A Look Back at 2011’s New Laws

As we leave 2011 in the past, Patch takes a look back at the laws that will stay with us into the new year and beyond. For a list of all the laws enacted in 2011, check out the Missouri State Senate’s list of 2011 bills.

Bath Salts

Despite its innocuous name, the substance known as “bath salts” has effects similar to serious drugs when smoked or sniffed. Ealier this year, . The legislature also passed Senate Bill 354 adding bath salts, or methylenedioxypyrovalerone, to the list of schedule 1 controlled substances.

Adoptions

Two new laws passed this year make it easier for adopted adults and their children to access birth records.

Senate Bill 351 allows adopted adults to find information about their birth parents without notifying adopted parents and to find information about their adult siblings without proving to the court the information is health-related. The children of dead adopted adults now have access information about their parent’s birth parents.

For children adopted after Aug. 28, 2010, Senate Bill 954 allows them to obtain their original birth certificate without contacting the birth mother.

Late-Term Abortion

Senate Bill 65 imposed new restrictions on late-term abortions. After 20 weeks of pregnancy, a woman cannot have an abortion of a viable fetus unless her life is in danger or the continued pregnancy would cause permanent damage to a major bodily function. The previous law held a provision to protect the general health of the mother.

Human Trafficking

Senate Bill 394 increases penalties and adds a fine of up to $250,000 for those convicted of human trafficking and adds blackmail to the list of crimes.

Insurance

Senate Bill 101 protects homeowners by prohibiting exterior prohibiting contractors from offering to pay their insurance deductible as an incentive.