JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri House gave it’s stamp of approval to legislation on treatment courts and STEM education, sending the two bills to the Senate.
On Wednesday, the third day of the 2018 extraordinary session got underway with the measures hitting the House floor after coming out of their respective committees unanimously. Neither bill was amended during the perfection process.
Rep. Kevin Austin’s HB 2 received strong bipartisan support, passing with a 141-1 vote. Those who spoke up in favor of treatment courts reiterated their effectiveness at reducing recidivism rates.
Treatment court bill soars through committees, heads to House floor
There was some pushback from some Democrats on Rep. Travis Fitzwater’s HB 3 over allowing a computer science course to count for a math class for high schoolers. But supporters highlighted computer science as being the practical application of math.
The bill passed in a 119-23 vote.
Fitzwater’s STEM bill moves to House floor with little effort
“While we are pleased that Missouri’s fiscally responsible budget was upheld, our focus remains on the special session priorities of STEM education and treatment courts. We would like to thank Rep. Fitzwater and Rep. Austin for their hard work ensuring the House passage. We look forward to working with Senator Libla, Senator Dixon, and the entire Senate on final passage of these two important issues for the State of Missouri,” Parson said in a statement.
This was not the first time the House has consider either bill, with versions passing out of the chamber during the regular session. Parson vetoed the two bills because of what he considered problematic language and called lawmakers back for the special session to fix the measures.
Alisha Shurr was a reporter for The Missouri Times and The Missouri Times Magazine. She joined The Missouri Times in January 2018 after working as a copy editor for her hometown newspaper in Southern Oregon. Alisha is a graduate of Kansas State University.
