SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 676
91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
3202S.04C
AN ACT
To repeal sections 42.170, 42.175, 42.185 and 313.835, RSMo, relating to veterans, and to enact in lieu thereof four new sections relating to the same subject, with an expiration date for a certain section.
Section A. Sections 42.170, 42.175, 42.185 and 313.835, RSMo, are repealed and four new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 42.170, 42.175, 42.185 and 313.835, to read as follows:
42.170. 1. Every veteran who honorably served on active duty in the United States military service at any time beginning December 7, 1941, and ending September 30, 1945, shall be entitled to receive a medallion, medal and a certificate of appreciation pursuant to sections 42.170 to 42.185, provided that:
(1) Such veteran [is] was a legal resident of this state on [August 28, 2000] any of the following dates:
(a) The date such veteran entered the military;
(b) The date such veteran died; or
(c) The date such veteran applied for the medal and certificate of appreciation pursuant to sections 42.170 to 42.185; and
(2) Such veteran was honorably separated or discharged from military service or is still in active service in an honorable status.
2. The medallion, medal and the certificate shall be awarded regardless of whether or not such veteran served within the United States or in a foreign country. The medallion, medal and the certificate shall be awarded regardless of whether or not such veteran was under eighteen years of age at the time of enlistment. For purposes of sections 42.170 to 42.185, "veteran" means any person defined as a veteran by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs or its successor agency.
42.175. 1. Except as otherwise provided in sections 42.170 to 42.185, the adjutant general of the state of Missouri shall administer sections 42.170 to 42.185, and may adopt all rules and regulations necessary to administer the provisions of sections 42.170 to 42.185. No rule or portion of a rule promulgated pursuant to sections 42.170 to 42.185 shall become effective unless promulgated pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo.
2. The adjutant general shall determine as expeditiously as possible the persons who are entitled to a medallion, medal and a certificate pursuant to sections 42.170 to 42.185 and distribute the medallions, medals and the certificates as provided in sections 42.170 to 42.185. Applications for the medallion, medal and the certificate shall be filed with the office of the adjutant general at any time after January 1, 2001, [and before January 1, 2002,] on forms prescribed and furnished by the adjutant general's office. The adjutant general shall approve all applications that are in order, and shall cause a medallion, medal and a certificate to be prepared for each approved veteran in the form created by the veterans' commission pursuant to section 42.180.
3. If [any person dies after applying] the veteran for whom the application for a medallion or medal and a certificate pursuant to sections 42.170 to 42.185 is deceased and such person would have been entitled to the medallion, medal and the certificate, the adjutant general shall give the medallion, medal and the certificate to the person to whom the largest portion of the veteran's estate was given in such veteran's will. If the estate was split evenly among two or more persons, the surviving spouse, the eldest living child or the closest relative by degree of consanguinity, in that order, shall receive the medallion, medal and the certificate. If there was no will, the veteran's intestate survivor shall receive the medallion, medal and the certificate.
4. If the adjutant general disallows any veteran's claim to a medallion, medal and a certificate pursuant to sections 42.170 to 42.185, a statement of the reason for the disallowance shall be filed with the application and notice of this disallowance shall be mailed to the applicant at the applicant's last known address.
42.185. 1. The "World War II Veterans' Recognition Award Fund" is hereby created in the state treasury, and shall consist of all gifts, donations and bequests to the fund. The fund shall be administered by the adjutant general. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080, RSMo, to the contrary, moneys in the World War II veterans' recognition award fund shall not be transferred to the credit of the general revenue fund at the end of the biennium. Interest and moneys earned on the fund shall be credited to the fund.
2. Moneys in the fund shall be used solely to promote the solicitation for designs for, aid in the manufacture of and aid in the distribution of the medallion, medal and the certificate.
[3. When all allowed medallions, medals and certificates have been distributed, the fund shall automatically be terminated. Any balance remaining in the fund after all such distributions shall be transferred to the veterans' commission capital improvement trust fund created in section 313.835, RSMo.]
