Session starts today. I have pre-filed a dozen pieces of legislation and have a few more to be drafted. As of Dec. 17th, over 900 bills have been pre-filed in the House. The list grows when Senate bills are added.  However, it’s unfair to combine the bills for a total number because identical bills are filed in both the House and the Senate. It is a daunting task to sort them all out.

Only a few of the bills filed will pass as a stand-alone bill. Some will be added as amendments to subject appropriate omnibus bills. Most will never make it across the finish line. In many cases, legislation takes multiple years of development. Each bill is reviewed by an oversight agency with possible changes that might make the proposal more administratively feasible, while eliminating ambiguous language or omissions. Multiple committee hearings and debates contribute to the process.

One of my bills, HB 1798, requires the Missouri driver’s license written examination to be administered in English and prohibits the use of translators. That seems simple enough. Anyone applying for a driver’s license in Missouri should be able to read basic traffic signs written in English.

After my bill was filed, the following comments were submitted by Public Safety – Highway Patrol for HB1798. “During the past 12 month period, 50,866 written exams were administered in 18 languages other than English. Of that number, 7,194 of these applicants (14 percent) passed the written Class F written exam. The number of Class F exams given in foreign languages represents 9.3 percent of the total number of exams given statewide during the same period (546,807).  The Patrol is uncertain as to whether the bill also intends to eliminate written testing in American Sign Language (ASL). During the past 12 months period, 76 Class F written exams were administered in ASL.”

In my wildest dreams I never imagined the State of Missouri would administer driver exams in any language other than English. Call me old fashion but I thought the act of assimilation made us the melting pot with one mission. It seems to me, offering the exams in 18 different languages defeats the purpose of assimilation.

There must be more to the story. Will there be a good explanation why we would issue a driver’s license to individuals that are unable to take the exam in English? I hope I get a hearing. I hope we can flush out the reasoning in a committee. Don’t hold your breath, this could take a while.

If you would like to get in touch with us, your best option is my email Bruce.Sassmann@House.MO.Gov  Or give us a call, my legislative assistant is Jill Ryals and the office number is 573-751-6668.