Parson vetoed two bills dealing with computer science and treatment courts over the summer. Rather than risk lawmakers overriding his vetoes, he called a special session so that lawmakers could start from scratch.

The Senate voted 28-1 to send Parson legislation designed to encourage computer science education in public schools. The measure allows high school students to substitute a math, science or practical arts credit needed for graduation with a computer science credit.

Skeptics worried the legislation would steer students away from basic math and science courses in favor of computer science.

“Math is, unfortunately, the course that so many students get into high school and try to avoid,” said Sen. Jill Schupp, a Creve Coeur Democrat who was the lone “no” vote in the Senate.

Proponents countered that students interested in computer science also tend to be interested in math and science. They say encouraging classes such as coding is an economic development tool.

Parents and guardians will be required to sign a form acknowledging that substituting a math or science class for a computer science class could adversely affect college admission decisions.

The legislation also allows the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to select a nonprofit that could solicit proposals from companies — the objective being for the company to help launch a science, technology, engineering and mathematics — or STEM — career awareness program in the state.

Schupp said that giving a nonprofit the ability to choose a company opens the potential for corruption.

If “a nonprofit was chosen by DESE with all good intentions, and the nonprofit receives a donation from a vendor that then wins the contract to provide the — to become the provider — I don’t know how we know about that,” Schupp said during floor debate on Friday.

Drug court bill

Lawmakers also sent to Parson a measure designed to encourage the expansion of drug treatment courts in the state.

The Senate gave final approval to the plan on Friday, which would place all of the state’s treatment courts under one regulatory umbrella. It also adds two more members — one representing prosecutors and one representing the criminal defense bar — to the state commission that oversees drug courts.

The term “drug courts” would be replaced with “treatment courts” in state statute.

Under the bill, the state commission would be authorized to establish best practice standards for treatment courts. The legislation would make it easier to authorize venue changes for offenders.

In other action on Friday, Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, held up traffic in the upper chamber in an effort to torpedo the nomination of Peter Herschend to the state Board of Education.

Herschend, of Branson, previously served on the board from 1991 to 2017, according to a news release. Nasheed called the state’s education system “deplorable” and said someone else should be nominated.

“When it comes to education, he’s been there for approximately 26 years,” Nasheed said. “The educational system is deplorable right now.”

Nasheed was ultimately successful, as Parson withdrew Herschend’s nomination from consideration.

Parson this week was able to ensure his budget decisions remained in tact. While the House overrode four line-item budget vetoes Wednesday, totaling about $785,000, the Senate balked at crossing the new governor.

Also this week, Sen. Lauren Arthur, D-Kansas City, was sworn in. In June, the then-state representative won a special election to represent the 17th Senate District, a seat previously held by a Republican.

Going into the November elections, Republicans still command two-thirds majorities in both the state House and Senate. Democrats are attempting to trim that advantage.