From the desk of Senator David Pearce

A Busy Interim

The Missouri Senate is never a quiet place. Even though the special session just ended, the time between legislative sessions, meetings and discussions and preparations for the upcoming session keeps us busy. Sometimes the interim is the only time that certain committees can meet. Occasionally, committees are created during the interim in order to utilize the time for research and discussion.

This interim, in response to the many natural disasters our state witnessed this year, Senate leadership created the Senate Interim Committee on Natural Disaster Recovery to focus on various forms that disaster recovery takes in our state. Three subcommittees focused on emergency, fiscal, and insurance response.

The Subcommittee on Emergency Response had the responsibility of focusing on the physical response to a natural disaster, such as disaster relief, emergency crews, and utility crews. The Fiscal Response Subcommittee explored who pays for cleanup and care of affected areas until the vicinity can resume productivity. The Subcommittee on Insurance Response assumed the task of examining how beleaguered individuals and businesses file insurance after a disaster and how those claims are addressed by insurance companies, as well as the specific qualities that define a disaster in order for insurance companies to provide compensation.

Another committee, which I am proud to serve as vice chairman, continues to meet throughout the interim. The Joint Committee on Education meets typically during the interim to discuss information collected during the year regarding education and education-related issues throughout the state, such as the progress of education in our state’s public schools, as well as teachers and education funding.

In addition to this, I also serve on the Joint Interim Committee on School Accreditation. With the recent unaccreditation of the Kansas City school district and court cases in the last few years dealing with this topic, it seemed necessary to discuss the impact of accreditation on local school districts. It is our hope that by thoroughly examining the events that led to these court cases, we can improve the future of education for many students.

As I said, there aren’t many spare moments in the Missouri Senate. There are often questions that arise that need to be answered for the good of our state and its citizens. I am honored to be involved in these different panels and that I get to represent the 31st District in the shaping of Missouri’s future.

As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or 573-751-2272, or by fax at 573-526-7381.

Senator David Pearce serves Bates, Cass, Johnson and Vernon counties in the 31st State Senatorial District.