SECOND REGULAR SESSION
[TRULY AGREED TO AND FINALLY PASSED]
SENATE BILL NO. 720
89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1998
S3263.01T
AN ACT
To amend chapter 210, RSMo, by adding thereto three new sections relating to the children's services commission's study on children of incarcerated parents.
Section A. Chapter 210, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto three new sections, to be known as sections 210.875, 210.877 and 210.879, to read as follows:
210.875. 1. The Missouri children's services commission shall evaluate current state laws and policies that affect incarcerated parents and their children. The commission shall place particular emphasis on the areas of child custody and visitation.
2. The commission shall inform legislators and policy makers about the problems facing children of incarcerated parents and the value of coordinating penal policies and child welfare goals.
3. The commission may develop and recommend specific legislative proposals and propose state and local programs to respond to the needs of children of incarcerated parents including, but not limited to, alternative sentencing laws and the establishment of community based care facilities to maintain custody in the incarcerated parent and to promote the welfare of such parent's children.
210.877. The circuit court of this state, the office of the state courts administrator, the department of public safety, the department of corrections and the department of social services shall cooperate with the commission by providing information needed by the commission as requested by the commission.
210.879. The Missouri children's services commission shall, on or before December 1, 1999, deliver its first report of its study and findings to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives and the president pro tem of the senate. The commission shall study the implementation of alternative sentencing and its impact on children of incarcerated parents and submit a second report with its findings to the governor, speaker of the house of representatives and president pro tem of the senate by December 1, 2002.