HOUSE BILL NO. 3243 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN.
7081H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT To amend chapter 210, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to emergency placement of certain children.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 210, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be 2 known as section 210.168, to read as follows: 210.168. 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the "MO Families 2 First Act". 3 2. As used in this section, the following terms mean: 4 (1) "Child", any person under eighteen years of age; 5 (2) "Division", the Missouri children's division within the department of social 6 services; 7 (3) "Federal enforcement action", any arrest, detention, removal, or deportation 8 proceeding initiated by a federal law enforcement or immigration authority; 9 (4) "Parent or legal guardian", a biological parent, adoptive parent, legal 10 guardian, or other individual legally responsible for the care and custody of a child; 11 (5) "State system", any public school, charter school, licensed child care facility, 12 foster care program, juvenile justice facility, or state-funded program serving children. 13 3. If a state agency or educational institution becomes aware that a parent or 14 legal guardian of a child receiving services through a state system has been subject to a 15 federal enforcement action, such agency or institution shall notify the division within 16 twenty-four hours of receiving such information.
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 3243 2
17 4. Upon receipt of notification under subsection 3 of this section, the division 18 shall promptly initiate an assessment to determine: 19 (1) The child's immediate safety and well-being; 20 (2) The availability of appropriate caregivers, including relatives or other 21 individuals with an established relationship to the child; 22 (3) The child's immediate needs, including housing, medical care, and emotional 23 support; and 24 (4) The child's educational placement and continuity needs. 25 5. In determining appropriate placement, the division shall, consistent with 26 existing child welfare laws and safety standards: 27 (1) Give priority to placement with a fit and willing relative or known caregiver 28 if such placement is in the best interest of the child; 29 (2) Make reasonable efforts to preserve sibling relationships; 30 (3) Consider the child's existing relationships, community ties, and cultural 31 connections; 32 (4) When appropriate and safe, consult with the parent or legal guardian 33 regarding preferred placement arrangements. 34 6. School districts and educational institutions shall make reasonable efforts to 35 maintain educational stability for a child affected under this section, including 36 preservation of records and coordination with the division, so long as the child 37 remains enrolled or placed within the school district or educational institution. 38 7. The division shall provide families with information regarding options for 39 establishing temporary or permanent guardianship and coordinate, when available, 40 with legal service providers to assist families in understanding such options. 41 8. Nothing in this section shall be construed to: 42 (1) Interfere with federal immigration enforcement authority; 43 (2) Require any state or local agency to inquire into or report the immigration 44 status of any individual; 45 (3) Create a private cause of action against the state or any state agency; or 46 (4) Alter existing mandatory reporting requirements relating to child abuse or 47 neglect. 48 9. The division may promulgate all necessary rules and regulations for the 49 administration of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in 50 section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall 51 become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 52 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable 53 and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to HB 3243 3
54 review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently 55 held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or 56 adopted after August 28, 2026, shall be invalid and void. ✔
Statutes affected: