Jeff Smith for Missouri

Jefferson City — State Sen. Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, says President Barack Obama’s Presidential Inaugural Committee recently challenged communities to perform a day of community service to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on the anniversary of his birthday. In response, Sen. Jeff Smith held his second annual cleanup on MLK Jr. Blvd in the City of St. Louis, on Monday, Jan. 19. The support from the community was tremendous as volunteers scoured the area in near-freezing weather to pick up trash in empty lots, streets, businesses, and neighborhoods.

JEFFERSON CITY — As of Jan.1, legislation that will help Missourians save energy, save money, and reduce home energy costs has become law.

Last year, Senator Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, sponsored several energy-saving proposals that were incorporated into Senate Bill 1181 passed by the General Assembly. Senator Smith worked with numerous organizations, state departments, and legislators in both the Senate and House to craft the energy package, which provides long-term environmental benefits for consumers and the state at relatively low costs.

The new law includes an annual sales tax holiday on energy-saving appliances, an income tax deduction for home energy audits, and state tax credits for developing “green” buildings. The legislation also enacts new minimum energy efficiency standards for all state buildings and provides more accountability of state environmental practices.

JEFFERSON CITY — Senator Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, is proposing a bill to protect Missouri children from bullying at school — including bullying in the form of racial, religious, sexual, or other types of discrimination.

Senator Smith recently filed Senate Bill 132, which would expand Missouri schools’ anti-bullying policies to include discrimination or any action that substantially interferes with a student’s educational performance or a school’s safe and orderly operation.

“All students deserve a safe learning environment,” Sen. Smith said. “Unfortunately, bullying is a very real and growing problem and we need to curb it where it generally occurs — at school.”

The proposed legislation would require school districts to adopt policies prohibiting bullying, including a definition of bullying and procedures for reporting acts of bullying, responding to confirmed incidents of bullying, and conducting prompt investigations. The measure would also require anti-bullying policies are made public, and ensure employees and volunteers receive training on anti-bullying policies.

“Bullying can adversely affect a student’s performance, self-esteem, and sometimes result in tragic consequences,” Sen. Smith said. “Research shows that when there is a commitment by schools, teachers, students and parents, bullying can be drastically reduced, and student safety increased.”

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JEFFERSON CITY — Senator Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, is encouraging city of St. Louis citizens to join him for the second annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Clean Up set for Monday, Jan. 19 — the state holiday honoring the civil rights leader.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for St. Louis residents to honor the life and memory of Dr. King by joining together to do something good for our community,” Sen. Smith said.

Senator Smith invites individuals, community groups, businesses, families, friends, neighbors and organizations to meet at the corner of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Union for the cleanup activities, which begin at noon and run until 2 p.m. Gloves, trash bags and refreshments will be provided.

For more information, call Sen. Smith’s District aide Johnny Little at (314) 601-4252.

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