MISSOURI VETERANS' COMMISSION'S EFFORTS ON VETERAN SUICIDE (SECTION 42.022)

This act requires the Missouri Veterans' Commission to review the provisions of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 and any regulations related to such act. After review, the Commission, in collaboration with the Department of Mental Health, shall provide recommendations and make efforts to adopt procedures, programs, treatment options, aid, and other assistance necessary to assist in the efforts to prevent veteran suicide. Additionally, this act provides that the Commission shall file a report with the Department of Public Safety and the General Assembly on the recommendations, implementation, and effectiveness of the Commission's efforts to prevent veteran suicide before July 1, 2025, and by every subsequent July 1st.

This provision is identical to a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed HB 1495 (2024) and is substantially similar to a provision in SCS/SB 734 (2024), HB 132 (2023), in SCS/HB 1067 (2023), and in SCS/HB 2455 (2022).

INFORMATION OF SERVICES BY STATE AGENCIES FOR VETERANS (SECTION 42.051)

Currently, state agencies shall ensure that any form created or modified after August 28, 2021, that is used to collect data from individuals includes certain questions regarding veteran status and the provision of the agency's assistance and information on veteran services. This act provides that state agencies shall include the following questions on any form created or modified after August 28, 2024, that is used to interact with members of the public:

(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) Would you like to receive information and assistance regarding veterans benefits and services?

(3) May the agency share your contact information with the Missouri Veterans Commission to provide such information? General information may also be found on the Missouri Veterans Commission's website.

Every state agency shall provide the contact information of those individuals answering question (3) in the affirmative to the Missouri Veterans Commission within seven business days of receipt and shall provide the contact information in a format readily accessible by the Commission. Additionally, every state agency shall provide information regarding the agency's applicable veteran services and benefits in a format readily accessible and identifiable to individuals answering question (1) and (2) in the affirmative and to the Commission. On January 1st of each year, the Commission shall post a report on its website that includes the total number of individuals whose contact information has been submitted by each state agency to the Commission and the total number of individuals contacted as a result of such submission.

This provisions is substantially similar to a provision in SCS/SB 734 (2024).

OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, OPERATION FREEDOM'S SENTINEL, & OPERATION ALLIES REFUGE PROGRAM (SECTION 42.312)

This act establishes a new medallion program, "Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Freedom's Sentinel, and Operation Allies Refuge Program". Under the act, any veteran who served on active duty during certain dates, is a legal resident of this state or was a legal resident at the time of discharge from military service, or was a Missouri National Guard member regardless of residency, is eligible for a medal of appreciation for service.

This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/HB 1490 (2024) and HB 1496 (2024) and is substantially similar to a provision in SCS/SB 734 (2024), in SS/SB 540 (2023), SB 611 (2023), HB 836 (2023), and in SCS/HB 1067 (2023).

MILITARY MEMBERS SERVING AS ELECTION JUDGES (SECTION 115.085)

Current law permits only registered voters in this state to serve as election judges. This act allows military service members on active duty in this state and nonresident military spouses to also serve as election judges.

This provision is effective January 1, 2025.

This provision is identical to SCS/SB 1415 (2024) and is substantially similar to SB 1435 (2024) and HB 2802 (2024).

ARMED FORCES INCOME TAX DEDUCTION (SECTIONS 143.174 AND 143.175)

Current law authorizes an income tax deduction for active and reserve members of the Armed Forces for a percentage of such taxpayer's income received as salary or compensation as a member of the Armed Forces. This act provides that the term "salary or compensation" shall include any signing bonus for all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025.

These provisions are identical to provisions in HB 1713 (2024) and are substantially similar to provisions in SCS/SB 734 (2024), in SS/SB 540 (2023), and in SCS/HB 1067 (2023).

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARD (SECTION 173.239)

Currently, any Missouri National Guard member may be awarded an educational assistance grant to an approved public or private higher education institution. This act provides that any Missouri National Guard member may be awarded, upon application before each semester, either a tuition and fee waiver for undergraduate courses at a postsecondary institution of higher education located in this state that directly receives funds appropriated by the General Assembly or a grant to certain eligible institutions as defined in the act. The tuition and fee waiver shall not be implemented prior to the 2025-2026 academic year and shall only be applicable to tuition and fees remaining after the application of certain other tuition assistance programs and grants as provided in the act.

