Governor Mike Parson announced Friday, June 28, 2024, that he had signed and issued vetoes to Fiscal Year 2025 budget bills. Below are the passed and vetoed budget bills for FY2025.

House Bill 8– Public Safety

House Bill 8 created multiple awards for crime victims’ programs for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Multiple items passed, and two items were partially or fully vetoed. The Crime Victims Compensation Fund will receive $13.7 million to reimburse Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE)-Care providers for performing forensic medical exams on children suspected of having been physically abused. The State Services to Victims program received $2 million, and the Violence Again Women Program received $3.3 million. The final item that passed was the Crime Victim Credentialing Program (CVCP), which received $231,085.

This bill included ­­$1.4 million to the Department of Public Safety to procure a commercial, real-time automated victim notification program. Governor Parson vetoed $1 from the program, stating in the veto letter that the language in the bill is overly restrictive and may conflict with subsection 650.310.3 RSMo. The Department of Public Safety will continue to coordinate with Missouri Sheriffs and the Missouri Department of Corrections to provide crime victims notification. The final award amount is $1,399,999.

House Bill 8 also awarded $3.5 million to procure a commercial off-the-shelf automated, modernized crime victim notification software that interfaces with current systems and software used for crime and crime victims’ records. Governor Parson completely vetoed this citing the veto was “an effort to help ensure the financial stability of Missouri beyond [his] Administration and the current General Assembly.”

 

House Bill 10– DHSS

This bill designates multiple appropriations for women’s health and wellness programs and services. House Bill 10 included 13 women’s health and sexual violence survivor-related appropriations. The Governor passed 12 sections and vetoed one. Approved appropriations with the final award amounts are:

• $18.9 million to fund core women’s health and wellness programs and services
• $2.2 million for a statewide telehealth network for forensic examinations of victims of sexual offenses
• $1 million to develop maternal quality control protocols to standardize practices at all birth facilities across the state
• $1.5 million to establish a perinatal health access collaborative to allow general practitioners in underserved areas to consult with medical specialists in the state
• $500,000 for the standardization of maternal care provider training, including screening and treating cardiovascular disorders associated with pregnancy, and the treatment of mental health conditions or substance use disorders during and after pregnancy
• $1 million for the development and implementation of best practices for postpartum plans of care
• $350,00 for the creation of a maternal and child health dashboard
• $500,000 for the Cora Faith Walker Doula Training Program for pregnancy and postpartum doulas
• $225,000 for a not-for-profit to provide pregnancy and postpartum doula services
• $250,000 for free health clinics that can provide prenatal care. The requirements of the bill state the clinics must be in a city with more than 400,000 residents and located in more than one county
• $1.2 million for contracts for sexual violence victims’ services, awareness, and education programs
• $1 million for family planning and family planning-related services, pregnancy testing, sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment

Governor Parson vetoed $100,000 for the implementation of a pregnancy and postpartum doula registration process that included the construction and maintenance of a statewide registry of pregnancy and postpartum doulas approved for health insurance reimbursement. The Governor states in his veto letter that the budget already includes multiple appropriations for funding to support doulas and doula training. Additionally, Governor Parsons cited the fact that the funding was a one-time award for salaries, which could jeopardize the program’s future sustainability.

 

House Bill 11– Department of Social Services

This bill includes multiple appropriations to domestic violence agencies and crime victims. House Bill 11 awards domestic violence agencies a total of $15.2 million. Within the funding for domestic violence agencies, $562,137 was awarded for emergency shelter services to assist victims of domestic violence. Governor Mike Parson did not veto any domestic and sexual agency appropriations from this bill.

The Department of Social Services Family Support Division will receive $901,379 for the VOCA Unit for the administrative expenses of the program, including training and technical assistance for the VOCA program. The Family Support Division’s Office of Workforce and Community Initiatives will receive $73.8 million for the VOCA Unit for grants to not-for-profit organizations to provide services and to assist victims of crime. Not-for-profit organizations that provide services or assistance to victims of sexual assault will receive $3.8 million, which includes $1.75 million from General Revenue.

House Bill 2020– American Rescue

This bill designates money towards the VOCA Grant Program and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The Department of Social Services will receive $6.4 million for grants to organizations for services and programs to assist victims of crime. The Missouri State Highway Patrol will receive $1 million for forensic equipment at the Highway Patrol’s Crime Labs. Governor Mike Parson did not veto either of these appropriations.