My office will not be mailing out surveys this year. Instead, you can access our survey online at
https://xeroxcorp.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eCGy4KvqhuD9bJH
. These surveys help our office determine priorities and now how the District feels on a variety of topics. I hope you will take the time to take our survey!
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What's Happening Report
April 27, 2020
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Hello!
We return to Jefferson City today to finish the budget and any other priorities of the majority party. The picture above is of the House debate on the last day of session in 2017. I expect that we will be in session until the last day, on May 15, and that several bills will be passed. I am told that session will look more like it has in other years than like it did for the supplemental budget. There will not be a limit of people on the House floor, individuals will not be required to wear masks (although they will be available), and social distancing will be difficult at times.
The primary focus of our work will be the budget, which must be completed by May 8. The budget director put forward a House Substitute for the budget bills, which we will be perfecting on April 27 and third reading on April 29. After that, it will go to the Senate for amendments and debate.
While I normally keep an open door policy in my office, I will not during the last 3 weeks of session. Rather than coming to my office, I ask that you e-mail or call. Nancy will not be in the office, and there will not be anyone answering phones. Nancy or I will return voice messages and e-mails, usually within a few hours.
Missouri continues to be under a
stay-at-home order
until May 3. The plan is for businesses to begin re-opening on May 4 around Missouri. However,
St. Louis City
and
St. Louis County
are
under an order "indefinitely." County Executive Page plans to open things in a gradual process rather than all at once.
Please continue
hand washing
,
social distancing
, and
cleaning and disinfecting
. These measures get more frustrating as time passes, but it is important to slow the spread of the virus. About 2,000 Americans are dying of Covid-19 every day, and in 3 months, we have lost almost as many people as died in the Vietnam war.
Missourians in need during COVID-19 can find information about essential services available through the online
Missouri Services Navigator
system. This resource offers instant access to available programs and services such as school meal programs for students, food banks, child care, diaper banks, counseling and organizations that assist with housing, transportation or utilities issues. There are currently over 2,000 services listed, with new services added daily. Users can search by keyword, location and/or service. Every program and service contains a map of the location as well as contact information.
There are several things in place to help people and small businesses:
- State Representative Deb Lavender has put together a handy small business guide to the Federal CARES act.
- The Save Small Businesses Fund from the US Chamber of Commerce is a grant program for small businesses in economically vulnerable communities.
- If you are temporarily without work, you can apply for unemployment benefits. Benefits are available without having to prove you are looking for employment if you check the "Covid-19" box. See more at http://labor.mo.gov/coronavirus. Business owners can also fill out a bulk application for all of their employees.
- The CARES Act has put into place a temporary hold on evictions. Read more here.
- Many court proceedings in Missouri are delayed.
- Many utilities have agreed to not shut off service during this crisis
- The deadline for filing Income Tax (state and federal) has been moved to July 15
- Drivers' Licenses and motor vehicle licenses that are set to expire are given a 60 day extension
- RealID waivers are extended until October 1, 2021.
If you or your business needs help with these or other issues, my office stands ready to help.
The Missouri House Democratic Caucus has put forth recommendations for what the state can do to address the Covid-19 crisis. You can see them at
https://www.molegdems.com/covid19.
If you are interested in knowing what measures the legislature could take to fight the fallout of the Coronavirus, I have found a website that allows you to take action:
https://www.actnowmissouri.org/.
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News for Parents and Caregivers
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St. Louis-regional camps face critical decisions about Summer 2020 & want to hear from local families. Please complete & share this
Blueprint4Summer
survey by May 4th:
bit.ly/Summer4Families
It’s short, anonymous, & will be a huge help to camps in our area trying to protect summer learning during COVID response.
All Missouri schools are closed through the end of the year.
Here are the information pages for schools in District 91:
Webster Groves
,
Lindbergh
,
Affton
, and
St Louis Public Schools
. Schools are providing meals to free and reduced-price lunch students. While I believe schools hope to be back in session next year, I am inquiring about what they plan to do for families who want to continue social distancing.
DESE recently released
guidelines
for schools about summer school. As of today, it is unknown whether children will be able to return to school buildings for summer school, although parents, teachers, and administrators want this to happen. DESE Covid information is available
here
.
