NEMOAAA banner

The Silver Haired Legislature

Laura Burnham, Chair
Andy Jackson, Vice Chair

Northeast Missouri Area Agency on Aging Delegation

MEMBER LISTING

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the Silver Haired Legislature?

The Silver Haired Legislature (SHL) is a formally elected body of citizens 60 years of age and older that promotes conscientious legislative advocacy for Missouri's older adults. All members are volunteers who serve without pay.

Elections are held every May at the local Area Agencies on Aging nutrition or senior centers. Senior citizens elect three senators and 12 representatives. Following elections, the legislators meet to elect officers and begin to determine the needs of seniors in their districts. They then draw up and prepare bills and resolutions for presentation at the statewide conference in the fall.

How Does the Silver Haired Legislature Work?

The SHL meets for three days in autumn to conduct a model legislative session. At that time, members present, debate and vote on a pre-prepared docket of bills and resolutions that concern legislation which affects the lives of not only the elderly, but all Missouri citizens.

From the docket, five bills having the highest priority are selected as the main focus in the Missouri General Assembly for the upcoming year.

After the session, SHL delegates return to their respective areas and begin to talk to their legislators about the recent session and about possibly becoming a sponsor for the priority bills as well as other bills that passed.

They also give presentations to their local senior center groups and other organizations interested in senior issues. Many also go to Jefferson City to testify before legislative committees when a particular bill is being considered.

The Northeast Missouri Area Agency on Aging is one of the 10 Area Agencies on Aging in Missouri, each of which is a sponsor of the Silver Haired Legislature. Funding is provided by the Missouri Division of Senior Services through the Older Americans Act. Silver Haired Legislators from NEAAA represent the counties of Adair, Clark, Knox, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Ralls, Randolph, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby and Warren.

Which of the Silver Haired Legislature Priorities Have Become Law?

Over the past several years, the Silver Haired Legislature has grown in visibility and esteem. Many priority bills have passed in the years since SHL was established in 1973. Some of those include:

  • Establishment of a pharmaceutical tax credit for low-income seniors (1999) 
  • Expansion of Community Leaders Assisting the Insured of Missouri (CLAIM) program, providing free health insurance counseling for Medicare beneficiaries (1999) 
  • Expansion of the "Circuit Breaker" credit for renters and homeowners (1998) 
  • Reduction in the Sales Tax on Food (1997) 
  • State Tax Deduction for Private Pensions (1997) 
  • Increase in the Dependency Deduction on State Income Taxes (1998) 
  • Establishment of a Department of Aging (1996)* 
  • Revision of Juvenile Code (1995) 
  • Funding for Nursing Home Inspections (l994) 
  • Increased Appropriations for Transportation 
  • Circuit Breaker Housing Tax Credit for Older Adults 
  • Nursing Home Reform Law 
  • Appropriation for In-Home Services
  • Deletion of Sales Tax on Pharmaceutical Drugs 
  • Protection of Volunteers from Civil Suits 
  • Living Wills 
  • Durable Power of Attorney to Make Health Care Decisions 
  • Severe Penalties for Elder Abuse (1992) 
  • Revision of Guardianship Code 
  • Improvement in Statutory Lien Law

*passed by the Legislature, but rejected by voters

For more information about the Silver Haired Legislature and its priorities, contact any NEMOAAA Silver Haired Legislator or the Northeast Area Agency on Aging, 660-665-4682 or 1-800-644-6338 or mail us.

2019-2020 Silver Haired Legislature, NEMO AAA Delegation

Northeast Region

Mark Twain Region

Boonslick Region
     

Senator:

Andy Jackson (La Plata)
660-349-0988


Alternate (1 year term):

 

VACANT


Representatives:

Jackie Settlage (Kirksville)
660-665-4627

Twila Anderson (Lancaster)
660-341-4651

Dollene Sanders (Kirksville)

660-665-4916

 

VACANT


Alternates (1 year term):

VACANT

 

 


 

Senator:

VACANT


Alternate:

VACANT


Representatives:

VACANT

VACANT

Joyce Muehring (Hannibal)
573-603-1388

Carole Akery (Excello)
660-775-2264


Alternates:


Cheryl Fible (Excello)

660-775-2344

 

 

Senator:

VACANT

Alternate:

VACANT

 


Representatives:

Laura Burnham (Bellflower)
573-929-3642

VACANT

VACANT

VACANT


Alternates:

 

Laura Marsh (Wright City)

314-280-5990



NEMO AAA
815 N. Osteopathy
Kirksville, MO. 63501
1-800-664-6338
1-660-665-4682