March 16th, 2009
SB 140 Provides More Options for Parents to Meet Child Support Obligation
JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri Senate today passed a bill sponsored by Senator Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, that would provide Missouri parents struggling to pay child support with more options to begin or resume financial support of their children, while saving the state millions of dollars. Senator Smith’s Senate Bill 140 would allow circuit courts that deal with criminal nonsupport cases to create special courts to assign nonviolent defendants to court-supervised educational, vocational or employment training, substance abuse treatment or work programs. Under the proposal, defendants could have criminal penalties dismissed, reduced or modified if they successfully complete court-ordered treatment or training programs and begin or resume child support payments.
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March 10th, 2009
JEFFERSON CITY — Senator Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, is announcing his sponsorship and support for Governor Jay Nixon’s nomination of St. Louis attorney Bettye Battle-Turner, 62, of St. Louis to the St. Louis Board of Commissioners. Mrs. Turner, a former municipal and administrative judge for the city of St. Louis, will serve on the board, which oversees the Metropolitan Police Department.
“I am delighted to support the nomination of Mrs. Turner, a lifelong St. Louisan with decades of legal experience who has dedicated her life to making St. Louis a better place,” Sen. Smith said. “Mrs. Turner is bright, diligent, and meticulous in her attention to detail, and I know she will bring a high level of accountability and credibility to the police board.”
Senator Smith will sponsor Mrs. Turner during her confirmation hearing later this month. If confirmed by the Missouri Senate, Turner will serve for a term ending Feb. 25, 2013.
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March 3rd, 2009
JEFFERSON CITY — Senator Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, was recently appointed to serve on the newly-formed Senate Educated Citizenry 2020 Committee. The committee is responsible for studying how elementary, secondary, and higher education systems prepare students to be productive and successful citizens in Missouri.
Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, named senators serving in their first term to the committee. Other members serving on the committee with Sen. Smith include: Sen. Robin Wright-Jones, D-St. Louis, Sen. Wes Shoemyer, D-Clarence, Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, and Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield.
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March 3rd, 2009
JEFFERSON
CITY — Senator Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, today announced that the Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Committee and the full Senate have approved the nomination of Orvin T. Kimbrough of St. Louis to the Missouri State University Board of Directors.
Kimbrough joins the nine-member board, which is responsible for adopting the rules and regulations for the guidance and supervision of the university and includes representatives from Missouri’s nine congressional districts. He will serve a six-year term.
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