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IMPORTANT COVID-19 RECOVERY REBATE INFORMATION
How Can People Find Out When to Expect Their Checks?
The IRS is creating a website for tax filers to track the status of their checks. This applies to people who will receive their checks via direct deposit or check.
Here is a link to that website
("Filers: Get Your Payment").
Are There Any Resources to Help Someone Who Usually Doesn't File a Tax Return to Ensure They Receive What Amount They Are Eligible For?
Yes. The IRS has just released a new web tool to help these people file. It is a quick, easy, no-cost process. People who want to use this tool to help others or themselves should
visit this webpage
("Non-Filers: Enter Your Payment Info Here") to learn more about what information is needed to file.
What If Someone Usually Gets Their Tax Refunds by Mail? Is There Any Way to Help Them Get Their Check Faster?
Yes. The IRS is setting up a web portal that will allow people who do not currently file taxes to use direct deposit to provide the IRS with their direct deposit information.
Here is a link to that web portal
("Filers: Get Your Payment"). It will take much longer for the IRS to send out paper checks. Note that the web portal is currently the only way to provide the IRS with direct deposit information.
Will this stimulus check affect my taxes?
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Fixing Missouri's
Medicaid
system is an issue I have been concerned about for a long time and have spoken about in past newsletters. The Federal Families First act gives additional matching funds to states for Medicaid, but one of the conditions of these funds is that they do not cut anyone off Medicaid during this crisis. The good news is,
Missouri will not cut anyone off Medicaid during this crisis.
Also, if you are
diagnosed with Covid-19
and meet the Medicaid criteria for a person with a disability (no more than 85% of Federal Poverty Level; asset limit of $4,000 for individuals or $8,000 for families),
you can get Medicaid for 90 days
.
After Medicaid implemented the new policy for not cutting anyone off in mid-March, the number of children on the Medicaid rolls increased by nearly 10,000 in March.
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My office has published a
consumer guide
but will not be sending it to the district.
We have had a small number printed to make available to constituents, please contact my office if you would like a copy
. The
consumer guide
is ava
ilable thr
ough my
website
from the "District Publication" button.
I am working to build a
coalition of people with disabilities in my district
. If you have a disability and would like to help advise me on disability issues,
please let me know
. The concept of "nothing about us without us" is important to me and needs to be part of all policy making, especially relating to people with disabilities.
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If you have received a surprise medical bill, I would like to hear your story. Please
e-mail me
with the subject "surprise bill" or call my office at
573-751-1285 to tell us your story.
The Department of Insurance is available to advocate for customers who think they have been taken advantage of. You can call their consumer helpline at 573-751-4126 to get help on insurance matters.
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RealID compliant drivers and nondrivers licenses
are now available with proper
documentation
. Please note that the Federal government requires a copy of this documentation be kept for several years.
You can go to the DMV and request a replacement for your current license with the Real ID for a $5 processing fee.
If you renew your license at the time of the request you will be charged the renewal fee. You need a RealID compliant Identification Card to board an airplane and enter federal buildings; Missouri issued Identification Cards (including drivers' licenses) will be accepted in lieu of RealID until
October 1, 2021
. Some military bases require individuals to present a RealID. For more information about RealID, go to
dor.mo.gov/drivers/real-id-information/
.
According to the federal Real ID Act, states must retain paper copies of source documents for a minimum of 7 years, and images/microfiche of source documents for at least 10 years, after which point they are to be irretrievably destroyed. Missouri statute complies with this requirement and permits the Department of Revenue to keep these documents within a system not connected to the internet or accessible by any other state or the federal government.
When you get a RealID, please note that the state is required to keep a digital copy of your data for ten years. If you are using a document with private information for identification, like a bank statement, I believe you can redact that information before they scan it.
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Wednesday, April 1, was Census Day!
If you have not completed the census, I encourage you to complete it as soon as possible. In a normal Census year, the census hires individuals to go door-to-door to help people complete the census. Social distancing complicates this exponentially.
If you have any problems completing the census, my office will be happy to help.
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Capitol Construction
The Missouri Capitol will be under construction for the next two years. Many streets around the Capitol are closed, with signs directing an alternate route. The Capitol Dome is also closed. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2020.
You cannot tour the Capitol while it is closed to the public, but you can take a virtual tour!
Here is a 30-minute virtual
tour of the art of our Capitol that was produced by Ozarks Public Television a few years ago. Here is the link:
Stately Images - The Public Art of Missouri's State Capitol
Also, House Communications produced a virtual Capitol dome tour that highlights our famous whispering gallery and the view from the top of the building. Here is the link:
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Nancy and I will not be meeting people in the office, but we will return phone calls and e-mails. You may call at 573-751-1285 or e-mail at
sarah.unsicker@house.mo.gov
.
I have two interns this year: Abby, from the University of Missouri, and Noelle, from Washington University's Brown School. They have been incredibly helpful to my office.
I enjoy opportunities to meet with people in the community and participate in local events. It's one of the best parts of my job!
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Thanks for reading. Have a great week!
Sarah
Representative Sarah Unsicker
91st District
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I serve as policy chair of the House Democratic Caucus.
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The committees I am on are:
- Children and Families (Ranking member)
- Rules - Legislative Oversight (Ranking member)
- Health and Mental Health Policy
- Subcommittee on Healthcare Reform
- Joint Committee on Public Assistance
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- HB 1270, relating to Department mailings for blind pension recipients (Perfected, on the Third Read Consent calendar);
- HB 1271, banning retailers from selling crib bumpers (Passed Children and Families);
- HB 1272, erasing the waiting period for enrolling children in CHIP health insurance (HB 2379, filed by Representative Steve Helms (R-Springfield), containing the provisions in this bill, was heard 2/24 in the Health and Mental Health Committee);
- HB 1273, relating to how often we verify eligibility for Medicaid recipients;
- HB 1274, requiring children to be in rear-facing child safety seats until they are two years old (HB 2199, filed by Representative Elaine Gannon (R-De Soto), which is very similar to this bill, was voted out of the House and is going to the senate);
- HB 1275, relating to when schools must report discipline incidents to law enforcement (scheduled for hearing 3/17 in Special Committee on Student Accountability; this committee hearing was cancelled);
- HB 1276, requiring agencies that work with people with disabilities to help them secure competitive, integrated employment;
- HB 1277, banning the death penalty;
- HB 1278, requiring a certificate of value before transferring interest in real property;
- HB 1670, maintains enrollment for eligible children on Medicaid for one year (HB 2379, filed by Representative Steve Helms (R-Springfield), containing the provisions in this bill, was heard 2/24 in the Health and Mental Health Committee));
- HB 1671, extends and relocates the trauma-informed schools program;
- HB 1672, expands eligibility for the show-me healthy babies program to infants (currently cannot enroll a child after it is born);
- HB 1673, maintains enrollment for eligible individuals on Medicaid who are aged, blind, or disabled for one year.
- HB 2158 related to the drug utilization review board;
-
HB 2159 related to regulating tobacco products;
- HB 2160 requiring the Department of Revenue to add information about tax credits to its annual report.
- HB 2357, requiring insurers to cover certified midwife services if they cover nurse midwives
- HB 2358, requiring a report on the Governor's initiative to make Missouri a Model Employer for people with disabilities. (SB 974, with the same language, was heard in the Senate on 3/10.)
- HB 2438, which modifies the Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board to require the board to consider social determinants of health and racism when reviewing severe maternal morbidity and maternal mortality.
- HB 2439, requiring Missouri to follow federal guidelines when redetermining eligibility for Medicaid and to reduce unnecessary burdens.
- HB 2440, adding tobacco and vapor products to the drug-free education program in schools.
- HR 4542, regarding inclusion for people with disabilities in the workforce and in the classroom
- HB 2601, creating protections for immigrant tenants
- HB 2609, allows school districts to annex onto special school districts.
- HR 4542, regarding inclusion for people with disabilities in the workforce and in the classroom
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Representative Sarah Unsicker
573-751-1285
Missouri Capitol, Room 135B-C
Paid for by Sarah Unsicker for State Representative, Dan Flaxbart, Treasurer
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