At the end of 2022, President Biden passed a large spending bill that included significant increases to many funding sources that support victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and harassment. MOCADSV thanks our national coalition partners, champions in Congress, and advocates across the country for their work in getting these important increases to funding across the finish line.

Some highlights from this spending package include:

  • Record-breaking increase in funding for the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) program, which was increased by $37.5 million
  • Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) increased by $24.5 million to a total of $78.5 million
  • Rape Prevention & Education Program (RPE) increased by $5 million to a total of $61.75 million
  • $170 million toward DNA initiatives that include sexual assault forensic exam kit testing and sexual assault forensic exam program grants
  • VAWA Culturally Specific Programs increased by $1 million to a total of $11 million
  • VOCA cap is set at $1.9 billion with no VAWA transfer
  • A number of increases to vital VAWA programs including: the Sexual Assault Services Program, the Transitional Housing program, Legal Assistance for Victims, the Rural Grant Program, as well as investments in newer programs like the LGBTQ Specific Services Program

 

For more information on the domestic and sexual violence funding passed in the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations bill, check out the information put out by the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) and the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV).

It’s not news to some that in communities throughout Missouri there have been restrictions on access to emergency contraception by faith-based hospitals and pharmacies. MOCADSV is gravely concerned that if more hospitals and pharmacies stop providing access to emergency contraception the ramifications of these decisions will again be placed on the shoulders of victims who need the best from Missouri, its decision-makers, their communities, and their healthcare providers. Sending a victim out in borrowed clothes after an assault and an invasive exam, to travel to a variety of stores or pharmacies to track down the medication they need to put their mind at ease is cruel and unwarranted. Missouri can and should do better.

St. Luke’s Health System in Kansas City has reversed their earlier decision to stop providing emergency contraception to patients. Their decision to stop providing it was based on interpretation of the 2019 “trigger law” that last week banned abortion, and the subsequent proclamation and opinion signed by the Governor and Attorney General. We appreciate St. Luke’s willingness to reverse course and put the needs of victims first. 

First and foremost, we want to thank the advocates at the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA). MOCSA staff immediately advocated on the behalf of victims by describing how this change in policy would affect someone who had just been raped and was seeking a comprehensive range of hospital care. MOCSA’s advocacy efforts have not gone unnoticed.

Thank you to Missouri House Minority Leader, Representative Crystal Quade of Springfield, for requesting an official opinion from the Attorney General’s office regarding the new law and the impact on Missourians who use contraception.

Thank you to the office of the Missouri Attorney General for quickly and unequivocally stating, as reported by the Missouri Independent, “Missouri law does not prohibit the use or provision of Plan B, or contraception,” said Chris Nuelle, a spokesman for Schmitt.”

After Governor Parson charged the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to evaluate whether the newly enacted law that bans abortions in Missouri applies to contraceptives, DHSS released a statement that contraception is not banned under Missouri law. “Before and following the Supreme Court of the United States’ ruling in Dobbs that overturns Roe v. Wade, Missouri law does not ban the use of contraception methods. RSMo 188.017 criminalizes performing an abortion absent a medical emergency, but this does not include pregnancy preventive measures.” 

We thank DHSS for their swift action in releasing this statement and ensuring that sexual assault survivors, and all Missourians, will continue to have access to emergency contraceptives.

We hope other providers that had been considering a change of practice to stop providing emergency contraception strongly consider the statements from the Attorney General’s office and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services before doing so. For additional information about birth control methods and where to access various forms of birth control, visit the Missouri Family Health Council.

Updated on May 19, 2022 – Even-numbered years are typically viewed as the most important election years and typically have the largest voter turnout, because of presidential and congressional elections. Alternately, the 2022 election year is known as the “mid-term” because the president is not on the ballot but some congressional delegates are decided. The mid-term August primary, and November general elections, generally have the second-largest voter turnouts due to congressional elections.

U.S. Census and Where You Vote

The U.S. Census counts every 10 years. Redistricting of congressional and state house/senate district maps occurs to adjust accordingly to population changes. Each district is drawn to represent a similar number of citizens.

Missouri is currently behind on redistricting to adjust to the 2020 Census data because the Missouri legislature failed to establish new districts before the last day of the primary election candidate filing on March 29th. The new district maps should be in effect before the August 2nd primary election. Below are details regarding where Missouri currently is in the redistricting process. MOCADSV will keep you apprised of changes. 

