Over 500 years of combined emergency communications experience was represented in the Missouri State Capitol on Tuesday, April 16th, 2024.
Attendees met at 9:00 AM on the third-floor rotunda and received a briefing from Association lobbyist, Kaycee Nail of Penman Group. This briefing included highlights of legislative priorities for the 2024 session, an overview of the handouts and documents located inside of the advocacy day packet and information on how to locate and identify their Representative and Senator for both their home and work address.
Following this briefing, attendees were released for an hour to go make contact with their legislatures or in some cases their legislature’s staff to talk about the importance of NG9-1-1 funding, the wayfair tax and to thank them for their support in the 2023 legislative session.
At 10:00 AM, nine attendees were invited into the House chamber to accept resolutions recognizing National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week. The remainder of the attendees were in the House Gallery watching the proceedings and were also recognized.
Accepting the resolutions were:
- Zachary Dykes, President of Missouri APCO
- Jamie Taylor, President of Missouri NENA
- Jeff Holman, President of Missouri 911 Directors Association
- April Ford, Director of Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1
- Tina Reece, St. Charles City Police Department
- John Moran, Taney County Sheriff’s Office
- Lisa Orf, Central County 9-1-1
- Shelby Creed, Director of Linn County E911 Central Dispatch
- Angie Rodgers, Director of Scott County E911
Watch as the Missouri House of Representatives recognizes NPSTW 2024.
Attendees recognized by the Missouri House of Representatives during the 2024 National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
Source: Missouri House of Representatives
At 10:30 AM, the Presidents of the three associations presented award plaques to the introductory sponsors of the Reclassification language during the 2023 legislative session. Due to the efforts of Senator Elanie Gannon, Representative Chad Perkins and Representative Robert Sauls, the reclassification language ultimately made it into Senate Bill 24 which was signed into law in July 2023.
The attendees along with Senator Gannon and Representatives Perkins and Sauls then posed for a group photo opportunity.
Lastly, at 1:30 PM, attendees were able to meet with the Governor’s Policy Advisor in the Governor’s Office. During this meeting, the advisor provided a history and some interesting bits of information about the office and listened to the needs of emergency communications in Missouri. Thoughtful discussion was held regarding NG9-1-1 funding, staffing and training.
The Associations are grateful to Governor Parson and his staff for their continued support of Missouri’s Emergency Communications Professionals.