313.835. 1. All revenue received by the commission from license fees, penalties, administrative fees, reimbursement by any excursion gambling boat operators for services provided by the commission and admission fees authorized pursuant to the provisions of sections 313.800 to 313.850, except that portion of the admission fee, not to exceed one cent, that may be appropriated to the compulsive gamblers fund as provided in section 313.820, shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the "Gaming Commission Fund" which is hereby created for the sole purpose of funding the administrative costs of the commission, subject to appropriation. Moneys deposited into this fund shall not be considered proceeds of gambling operations. Moneys deposited into the gaming commission fund shall be considered state funds pursuant to article IV, section 15 of the Missouri Constitution. All interest received on the gaming commission fund shall be credited to the gaming commission fund. In each fiscal year, total revenues to the gaming commission fund for the preceding fiscal year shall be compared to total expenditures and transfers from the gaming commission fund for the preceding fiscal year. The remaining net proceeds in the gaming commission fund shall be distributed in the following manner:
(1) The first five hundred thousand dollars shall be appropriated on a per capita basis to cities and counties that match the state portion and have demonstrated a need for funding community neighborhood organization programs for the homeless and to deter gang-related violence and crimes;
(2) The remaining net proceeds in the gaming commission fund for fiscal year 1998 and prior years shall be transferred to the "Veterans' Commission Capital Improvement Trust Fund", as hereby created in the state treasury. The state treasurer shall administer the veterans' commission capital improvement trust fund, and the moneys in such fund shall be used solely, upon appropriation, by the Missouri veterans' commission for:
(a) The construction, maintenance or renovation or equipment needs of veterans' homes in this state;
(b) The construction, maintenance, renovation, equipment needs and operation of veterans' cemeteries in this state;
(c) Fund transfers to Missouri veterans' homes fund established pursuant to the provisions of section 42.121, RSMo, as necessary to maintain solvency of the fund;
(d) Fund transfers to any municipality with a population greater than four hundred thousand and located in part of a county with a population greater than six hundred thousand in this state which has established a fund for the sole purpose of the restoration, renovation and maintenance of a memorial or museum or both dedicated to World War I. Appropriations from the veterans' commission capital improvement trust fund to such memorial fund shall be provided only as a one-time match for other funds devoted to the project and shall not exceed five million dollars. Additional appropriations not to exceed ten million dollars total may be made from the veterans' commission capital improvement trust fund as a match to other funds for the new construction or renovation of other facilities dedicated as veterans' memorials in the state. All appropriations for renovation, new construction, reconstruction, and maintenance of veterans' memorials shall be made only for applications received by the Missouri veterans' commission prior to July 1, 2004;
(e) The issuance of matching fund grants for veterans' service officer programs to any federally chartered veterans' organization or municipal government agency that is certified by the Veterans Administration to process veteran claims within the Veterans Administration System; provided that such veterans' organization has maintained a veterans' service officer presence within the state of Missouri for the three-year period immediately preceding the issuance of any such grant. A total of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars in grants shall be made available annually with grants being issued in July of each year. Application for the matching grants shall be made through and approved by the Missouri veterans' commission based on the requirements established by the commission;
(f) For payment of Missouri national guard and Missouri veterans' commission expenses associated with providing medals, medallions and certificates in recognition of service in the armed forces of the United States during World War II pursuant to sections 42.170 to 42.190, RSMo. Any funds remaining from the medals, medallions and certificates shall be used to pay for the buglers at veteran burials; and
(g) Fund transfers totaling ten million dollars to any municipality with a population greater than three hundred fifty thousand inhabitants and located in part in a county with a population greater than six hundred thousand inhabitants and with a charter form of government, for the sole purpose of the construction, restoration, renovation and maintenance of a memorial or museum or both dedicated to World War I.