The educational assistance shall not exceed the lesser of the actual tuition charged at an institution where the member is enrolled or accepted for enrollment or the total of the number of credit hours taken multiplied by the average tuition cost per credit hour charged to a Missouri resident at the University of Missouri for attendance, with the average cost determined by the Missouri National Guard. In addition to the current application and eligibility requirements, this act provides that the member shall not have yet earned a baccalaureate degree and that the member has completed and submitted a FAFSA application for the applicable term.

The tuition and fee waiver shall be awarded if the member applies and is otherwise eligible, except shall only be awarded after the Missouri National Guard has distributed moneys available to the member through the State Tuition Assistance Program. Additionally, an applicant for the tuition and fee waiver shall cease to be eligible if his or her total completed credit hours exceeds 120 credit hours. Furthermore, this act provides that the tuition and fee waiver shall not be available in fiscal years in which the percentage of the total program costs covered by state appropriation for the educational assistance programs covered by this act has decreased compared to the previous fiscal year.

This provision is substantially similar to a provision in SCS/SB 1322 (2024) and in SCS/HCS/HB 1569 (2024) and is similar to a provision in HB 2166 (2024).

POW/MIA SSG PAUL HASENBECK MEMORIAL HIGHWAY (SECTION 227.854)

This act designates "POW/MIA SSG Paul Hasenbeck Memorial Highway" in Osage County. Costs for the designation shall be paid by the Department of Transportation.

This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/SS#2/SB 964 (2024), SB 1308 (2024), HB 1908 (2024), and in HCS/HB 2797 (2024).

DISABLED LICENSE PLATES AND WINDSHIELD PLACARDS (SECTION 301.142)

This act provides that applicants for a disabled license plate or windshield placard who have presented proof of disability in the form of a statement from the United States Veterans' Administration verifying that the person is permanently disabled shall not be required to provide physician's statements of physical disability for issuance or renewal of the license plate or windshield placard.

The act also makes technical modifications to the underlying statute.

This provisions is similar to SB 114 (2023).

SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES INVOLVING MILITARY ACTIONS OR PERSONNEL (SECTION 301.3030)

This act specifies that special license plates involving military actions or personnel shall not be subject to a special fee for issuance or personalization of one set of the plates issued to each qualified applicant.

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES (SECTION 301.3061)

This act specifies that the Disabled American Veterans special license plate "shall bear the emblem of the Disabled American Veterans organization", and "shall have an authorized Disabled American Veterans' slogan near the bottom of the plate", rather than specifically describing the emblem and slogan.

This provision is identical to a provision in SCS/SB 737 (2024), in SCS/HCS/HB 1775 (2024), HB 1459 (2024), and in SCS/HB 1067 (2023).

ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE (SECTION 301.3180)

This act creates an "Army of Occupation Medal" special license plate, available to recipients of the medal.

VETERAN DESIGNATION ON DRIVER'S LICENSES (SECTION 302.188)

The act adds to the list of documents accepted by the Department of Revenue for applicants to obtain a veteran designation on his or her driver's license. The statute is also modified so that the military discharge documents acceptable for this purpose are not limited to those specifically listed.

This provision is identical to SB 1474 (2024).

UNIFORM DEPLOYED PARENTS CUSTODY AND VISITATION ACT (SECTIONS 452.1200 TO 452.1258)

This act establishes the "Uniform Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation Act". This act regulates custody and visitation during the deployment of one custodial parent, including notification to the other parent of the deployment, prohibition for courts considering deployments when determining best interests of a child, temporary custody agreements during a parent's deployment, modifications of custody agreements, and termination of temporary custody agreements under this act.

These provisions are identical to provisions in HB 1494 (2024) and in HB 129 (2023).

MISSOURI VETERANS AND JOBS OPPORTUNITY GRANT PROGRAM (SECTION 620.3305)

This act establishes the "Missouri Veterans and Job Opportunity Grant Program" in the Department of Economic Development for the purpose of administering and dispersing financial support to eligible employers that are registered to do business in Missouri and that has paid wages to certain individuals, as specified in federal law for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit.

KATIE O'BRIEN