FIRST REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 582
92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATORS KENNEDY, COLEMAN, DOUGHERTY, CLEMENS AND NODLER.
Read 1st time February 25, 2003, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
0835S.01I
AN ACT
To amend chapters 488 and 589, RSMo, by adding thereto two new sections relating to the creation of the gang resistance education and training program and the show me students with character initiative.
Section A. Chapters 488 and 589, RSMo, are amended by adding thereto two new sections, to be known as sections 488.5019 and 589.313, to read as follows:
488.5019. A surcharge of ten dollars shall be assessed as costs in each court proceeding filed in any court in the state in all felony criminal cases involving chapters 195, 565, 566, 569, 570, and 571, RSMo; except that no such surcharge shall be collected in any proceeding in any court when the proceeding or the defendant has been dismissed by the court or when costs are to be paid by the state, county, or municipality.
589.313. 1. There is hereby created in the state treasury the "GREAT Fund". The fund shall consist of money collected pursuant to section 488.5019, RSMo, in addition to money appropriated by the general assembly, charges, gifts, grants, bequests from federal, private, or other sources and investment income on the fund. The provisions of section 33.080, RSMo, to the contrary notwithstanding, moneys in the GREAT fund shall not be transferred and placed to the credit of the general revenue fund.
2. This fund shall be administered by the department of public safety in accordance with the provisions of this section.
3. The department of public safety and local law enforcement shall, in conjunction with the department of elementary and secondary education, develop a "Gang Resistance Education and Training Program" (GREAT) for school districts which the department of elementary and secondary education determines are in need of such programs. GREAT shall be designed to help children set goals, resolve conflicts without violence, resist school bullying, and understand how gangs and youth violence impacts individuals and communities.
4. The department of elementary and secondary education shall also develop the "Show Me Students With Character Initiative" program to promote character education in public schools. Such program shall teach students values such as honesty, morality, respect for self and others, self-control, fairness, responsibility, caring, and citizenship. An amount of up to fifty percent of the GREAT fund shall be used to promote this program.