Redistricting Process 

The U.S. Senate is comprised of 50 members. Each state has two Senators who represent the entire state, therefore, district maps are not needed. Long-time U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) is not running for re-election in 2022. The U.S. Senate primary and general elections will be important because Missouri will have a new U.S. Senator starting January 2023.

The U.S. House of Representatives is comprised of 435 members. The Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929 set the total number of House members at 435 rather than continuing to increase with population. Each state is awarded a number of U.S. House districts based on the most recent census data/population and divided between 435 seats. Missouri currently has eight U.S. House districts which remain unchanged with the 2020 Census, although we held nine seats prior to the 2010 Census. 

This is also a year when state legislators are either running for re-election or are term-limited from running again in the Missouri House or Senate. Sixteen out of 163 Missouri House members are term-limited, and six out of 34 Missouri Senators are term-limited. Additionally, there are vacant House districts that need to be filled. Some legislators are running for re-election in a part of the state that is new to them due to state redistricting.

State and federal redistricting maps are available here:

This is an important election year. Check any changes to your federal or state voting district(s) for the 2022 elections, and check your voter registration on the Missouri Secretary of State’s website.

If you are interested to view your sample ballot for any election, you can contact your local election authority.

U.S. House of Representatives (Congressional) Redistricting Map 

Summary

The Missouri General Assembly determines the Congressional districts and they passed a new congressional map before the 2022 legislative session ended. On May 18, 2022, Governor Parson signed the map into law, HB 2909 (Rep. Dan Shaul, R-Imperial), which immediately went into effect because of the emergency clause. The new map will be in place during the 2022 midterm election. No action has been taken, but there is a possibility there could be a legal challenge to the map because Missouri’s constitution requires that districts are compact. There is speculation that the map, drawn as a 6-2 map favoring Republicans, doesn’t meet the standard and was drawn to eliminate any swing districts. 

View the Congressional map here.

The Delay

During the legislative session, the Missouri House and Senate passed bills with different versions of the maps. Both chambers needed to pass the exact same bill before it could be sent to the governor for signature. The House passed a bill without an emergency clause, while the Senate passed a different version of the bill with an emergency clause. An emergency clause means the bill takes effect on the date the governor signs the bill, rather than the standard date that laws go into effect, which is August 28th. If the bill does not include an emergency clause, then the new district maps will not take effect until after the primary election.

One point of contention was that the Senate map splits Columbia and Marshfield into two Congressional districts rather than staying in one district as historically done. The House twice requested the Senate agree to a conference committee to work out the differences. A conference committee is a temporary committee including both House and Senate members to resolve differences between the legislation and send an agreed upon bill back to both chambers for a final vote. Right before session ended, both chambers were able to come to an agreement and pass the congressional map.

Approved Missouri House Redistricting Map Available

The House Independent Bipartisan Citizens Commission (HIBCC) released its redistricting map by the deadline to establish a new House district map. You can identify if there are changes to the Missouri House district number(s) that will represent you and/or your agency’s service area.  

Approved Missouri Senate Redistricting Map Available

The Missouri Independent Bipartisan Citizens Commission (SIBCC) failed to meet the deadline to establish a new Senate district map. Therefore, the Judiciary Redistricting Commission was established. It was a panel of judges who were tasked to determine the Senate redistricting map. The Commission filed its recommendations to the Secretary of State in March. You can identify if there are changes to the Missouri Senate district number(s) that will represent you and/or your agency’s service area. 

 

March 23, 2022 — The Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (MOCADSV) reiterates our unequivocal support for survivors and condemns all forms of domestic violence, sexual assault, and harassment committed against survivors and their families.

Survivors, their families, and the advocates who work alongside them know that abusive individuals use their power to silence victims and maintain control over them. Coercive control is a tactic used by perpetrators of violence to isolate, intimidate, and keep victims from leaving or seeking help. This insidious tactic of abuse makes it more difficult for survivors to come forward publicly. MOCADSV has an ongoing commitment to listen to, believe, and support survivors. We thank those who come forward to share their stories and experiences.

News stories can be triggering for survivors of violence and abuse. If you need support or services in Missouri, go to https://mocadsv.wpengine.com/how-to-get-help/ to find providers in your area. You can also chat with advocates at the National Domestic Violence Hotline at https://www.thehotline.org/ or at 1-800-799-7233, or call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

Update: April 27, 2022 — The Supreme Court of Missouri ruled the effort to block the Second Amendment Preservation Act (SAPA) can continue. Everytown Law filed an amicus brief in the case on behalf of MOCADSV earlier this year. The Supreme Court’s decision is a procedural one. They declined to reach a decision on any of the plaintiffs’ claims that SAPA is unconstitutional. Instead, the case will go back to the Cole County Circuit Court where the parties will continue to litigate the constitutional issues. Read the full press release here.

…….

In an amicus brief filed December 2021, MOCADSV, alongside Everytown Law, urged the Missouri Supreme Court to strike down the Second Amendment Preservation Act (SAPA). SAPA could have a significant impact on survivors of domestic violence, and make it easier for abusers to acquire and keep firearms.

“[SAPA] has chilled that cooperation with federal law enforcement, putting domestic violence survivors at increased risk of becoming victims of armed abusers,” MOCADSV said, in a recent article from the Missouri Times. 

Read the full amicus brief here. 

 

Jefferson City, MO—The Board of Directors of the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (MOCADSV) has announced the December 2021 retirement of the Coalition’s long-time CEO, Colleen Coble, who has served in that position since December 1988.

“For more than 30 years, MOCADSV has had the good fortune to be led by Colleen, one of the strongest and most effective advocates in the country,” said Coalition Board Chair Brendan Cossette. “The good she has done for victims and in the cause of ending domestic and sexual violence is immeasurable. She will most definitely be missed, but her retirement is very well deserved and the Board of Directors wishes her the best going forward.”  

Thirty-three years ago, Colleen joined the Coalition with a passion for social change and dedication in her heart to help survivors. With a half-time staff person at her side, and in a borrowed office space from the local domestic violence shelter, Colleen led a handful of member agencies in building an alliance to change laws and change lives for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. 
 
During her tenure, she has remained devoted to ensuring service providers have the support, financial resources and training they need to thrive. She has a legislative legacy that includes passage of the many laws since 1989 that affect the safety and wellbeing of survivors of violence and their children. 

In 2015 Missouri Scout readers voted Coble, “Most effective in-House Non-Profit Lobbyist.” Coble’s public policy and legislative legacy includes: dozens of far-reaching domestic violence statutes; adding lack of consent to felony rape crimes; establishment of the crime of domestic assault; criminalization of marital rape and stalking; first-time state funding for domestic and sexual violence services; funding for sexual assault evidence exams; local funding initiatives for domestic violence shelters; custody and visitation changes to protect abused women and their children; protection orders for sexual assault victims; and statewide collection of law enforcement and homicide data on domestic violence crimes. 

In the mid-1990s, Coble developed Missouri’s statewide project to address the needs of impoverished victims of domestic violence through training more than 6,000 staff of the Department of Social Services. In 1994 she obtained the nation’s first federal disaster relief funding for domestic violence services. 

Coble was reappointed by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft in 2004 to serve her second two-year term on the National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women. Coble has been appointed by the Supreme Court of Missouri to serve on various statewide bodies addressing gender issues in the courts and has been appointed to statewide committees and task forces by Missouri Governors. In 2002 she authored the first report of the Governor-appointed Missouri Task Force on Domestic Violence. Coble is also a founding member of the Missouri Battered Women’s Clemency Coalition, and a founding member of the National Network to End Domestic Violence where she also served as Public Policy Chair. 

During a 2009 ceremony at the U.S. Library of Congress, Coble was awarded the national Diane Reese Award by The National Network to End Domestic Violence for her “outstanding commitment to social justice and advocacy for battered women.”

The list of her accomplishments is long and varied, and for three decades her leadership has served as a guiding light for advocates and allies of our work to unite around the shared value that rape and abuse must end. It is evident, for those fortunate to have worked alongside her, no one will ever take the place of Colleen. 

“When we found Colleen to head MOCADSV in 1988, we truly found a jewel,” said Mary Ann Allen, former Board chair, Public Policy Committee chair and Executive Director of MOCADSV member agency, Haven House. “It has been an honor to serve with her and a thrill to watch what she has accomplished to improve the lives of abuse survivors and their children. Under her leadership we have grown from a small group of well-intentioned advocates to a network of well-trained professionals throughout the state. I wish her all the best in retirement.” Allen and Coble have worked alongside each other for 34 years.
 
The MOCADSV Board will make additional announcements about Ms. Coble’s retirement, the ways in which people can express what Colleen has meant to them and their work, and the process for identifying the person who will lead the Coalition in the years ahead. 
 
“Onward,” has long been Colleen’s rallying call, a message of solace and solidarity over the years. While this is a change for the Coalition—the MOCADSV staff, Board, and 124-member agencies—we remain steadfast in Colleen’s rally call: Onward.