Any interest which accrues to the fund shall remain in the fund and shall be used in the same manner as moneys which are transferred to the fund pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080, RSMo, to the contrary, moneys in the veterans' commission capital improvement trust fund at the end of any biennium shall not be transferred to the credit of the general revenue fund;
(3) The remaining net proceeds in the gaming commission fund for fiscal year 1999 and each fiscal year thereafter shall be distributed as follows:
(a) [Three] Seven million dollars shall be transferred to the veterans' commission capital improvement trust fund;
(b) Three million dollars shall be transferred to the Missouri national guard trust fund created in section 41.214, RSMo;
(c) Three million dollars shall be transferred to the Missouri college guarantee fund, established pursuant to the provisions of section 173.248, RSMo, and additional moneys as annually appropriated by the general assembly shall be appropriated to such fund;
(d) Subject to appropriations, one hundred percent of remaining net proceeds in the gaming commission fund except as provided in paragraph (l) of this subdivision, shall be transferred to the "Early Childhood Development, Education and Care Fund" which is hereby created to give parents meaningful choices and assistance in choosing the child-care and education arrangements that are appropriate for their family. All interest received on the fund shall be credited to the fund. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080, RSMo, moneys in the fund at the end of any biennium shall not be transferred to the credit of the general revenue fund. Any moneys deposited in such fund shall be used to support programs that prepare children prior to the age in which they are eligible to enroll in kindergarten, pursuant to section 160.053, RSMo, to enter school ready to learn. All moneys deposited in the early childhood development, education and care fund shall be annually appropriated for voluntary, early childhood development, education and care programs serving children in every region of the state not yet enrolled in kindergarten;
(e) No less than sixty percent of moneys deposited in the early childhood development, education and care fund shall be appropriated as provided in this paragraph to the department of elementary and secondary education and to the department of social services to provide early childhood development, education and care programs through competitive grants to, or contracts with, governmental or private agencies. Eighty percent of such moneys pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph and additional moneys as appropriated by the general assembly shall be appropriated to the department of elementary and secondary education and twenty percent of such moneys pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph shall be appropriated to the department of social services. The departments shall provide public notice and information about the grant process to potential applicants.
a. Grants or contracts may be provided for:
(i) Start-up funds for necessary materials, supplies, equipment and facilities; and
(ii) Ongoing costs associated with the implementation of a sliding parental fee schedule based on income;
b. Grant and contract applications shall, at a minimum, include:
(i) A funding plan which demonstrates funding from a variety of sources including parental fees;
(ii) A child development, education and care plan that is appropriate to meet the needs of children;
(iii) The identity of any partner agencies or contractual service providers;
(iv) Documentation of community input into program development;
(v) Demonstration of financial and programmatic accountability on an annual basis;
(vi) Commitment to state licensure within one year of the initial grant, if funding comes from the appropriation to the department of elementary and secondary education and commitment to compliance with the requirements of the department of social services, if funding comes from the department of social services; and
(vii) With respect to applications by public schools, the establishment of a parent advisory committee within each public school program;
c. In awarding grants and contracts pursuant to this paragraph, the departments may give preference to programs which:
(i) Are new or expanding programs which increase capacity;
(ii) Target geographic areas of high need, namely where the ratio of program slots to children under the age of six in the area is less than the same ratio statewide;
(iii) Are programs designed for special needs children;
(iv) Are programs that offer services during nontraditional hours and weekends; or
(v) Are programs that serve a high concentration of low-income families;
d. Beginning on August 28, 1998, the department of elementary and secondary education and the department of social services shall initiate and conduct a four-year study to evaluate the impact of early childhood development, education and care in this state. The study shall consist of an evaluation of children eligible for moneys pursuant to this paragraph, including an evaluation of the early childhood development, education and care of those children participating in such program and those not participating in the program over a four-year period. At the conclusion of the study, the department of elementary and secondary education and the department of social services shall, within ninety days of conclusion of the study, submit a report to the general assembly and the governor, with an analysis of the study required pursuant to this subparagraph, all data collected, findings, and other information relevant to early childhood development, education and care;
(f) No less than ten percent of moneys deposited in the early childhood development, education and care fund shall be appropriated to the department of social services to provide early childhood development, education and care programs through child development, education and care certificates to families whose income does not exceed one hundred eighty-five percent of the federal poverty level in the manner pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 9858c(c)(2)(A) and 42 U.S.C. 9858n(2) for the purpose of funding early childhood development, education and care programs as approved by the department of social services. At a minimum, the certificate shall be of a value per child which is commensurate with the per child payment under item (ii) of subparagraph a. of paragraph (e) of this subdivision pertaining to the grants or contracts. On February first of each year the department shall certify the total amount of child development, education and care certificates applied for and the unused balance of the funds shall be released to be used for supplementing the competitive grants and contracts program authorized pursuant to paragraph (e) of this subdivision;
(g) No less than ten percent of moneys deposited in the early childhood development, education and care fund shall be appropriated to the department of social services to increase reimbursements to child-care facilities for low-income children that are accredited by a recognized, early childhood accrediting organization;
(h) No less than ten percent of the funds deposited in the early childhood development, education and care fund shall be appropriated to the department of social services to provide assistance to eligible parents whose family income does not exceed one hundred eighty-five percent of the federal poverty level who wish to care for their children under three years of age in the home, to enable such parent to take advantage of early childhood development, education and care programs for such parent's child or children. At a minimum, the certificate shall be of a value per child which is commensurate with the per child payment under item (ii) of subparagraph a. of paragraph (e) of this subdivision pertaining to the grants or contracts. The department of social services shall provide assistance to these parents in the effective use of early childhood development, education and care tools and methods;
(i) In setting the value of parental certificates under paragraph (f) of this subdivision and payments under paragraph (h) of this subdivision, the department of social services may increase the value based on the following:
a. The adult caretaker of the children successfully participates in the parents as teachers program pursuant to the provisions of sections 178.691 to 178.699, RSMo, a training program provided by the department on early childhood development, education and care, the home-based Head Start program as defined in 42 U.S.C. 9832 or a similar program approved by the department;
b. The adult caretaker consents to and clears a child abuse or neglect screening pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection 2 of section 210.152, RSMo; and
c. The degree of economic need of the family;
(j) The department of elementary and secondary education and the department of social services each shall by rule promulgated pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, establish guidelines for the implementation of the early childhood development, education and care programs as provided in paragraphs (e) through (i) of this subdivision;
(k) Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is promulgated under the authority delegated in paragraph (j) of this subdivision shall become effective only if the agency has fully complied with all of the requirements of chapter 536, RSMo, including but not limited to, section 536.028, RSMo, if applicable, after August 28, 1998. All rulemaking authority delegated prior to August 28, 1998, is of no force and effect and repealed as of August 28, 1998, however, nothing in this section shall be interpreted to repeal or affect the validity of any rule adopted or promulgated prior to August 28, 1998. If the provisions of section 536.028, RSMo, apply, the provisions of this section are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to section 536.028, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule or portion of a rule are held unconstitutional or invalid, the purported grant of rulemaking authority and any rule so proposed and contained in the order of rulemaking shall be invalid and void, except that nothing in this act shall affect the validity of any rule adopted and promulgated prior to August 28, 1998;
(l) When the remaining net proceeds, as such term is used pursuant to paragraph (d) of this subdivision, in the gaming commission fund annually exceeds twenty-seven million dollars, one and one-half million dollars of such proceeds shall be transferred annually, subject to appropriation, to the Missouri college guarantee fund, established pursuant to the provisions of section 173.248, RSMo.
2. Upon request by the veterans' commission, the general assembly may appropriate moneys from the veterans' commission capital improvements trust fund to the Missouri national guard trust fund to support the activities described in section 41.958, RSMo.
3. The provisions of this section shall expire August 28, 2007.