SS/SCS/SB 120 - This act modifies provisions relating to military affairs, including state designations, hiring preferences and classifications for state employment, state agency services, school designations, military protections for motor vehicle insurance, and qualified military projects in the Missouri Works Program.MILITARY FAMILY MONTH (SECTION 9.297)
This act designates November as "Military Family Month" in Missouri to recognize the daily sacrifices of military families.
This provision is identical to a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/SB 718 (2020) and HB 1328 (2020).
SURVIVING SPOUSES IN THE MERIT SYSTEM (SECTION 36.020)
This act modifies the definition of "surviving spouse" in provisions of law relating to the merit system.
This provision is identical to HB 296 (2021), SB 620 (2020), a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/SB 718 (2020), in HCS/SB 282 (2019), and in the perfected HB 461 (2019) and is substantially similar to a provision in HCS/SB 587 (2020) and HB 1566 (2020).
HIRING PREFERENCES FOR MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS (SECTIONS 36.221 AND 105.1204)
This act creates new provisions establishing hiring preferences for current or former members of the Missouri National Guard for purposes of state employment. Specifically, in filling any position of state employment in a state agency, the appointing authority or employing agency shall offer an interview to every applicant who is or was a member of the Missouri National Guard and meets other specified criteria.
These provisions are identical to HB 659 (2021) and HB 1491 (2020) and are similar to provisions in the perfected SB 78 (2021).
DEPARTMENT OF THE NATIONAL GUARD (SECTIONS 41.035 AND 650.005)
This act creates the Missouri Department of the National Guard which shall be headed by the Adjutant General and shall administer the militia and programs of the state relating to military forces, except for the Missouri Veterans Commission. The Office of Adjutant General and the militia are transferred from the Department of Public Safety to the Missouri Department of the National Guard.
These provisions are contingent upon the passage of a constitutional amendment that provides for the establishment of the Missouri Department of the National Guard.
These provisions are identical to SCS/HB 60 (2021), are substantially similar to SCS/SB 198 (2021), and are similar to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/SB 718 (2020), in HCS/SS#2/SCS/SB 523 (2020), HCS/SS/SB 600 (2020), HCS/SB 774 (2020), SB 896 (2020), HCS/HB 2209 (2020).
CLASSIFICATION OF MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS (SECTION 41.201)
This act provides that service members of the Missouri National Guard shall be considered as state employees for the purpose of operating state-owned vehicles for official state business unless they are called into active federal military service by order of the President of the United States.
This provision is identical to a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SB 258 (2021) and is substantially similar to HB 391 (2021) and a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed HCS/SS/SB 6 (2021).
VETERAN QUESTIONS ON STATE AGENCY FORMS (SECTION 42.390)
This act requires that every state agency shall ensure that any form used to collect data from individuals that was first created or subsequently modified on or after August 28, 2021, include the following questions:
(1) Have you ever served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States and separated from such service under conditions other than dishonorable?
(2) If answering Question 1 in the affirmative, would you like to receive information and assistance regarding the agency's veteran services?
Every state agency shall prepare information regarding applicable services and benefits that are available to veterans and provide such information to those who answer the questions in the affirmative.
INCOME TAX DEDUCTIONS FOR MILITARY RETIREMENT BENEFITS (SECTIONS 143.121 AND 143.124)
Current law authorizes an income tax deduction for retirement benefits received by a taxpayer for the taxpayer's service in the Armed Forces of the United States, including reserve components and the National Guard. This act makes a technical correction to ensure that one hundred percent of such benefits may be deducted without any reductions.
These provisions are identical to SB 629 (2021).
PURPLE STAR CAMPUS (SECTION 160.710)
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall designate a school district as a purple star campus if the school district applies and qualifies for the designation. To qualify as a purple star campus, a school district shall:
(1) Designate a staff member as a military liaison to serve as the point of contact between the school district and the military connected student, as defined in the act;
(2) Identify military connected students enrolled in the school district;
(3) Determine appropriate services available to military connected students;
(4) Coordinate programs relevant to military connected students;
(5) Maintain on the school district website an easily accessible webpage that includes resources for military connected students, including information regarding relocation, enrollment, registration, and transferring records to the school district, academic planning, counseling, and the military liaison;
(6) Establish and maintain a transition program led by students, when appropriate, that assists military connected students in transitioning into the school district;
(7) Offer professional development and education for staff members on issues related to military connected students; and
(8) Offer at least one of the following: A resolution showing support for military connected students, recognition of military holidays with relevant events, or a partnership with a local military installation that provides opportunities for active duty military members to volunteer with the school district, speak at an assembly, or host a field trip.
VETERAN DESIGNATIONS ON DRIVER'S LICENSES (SECTION 302.188)
Under current law, the Department of Revenue may determine the appropriate placement of veteran designations on driver's licenses and identification cards. This act provides that the Department shall place the veteran designations on the front of the licenses and identification cards.
This provision is identical to SB 494 (2021) and HB 262 (2021).
MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE (SECTION 379.122)
This act requires the Adjutant General to ensure that members of the state military forces receive notice of certain protections relating to motor vehicle insurance, and encourages the secretaries of the branches of the United States Armed Forces to likewise notify members under their jurisdictions.
The act specifically notes that the term "adverse underwriting decision" shall include a decision to charge an increased premium.
This provision is identical to a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/SB 718 (2020) and SB 1036 (2020).
QUALIFIED MILITARY PROJECTS IN THE MISSOURI WORKS PROGRAM (SECTIONS 620.2005 AND 620.2010)
This act modifies the Missouri Works program to provided that, for qualified military projects, the benefit shall be based on part-time and full-time jobs created by the project.
This act contains an emergency clause for these provisions.
These provisions are identical to the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SB 2 (2021) and are substantially similar to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/SB 718 (2020), in HCS/SS#2/SB 704 (2020), in SS#2/SCS/HCS/HB 1854 (2020), and SB 1057(2020).
KATIE O'BRIEN