STEM education, drug court bills pass Senate

UPDATED 2:00 P.M.: Missouri Senate President pro-tem, Ron Richard, said Governor Parson made the right decision by withdrawing Peter Herschend’s appointment for the State Board of Education.

“He took the high road as he always does and we will fight the battle for Mr. Herschend in several months,” he said.

Nominees are barred from serving on a board or committee if they are rejected on the Senate floor.

Richard said he foresees the governor reappointing Herschend in the near future.

“We’ll let Mr. Herschend get appointed next week hopefully by the governor,” Richard said. “Then they can have some kind of discussion about his reappointment in February.”

ORIGINAL: The Missouri Senate voted Friday to pass the two bills as the overlapping special and veto sessions draw to a close.

Senators approved a STEM education bill 28-1. The bill is designed to increase students’ awareness of careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and also focuses on computer science education for high school students.

Bill sponsor Sen. Doug Libla, R-Popular Bluff, said teaching high schoolers computer-coding and other cutting-edge skills will help prepare them for the workforce.

The treatment courts bill passed 29-0. It will allow judicial circuits to expand and create courts tailored to defendants with substance use disorders.

Drug courts allow those defendants to seek treatment instead of incarceration.

The House passed its versions of the bills Wednesday.

The Senate also took up several gubernatorial appointments, including to the State Board of Education. Three of the appointees — Carol Hallquist, Kim Bailey, and Don Claycomb — won approval of the full Senate.

Gov. Mike Parson withdrew Peter Herschend’s appointment to the board after it was opposed by Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis.

Look for updates to this story as it develops.