HOUSE BILL NO. 3373 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE DOUGLAS.
7304H.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. There is hereby created in the state treasury the "Liaison for Postsecondary 11 Education for Homeless Pupils Fund", which shall consist of moneys appropriated by 12 the general assembly or any gifts, donations, or bequests for the purpose of 13 implementing the provisions of this section. The state treasurer shall be custodian of 14 the fund. In accordance with sections 30.170 and 30.180, the state treasurer may 15 approve disbursements. The fund shall be a dedicated fund, and moneys 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 3373 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 department of higher education and workforce development shall employ 24 a liaison for the purpose of implementing this section. 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.; and 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 5. