Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Signs Bill Enhancing Voter Confidence in State’s Elections
JEFFERSON CITY –Gov. Matt Blunt today enacted legislation to enhance voter confidence in Missouri’s elections, and other bills designed to improve customer service and efficiency during a ceremony in his Capitol office.
“I am pleased to sign this good election reform bill into law,” Blunt said. “This is a continuation of the efforts I championed as secretary of state that have helped restore Missourians’ confidence in state elections as evidenced by the record turnout we experienced in the August and November 2004 elections.”
Senate Bill 1014, sponsored by Sen. Delbert Scott, will enhance voter confidence in the state’s elections by requiring Missourians to verify their identity at their assigned polling place by showing valid photo identification (ID) before they receive their ballot. This requirement will begin in November, 2006. The Commission on Federal Election Reform, co-chaired by former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James Baker, endorsed the recommendation calling for voters to show a photo ID before casting their ballots.
Missouri voters who need a photo ID and cannot afford to meet the requirement will be provided an ID at no cost. Tomorrow, June 15, 2006, the Department of Revenue will begin issuing the free, non-driver ID cards for voting purposes so that all Missourians have ample time to comply with the new requirement to vote. This bill also includes a provision allowing those with physical or mental disabilities, handicaps or religious beliefs without photo ID to cast a ballot.
House Bill 1456, sponsored by Rep. Brad Roark, restores balance to the unemployment insurance (UI) system in Missouri. The bill will allow the Division of Employment Security to administer the UI system in a way that ensures funding is available to help workers in need of assistance and is fairer to employers. The bill increases the maximum weekly benefit amount for some workers and also protects the UI system from employees who lose their jobs due to their own actions, such as violating their employer’s alcohol and drug abuse policy or chronic absenteeism and tardiness.
House Bill 1509, sponsored by Rep. Mark Bruns, expands the duties of the State Fire Marshal within the Division of Fire Safety to include the voluntary training of inspectors, public or private employees, and volunteers in emergency response, rescue and fire prevention. The state fire marshal will be required to set up and maintain a volunteer training and certification based on national standards and is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to oversee the provisions in the bill.
Senate Bill 932, sponsored by Sen. Delbert Scott, establishes requirements for the position of county treasurer, requires county collectors to mail property tax statements 30 days instead of 15 days before the delinquency date and changes the definition of personal information related to county recorder websites to better protect against identity theft, along with other improvements to the law related to county officials.
Senate Bill 1001, sponsored by Sen. John Griesheimer, exempts drivers 65 years old and over from showing proof of lawful presence in order to renew their Missouri driver license. This change will relieve the difficulties many older Missourians were facing to obtain the proper documentation needed to satisfy the proof of lawful presence requirement.
Senate Bill 1008, sponsored by Sen. David Klindt, creates the Governor’s Advisory Council on Agriculture Science and Technology. The council is tasked with keeping the governor informed on new developments in agriculture science and technology and with identifying the state’s long-term needs and economic opportunities in the plant biotechnology fields.
###