HOUSE BILL NO. 2722 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE DOUGLAS.
6266H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT To amend chapter 173, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to support for homeless pupils through the department of higher education and workforce development.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 173, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be 2 known as section 173.2541, to read as follows: 173.2541. 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean: 2 (1) "Homeless pupils", includes any person who satisfies the definition of 3 "homeless children and youths" established in 42 U.S.C. Section 11434a(2) and any 4 person who satisfies the definition of "unaccompanied youth" established in 42 U.S.C. 5 Section 11434a(6); 6 (2) "Liaison", the liaison for postsecondary education for homeless pupils 7 established in this section. 8 2. There is hereby established the liaison for postsecondary education for 9 homeless pupils within the department of higher education and workforce development. 10 3. (1) There is hereby created in the state treasury the "Liaison for 11 Postsecondary Education for Homeless Pupils Fund", which shall consist of moneys 12 appropriated by the general assembly or any gifts, donations, or bequests for the 13 purpose of implementing the provisions of this section. The state treasurer shall be 14 custodian of the fund. In accordance with sections 30.170 and 30.180, the state treasurer 15 may approve disbursements. The fund shall be a dedicated fund and money in the fund 16 shall be used solely by the department of higher education and workforce development
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language. HB 2722 2
17 for the purposes of implementing the provisions of this section. Notwithstanding the 18 provisions of section 33.080 to the contrary, any moneys remaining in the fund at the 19 end of the biennium shall not revert to the credit of the general revenue fund. The state 20 treasurer shall invest moneys in the fund in the same manner as other funds are 21 invested. Any interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be credited to the 22 fund. 23 4. The governor shall, subject to appropriations, appoint the liaison for a term of 24 four years. The individual appointed: 25 (1) Shall be knowledgeable in the various issues relating to homeless pupils, 26 including, but not limited to, the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, 42 27 U.S.C. Section 11431, et seq.; 28 (2) Shall be independent of and have no pecuniary interest in any other 29 organization or entity that provides services to homeless pupils; 30 (3) Shall devote all of such individual's time to the business of such individual's 31 office and shall not pursue any other business or vocation or hold any other office of 32 profit; and 33 (4) Shall not be a member of any political party or a member of any committee 34 of any political party. 35 5. The governor may remove the liaison from office for inefficiency, neglect of 36 duty, or malfeasance in office. 37 6. Subject to appropriations, the liaison shall: 38 (1) Conduct an annual analysis of homeless pupils in this state to assess the needs 39 of such pupils; 40 (2) Develop a database to track, monitor, and analyze trends in the rates of 41 graduation and retention of homeless pupils; 42 (3) Develop a model for college and career readiness for homeless pupils; 43 (4) Collaborate with high school staff members responsible for assisting 44 homeless and unaccompanied pupils; 45 (5) Collaborate with high schools to identify homeless pupils to refer such pupils 46 to appropriate support services after the admission of such pupils to an institution of 47 higher education within this state; 48 (6) Establish connections between and collaborate with financial aid offices, 49 student support services, and campus housing services of institutions of higher 50 education within this state; 51 (7) Identify and refer homeless pupils to mentoring programs; 52 (8) Increase awareness among teachers, instructors, professors, and other staff 53 members of institutions of higher education in this state who work with pupils on issues HB 2722 3
54 relating to homeless pupils, including, without limitation, identifying such pupils and 55 referring such pupils to appropriate resources; 56 (9) Establish and maintain a database of food banks, clothing banks, and low- 57 cost health care providers, to be provided, without limitation, to financial aid offices and 58 student support services of institutions of higher education; 59 (10) Identify and coordinate with food banks and clothing banks or establish one 60 or more food banks or clothing banks on a campus of an institution of higher education 61 within this state to provide services to homeless pupils; 62 (11) Establish a plan for housing homeless pupils when campus housing is not 63 available, including, without limitation, establishing a list of host homes in the local 64 community and keeping one or more campus housing buildings open; and 65 (12) Apply for and accept grants awarded through the College Cost Reduction 66 and Access Act of 2007, Public Law 110-84; 67 (13) Establish and publish a searchable directory of each institution of higher 68 education's designated homeless and foster student liaison, which shall be accessible to 69 the public and updated annually. 70 7. Subject to appropriations, the liaison may: 71 (1) Employ such staff as is necessary to carry out the liaison's duties and the 72 functions of the liaison's office, in accordance with any applicable personnel practices 73 and procedures established by the coordinating board for higher education. The liaison 74 has sole discretion to employ and remove any member of the liaison's staff; 75 (2) Purchase necessary equipment; 76 (3) Lease or make other suitable arrangements for office space, provided that 77 any lease that extends beyond the term of one year shall be reviewed and approved by 78 the commissioner of administration; and 79 (4) Perform such other functions and make such other arrangements as may be 80 necessary to carry out the liaison's duties and the functions of the liaison's office. ✔
Statutes affected: