FROM THE CAPITOL
We have wrapped up our spring session at the Capitol in Jefferson City. In this report, I’ll be visiting with you about several public safety bills that I worked on this spring.
These public safety bills have been truly agreed and finally passed (TAFP) by both the House and Senate, but none of these bills have yet been signed into law by the Governor. We should be hearing about the Governor’s final decisions within the next few weeks, and I’ll keep you advised. In future columns, we’ll discuss other new laws passed this year.
First, I’ll highlight a bill that was requested by the Missouri Prosecutor’s Association. If signed by the Governor, this bill will create a criminal conviction integrity unit to review claims of wrongful conviction made by defendants. It will implement a streamlined process of investigation and review of the many, many claims of innocence made each year. Rather than innocence being debated (and sometimes declared) by the media, a professional investigation will be held and factual-based findings made. False claims will be weeded out, but claims supported by new evidence will be forwarded to local prosecutors to evaluate and to act on as justice requires.
This year, we also passed a tougher bail/bond bill. I helped draft this bill, and for several years, have been working on getting it across the finish line. This new law requires judges to weigh all evidence (together with the following factors) before making a decision on whether to release a defendant from jail. The judge must consider these factors: (1) whether the defendant is a danger to the victim and the community; (2) how serious (or violent or dangerous) is the current offense; (3) whether the defendant has a history of violence and prior conviction(s) for dangerous or violent offenses; and, (4) whether the defendant has prior failures to appear and the likelihood he or she will reappear in court to answer the new charges. A lot of folks have encouraged me to get this done, and it’s great to see this bill finally passed and going to the Governor’s desk.
Working with freshman Representative Bill Allen, we also passed stricter sentencing penalties to be used against illegal drug dealers. Bill lives in the Kansas City area. He won an upset election last year, and coincidentally, represents the district where my daughter Kristin and her family live. The idea for this bill came from the Kansas City prosecuting attorney.
If signed, this bill will make it a Class A felony to distribute (or sell) illegal drugs when consumption of the drug causes death or serious physical injury to the user. To increase sales, drug dealers have been cutting or mixing fentanyl together with other highly addictive drugs. These illegal drug combinations often cause fatal results. I will continue to support law enforcement and the war against illegal drug trafficking. I hope and pray this law will help.
Also, please note that if signed by the Governor a no texting while driving bill will become law effective August 28. I’ve been working on a similar bill for the last 5 years, and it’s great to see this bill finally passed. It will save lives. Forty-eight other states have already passed a no texting while driving law. This bill will prohibit texting while driving, except when the driver is using the newer hands-free texting and calling systems available now in newer vehicles.
To wrap up and update you on the efforts of the drug trade to legalize psychedelic mushrooms in Missouri, I am happy to report that it failed. This was a fight that I was proud to lead. It was a badly written bill, and if passed, it would have hurt a lot of people.
Again, thank you for the ongoing honor of serving as your representative and speaking for your common sense values. If you would like to schedule a specific time to meet locally or at the Capitol, please call Becky Connell at my office at 573-751-1455, or email my office at david.evans@house.mo.gov.
Please remember that Becky works only part-time during the summer, so please call ahead before visiting if you want us to help arrange a tour.
Best regards,
David Evans
Missouri State Representative
154th District
