Editor’s note: This is the first of a twopart series examining proposed reform known as Novaleigh’s Law and the broader questions it raises about Missouri’s child protection system. Part One focuses on Excelsior Springs resident Brianna Smith-Nimley and her effort to draft the legislation, including her personal connection to the issue and the research and advocacy work now underway. Part Two will examine the court records, existing Missouri statutes and the way the current legal framework handles cases involving reported child safety concerns.A Missouri child’s death and a trail of unanswered safety concerns have sparked a new push to rewrite the way the state protects its most vulnerable residents. Excelsior Springs resident Brianna Smith-Nimley is now drafting a proposal she calls Novaleigh’s Law.Smith-Nimley emphasized the proposed reform is designed to close what she describes as dangerous gaps in Missouri’s c...