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January 31,
2008 Volume
4, Number 5 | ||
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In This
Issue
E-Mail
cynthia.davis@house.mo.gov
Chair Vice Chair
Vice Chair
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Bill
of the Week Keeping
Sexual Predators Out
of Our Classrooms An unspoken epidemic has plagued our school
systems for far too long. Numerous teacher sexual misconduct cases have
gone unreported and unresolved over the years because of a system that
fails to promote open communication between schools and school districts.
While we have taken many steps to prevent sexual predators from coming
within a thousand feet of our schools, we have failed to create a system
that ensures they are not inside our schools and teaching our children.
It’s time we rectify this problem by ensuring our schools are safe
learning environments where our young people can receive a quality
education without fear of harm. As we take a closer look at this problem, it’s
important to realize Here in I am serious about creating a system here in
This is why I introduced HB1318. My bill
would give employers protection from retaliation of former employees if
they share information about why the individual left his or her
employment. It exempts employers from civil liability when
discussing employee information that may affect the safety of others. This
change would give school districts the ability to share important
information regarding teacher sexual misconduct, even if the teacher
resigned. This in turn would prevent cases, as discussed above, where
a teacher was always able to find a new teaching position despite numerous
allegations of sexual misconduct. My overall approach is one that encourages
transparency and open communications. It places a heavier emphasis on
ensuring that bad actors will not have access to more victims by moving
from job to job. Our system needs to stop protecting the
guilty and focus on helping the innocent. Your
thoughts are important to me, so please let me know what you think.
You can send me your opinion by clicking
here:
Cynthia Davis
Last week, I had an opportunity to help a
constituent, one of the best parts of my job! While trying to
register his motor vehicle in Wentzville, he encountered a difficulty with
the Department of Revenue and the Department of Natural Resources’ air
emissions inspection program. His vehicle was exempt from the
emissions requirement because of low mileage, but he had a hard time
proving it to the Wentzville registration facility. Even though the
department’s computers showed that he met the requirement, the motor
vehicle facility demanded that he fill out another form, send it to the
Department of Natural Resources to be processed, and return with the
form. This caused my constituent to take off more time
at work in order to fill out and return with what he viewed as a redundant
piece of paperwork. So, he called my office to see if a legislator
could intervene on behalf of the public. And I did. Through a
conversation with Revenue staff, my office found that indeed, the facility
could use the information in their computer to confirm the constituent’s
exemption, and he didn’t need to return with another piece of paper.
The Department of Revenue called the Wentzville facility to ensure that
staff there understood the policy. The satisfaction I receive from
making a difference for my constituents is the main reason I am
here.
If you are absent on Election Day
from the jurisdiction in which you are registered, you may vote by absentee
ballot. For example, I am one of those who cannot vote in
the district because I will be
representing you at the Capitol in If you wish to vote in person, you
may vote an absentee ballot at the Election Authority's Office. Such voting begins
approximately six weeks before an election and continues until 5:00 p.m.
the day before the election. Please
note that the location for this has changed. The Election
Authority Office is located at To get to the new office, take
Highway 70 to exit 220 and go north. Take the first right off of
Highway 79, which is However, if you want an absentee ballot to be mailed to you, you
will need to request a ballot in writing. You must reapply for a new
ballot before each election. If you have registered to vote by mail,
proof of identification is required before an absentee ballot may be
mailed to you. Written requests must be received in the
Election Authority's Office no later than 5:00 p.m. the Wednesday before
any election. If you are voting absentee, your notarized
affidavit envelope with your voted ballot inside must be returned to the
Election Authority no later than 7:00 p.m. the day of the election.
The Election Authority will only accept absentee ballots that are
delivered by mail, registered carrier, or personally returned by the voter
or family member within the second degree (meaning husband, wife, or
parent). For additional information on
Absentee Voting, call 636-949-7550 or 1-800-822-4012. Complete
information on absentee voting is also located at St. Charles County, Election
Authority. A Little
Bit of Humor
The
boy has a history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially
awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law and
regulation requiring that family unity be maintained to the highest degree
possible. The
boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him more
than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her. When the judge
then suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried and said
that they also beat him. After
considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that
domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge took
the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should have
custody of him. After
two recesses to check legal references and confer with the child welfare
officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the Nebraska
Cornhuskers, whom the boy firmly believes are not capable of beating
anyone.
This Capitol Report is a weekly
column by Representative J If you know of anyone else who
would like to receive my Capitol Report, please send an e-mail to Cynthia.Davis@house.mo.gov with the
person’s name and e-mail address. We’ll add them to the
list. L If you would like to stop receiving
the Capitol Report, email us at Cynthia.Davis@house.mo.gov
with “unsubscribe” in the
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Positive Change in Our License
Bureau
Absentee Voting
