Contact: Scott Holste, (573) 751-0290
Channing Ansley, (573) 751-0290
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 14, 2014
Gov. Nixon announces final bill actions
JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Jay Nixon today announced his final actions on bills passed by the 97th General Assembly. Gov. Nixon vetoed Senate Bill 656, which would have created a new mechanism for the arming of teachers and signed House Bill 1490, which will allow Missouri school districts to continue to implement rigorous academic standards. The Governor allowed two other bills to become law without his signature.
Senate Bill 656 would allow Missouri school districts to designate teachers or administrators as “school protection officers,” who would be authorized to carry concealed firearms in school buildings and classrooms.
“Arming teachers will not make our schools safer,” Gov. Nixon said. “I have supported and will continue to support the use of duly authorized law enforcement officers employed as school resource officers, but I cannot condone putting firearms in the hands of educators who should be focused on teaching our kids.”
The Governor’s veto message is available here.
In addition, Gov. Nixon has signed House Bill 1490, which will allow Missouri school districts to continue to implement rigorous academic performance standards. Originally introduced as a bill to ban the adoption of the Common Core standards, House Bill 1490 was amended significantly through the legislative process and will now allow Common Core standards to remain in effect while groups of educators and parents develop recommendations for how Missouri’s academic performance standards might be improved.
“Over the past several years, we have made significant strides to increase rigor, transparency and accountability in our classrooms and with my signature today, this progress will continue,” Gov. Nixon said. “By continuing to raise our expectations and implement more rigorous standards, we can ensure every Missouri student graduates with the skills needed to compete and win in the global economy.”
Finally, Governor allowed the following bills to become law without his signature:
n Senate Bill 510, which redefines “misconduct” and defines “good cause” for the purposes of disqualification from unemployment benefits; and
n Senate Bill 741, which authorizes gaming establishments to provide lines of credit.
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Follow the Governor on twitter: @GovJayNixon
