As a member of the Missouri Chapter, you can rest assured that you are being represented in Jefferson City! The Missouri Chapters of APCO, NENA and the 9-1-1 Director’s Association combine forces to have a voice in the Capitol. It is because of your membership dues and the income generated through the Missouri Public Safety Communications Conference that the Associations can provide a lobbyist to ensure the needs and voices of emergency communications officials are heard!
Our Legislative Committee is composed of emergency communications and public-safety communications representatives from Missouri.
Chair
JR serves as the Vice-President of the Missouri Chapter of APCO and as the designated legislative representative of the Association when called to testify before the legislature. JR is the Assistant Director at Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 in southwest Missouri.
President
Zach serves as the President of the Missouri Chapter of APCO and is heavily involved behind the scenes. Zach works closely with the members of this committee and with APCO’s Government Relations team in Alexandria to ensure the Chapter is represented both in Jefferson City and in Washington D.C.
Committee Member
Cheryl serves as Missouri’s Executive Council Representative to APCO International and as a member of our Legislative Taskforce. Cheryl is the Communications Manager at the Joplin Police Department Emergency Communications Center in Southwest Missouri.
Committee Member
Steve serves as the Immediate Past-President of the Missouri Chapter of APCO. He was instrumental in the final push for the most recent change to 9-1-1 funding mechanisms in Missouri and continues to serve on the Legislative Committee. Steve serves in the Kansas City Police Department Communications Division in Northwest Missouri.
Committee Member
Paul is the Executive Director of East Central Dispatch Center in Eastern Missouri. Before serving in emergency communications, he retired as a Chief of Police. Paul has worked tirelessly to promote the reclassification of Public-Safety Communications officials as First Responders in Missouri.
Ensuring the needs of Missouri’s Frontline are represented in Jefferson City
Missouri’s Public-Safety Communications Professionals play an essential role in routine and emergency situations each and every day, yet they are not recognized as the first responders they are. These trained professionals are often the first voice heard during a critical incident for citizens and field responders alike.
The public expects that in times of emergency, emergency services can locate and aid them. Current and emerging technologies are becoming available to Centers across the U.S. but require a robust infrastructure to support NG911 technologies. It is essential that funding is secured to develop the NG infrastructure in Missouri.
As the Public-Safety Communications profession continues to work for inclusion and recognition as First Responders in Missouri, we also continue to work toward Federal reclassification in the eyes of the Office of Management and Budget’s Standard Occupational Classification system.
Critical and traumatic incidents take a toll on those who were involved. Consistent exposure to traumatic incidents can lead to a host of mental and behavioral health concerns. It is essential that ALL first responders have access to mental health and behavioral health services and support.
January 4, 2023 through May 12, 2023
Modifies the definition of first responder to include telecommunicator first responders.
Modifies provisions related to workers' compensation to establish PTSD as an occupational disease for first responders.
Creates the Missouri First Responder Mental Health Initiative Act.
Modifies the definition of first responder to include telecommunicator first responders.
Modifies provisions relating to emergency medical dispatchers.
Creates the "Missouri First Responder Mental Health Initiative Act".
Modifies provisions relating to telecommunicator first responders.
Establishes post-traumatic stress disorder as an occupational disease for First Responders.
Creates a new occupational disease under workers' compensation to include post-traumatic stress disorder in certain first responders.
Modifies provisions relating to emergency medical dispatchers.
