Wednesday, January 5th kicked off the latest session of the Missouri Legislature and with it, the promise of several bills that will have various impacts on public safety communications professionals in Missouri! The following bills were pre-filed for consideration on December 1, 2021. The Missouri Chapter of APCO will keep our eye on the progress of these bills and work with our fellow Associations and our lobbyist throughout the session.
House Bills 1473 and 1886 along with Senate bills 634 and 655 introduce modifications to the Missouri Local Government Employees’ Retirement System (LAGERS). The summaries for HB1473, SB634 and SB635 read identical: “Currently, political subdivisions located in third class counties and Cape Girardeau County may, by majority vote of the governing body, elect to cover certain employee classes as public safety personnel members in the Local Government Employees’ Retirement System (LAGERS). This bill allows political subdivisions located in any county to cover such employee classes.” The three Associations are in support of this change. These bills were sponsored by Representative Patricia Pike, Representative Wes Rogers, Senator Jeanie Riddle, and Senator Sandy Crawford.
House Bill 1531 and Bouse Bill 1676 impact the definition of First Responder in Missouri. These bills are a logical first step in the reclassification of Telecommunicators as First Responders.
The summary for HB153 reads “This bill expands the definition of first responder to include public safety dispatchers, emergency responders, or emergency services dispatchers who respond to emergencies and meet the requirements of the local government, department, or agency. The bill includes “telecommunicator” as defined in Section 650.320, RSMo and reclassifies the 9-1-1 public safety dispatchers as first responders.” This bill was sponsored by Representative Mark Ellebracht.
The summary for HB1676 reads “This bill adds “telecommunicator first responders” to the definition of first responders, and authorizes each political subdivision to elect to cover telecommunicator first responders as public safety personnel of the system. Training requirements for telecommunicators are specified in the bill.” This bill was sponsored by Representative Chad Perkins.
Senate Bill 708 modifies provisions related to occupational diseases contracted by certain first responders by including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The summary of SB708 reads ” This act provides that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosed in any person who is a firefighter, police officer, emergency medical technician, emergency medical dispatcher or other first responder shall be presumed as an occupational disease resulting from employment if: (1) the person has completed at least 5 years of employment; and (2) the person was examined by a medical professional upon commencing employment and the examination failed to reveal any evidence of PTSD. Denial of a claim under this act shall be on the basis of clear and convincing medical evidence that the cause of the PTSD is unrelated to the person’s employment as a firefighter, police officer, emergency medical technician, emergency medical dispatcher, or other first responder.” This bill was sponsored by Senator Doug Beck.
The Missouri APCO Legislative Committee will continue to work with our fellow associations and our lobbyist towards the passage of these acts. The Missouri APCO Legislative Committee is comprised of members from across the State. Current members are:
Zachary Dykes, President
JR Webb, Vice President
Stephen Hoskins, Past-President
Cheryl Konarski, Executive Council Rep.
Paul Jokerst, Member