Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has signed into law the Missouri Most Vulnerable Persons (MVP) Act, a piece of omnibus legislation dealing with multiple issues relating to individuals with disabilities. The bill was sponsored by state Representative Jeff Grisamore (R-Lee’s Summit/Greenwood), chairman of the House Special Standing Committee on Disability Services, created this year by House Speaker Steve Tilley and charged with passing legislation that is responsive to concerns in the disabilities communities. The Missouri MVP Act includes provisions that would:

                    § remove all references to “mentally retarded” or “mental retardation” or “handicapped” in state law, changing them to “developmentally disabled,” “developmental disability” or “disabled;”

                    § create a tax check-off whereby Missouri taxpayers can donate through their state tax return to help reduce the Developmental Disabilities Waiting List;

                    § add individuals with developmental disabilities, especially autism, to the list of people whose service dogs must be allowed access to public places, especially for search and rescue of a person who may become lost;

                    § create new protections to protect the parental rights of individuals with disabilities; and designate the month of October as Disability History and Awareness month in Missouri’s K through 12 public schools. 

FMI:

http://lstribune.net/lees-summit-news/missouri-house-passes-historic-disabilities-legislation.htm

http://dmh.mo.gov/docs/dd/DirectConnectSept.pdf

The legislation can be read at http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills111/billpdf/truly/HB0555T.PDF.