's a public safety crisis already underway: there aren't as many people who want to be a police office or firefighter as there was a decade ago. 'We constantly have a problem with recruiting and retaining police and firefighters,' Gregory said in an interview with Nexstar Media. 'It's a big problem.' Gregory believes his proposal is a solid first step in addressing the retention and recruitment issues plaguing ambulance districts, sheriff's departments and even state law enforcement. 'We're going to provide college tuition, free college tuition for all of our police officers, firefighters and paramedics as well as their dependents,' the freshman senator said. 'That's really exciting.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Gregory says his bill isn't about politics, but rather it's designed to protect all Missourians by incentivizing the men and women who put their lives on the line to serve their communities. He believes retaining Missouri's first responders is a bipartisan issue. 'We're seeing a burnout rate with these (first responders),' Gregory said. 'And they're leaving.' The Senate-approved bill would grant free scholarships to state colleges and universities for any qualifying first responder or dependent. The bill states that qualified recipients can get up to 100 percent of their tuition toward a degree related to their field of work. 'After six years of service, they would qualify for free tuition themselves, then after 10 years of service, their dependents and their children will qualify for free college tuition in a state school here in Missouri,' Gregory said in an interview in his Capitol office. The bill quickly moved through the Senate legislative process and was fully voted out of the upper chamber Thursday morning. It was one of several measures that passed out of the House and Senate this week. Gregory's bill will now head to the House for their consideration. The senator says he has been impressed by the Legislature and the governor's commitment to public safety. 18-year-old charged for racist graffiti in Affton School District 'Our governor made it clear (public safety) is his top priority,' the Republican lawmaker said. 'Cracking down on crime, making things safe in our communities is a number one priority that we've all been talking about.' The efficiency from both chambers has been noticeable as the Legislature heads to its one-week spring recess. 'To see these things coming through, to see them happening as quickly as they are, is just proof,' Gregory said. 'It's proof that we are committed to it and we're going to get it done.' A news conference with Gov. Mike Kehoe and other GOP leaders is set to be held Thursday afternoon outside on the Capitol steps. FOX 2 News will have complete coverage of Kehoe's address as well as more in Gregory's bill tonight. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ohio Statehouse revives bill to ban anti-LGBTQ+ conversion therapy, as cities take action
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — While an increasing number of Ohio cities are banning anti-LGBTQ+ practices known as conversion therapy, Statehouse lawmakers have revived a bill to prohibit the practices statewide. Senate Bill 71, proposed in February by Sens. Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) and Beth Liston (D-Dublin), would prohibit healthcare professionals in Ohio from engaging in conversion therapy with minors. The practices falsely claim to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity and have been discredited by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association. Ohio leaders turn to Intel promises after President Donald Trump's call to repeal CHIPS Act Practitioners of conversion therapy often employ 'aversive conditioning,' which includes the use of electric shock, deprivation of food and liquid, smelling salts and chemical-induced nausea, according to the American Medical Association. A 2021 The Trevor Project survey found that 13% of LGBTQ+ youth nationwide reported being subjected to conversion therapy, with 83% saying it occurred when they were under the age of 18. If passed, S.B. 71 would require state licensing boards to suspend, revoke or refuse to issue or renew the license of the healthcare professional who was practicing conversion therapy with a minor. Antonio and Liston reintroduced the bill after Westerville voted in February to become the 13th city in Ohio to can conversion therapy. While some argued the measure infringes on parental rights, many residents spoke in support of the ban, including a former Presbyterian pastor who said during the ordinance's second hearing that her daughter was a victim of conversion therapy. Watch a previous NBC4 report on Westerville's ban in the video player above. Westerville joined 12 other Ohio municipalities, including Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo and Reynoldsburg, that have banned the practices. Brandon West, a 23-year-old Lorain resident, championed his home city last year to become the 12th to ban conversion therapy, and has since begun advocating for Cuyahoga County to do the same. Jim Tressel on his interest in running for Ohio governor in 2026 Those Ohio cities passed conversion therapy ordinances because the Statehouse didn't advance previous proposals to implement a statewide ban. Although former Rep. Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville) introduced the 'Anti-Conversion Therapy Act' last year in the General Assembly, which would make law in Ohio the same parameters as S.B. 71, the legislation didn't receive a committee hearing. While Lightbody's proposal, then House Bill 220, received bipartisan allyship, Antonio's and Liston's S.B. 71 has yet to gain Republican support and is only co-sponsored by other members of the Senate Democratic Caucus. Antonio, who was Ohio's first openly gay Statehouse lawmaker, also lost Republican support earlier this year for a bill to ban discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. Named the 'Ohio Fairness Act,' the legislation was reintroduced for the 12th time and would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. The act has also never passed the Statehouse to be signed into law, but has traditionally garnered bipartisan support. Every member of the Senate Democratic Caucus and two Republican senators co-sponsored the bill when it was reintroduced for the 11th time during the summer of 2023. Now, the Fairness Act is also only co-sponsored by members of the Senate Democratic Caucus. Cold case suspect extradited to Columbus after DNA links him to 1992 rape, murder Along with failing to ban conversion therapy, Ohio lawmakers have yet to repeal Ohio's dormant same-sex marriage ban and remove antiquated HIV criminalization laws passed in the 1980s. Instead, the Statehouse has passed a bill to ban certain healthcare for transgender youth and education legislation that opponents say will result in the 'outing' of students, which caused an increased number of LGBTQ+ youth to call a crisis hotline. S.B. 71 has been assigned to the Senate Health Committee, where it could receive hearings open for public testimony. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
SD Senate votes to let 17-year-olds drop out with parental consent
South Dakota Sen. Michael Rohl, R-Aberdeen, listens to testimony in the House Judiciary Committee on Jan. 17, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) South Dakota teenagers with parental consent could test out of high school at age 16 or opt to withdraw without testing at 17 under the terms of a bill advanced by the state Senate on Thursday in Pierre. Senate Bill 71 was born of entreaties from administrators who struggle to manage certain students in the face of South Dakota's requirement that all kids stay in school until age 18, according to its sponsor, Sen. Mike Rohl, R-Aberdeen. Lawmakers endorsed compulsory attendance for those younger than 18 in 2009. Visit our 2025 South Dakota Legislature page. That stricture causes problems for students who are ready to test out of high school but are too young to do so without administrative permission, Rohl said, as well as for the teachers who may find themselves wrangling students who don't want to be there and intend to exit the school system as soon as they're able. 'They're making it so these other kids can't learn, and they're honestly wasting both our time, their time, and the teacher's time,' Rohl said. The choice to allow a student to leave school before adulthood, Rohl told the Senate on Thursday, belongs with parents. Legislative efforts to undo the school attendance rule have bubbled up and fizzled out multiple times since 2009. Most recently, former Watertown Republican Sen. Lee Schoenbeck tried to convince his colleagues to lower South Dakota's compulsory attendance age to 16. That 2023 iteration of the bill failed to clear a Senate committee. Unlike the 2023 version, SB 71 requires parental consent, and opens the door for an exit at age 17, not 16. It also clears a path for parents to let their children leave school to pursue a general equivalency degree (GED) once they reach age 16 without seeking a waiver from the state Department of Education, provided they pass the test. SB 71 passed the Senate 34-1 and now heads to the House. The lone no vote came from Sen. Curt Voight, R-Rapid City, a former school administrator who made no remarks about the bill on the Senate floor. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
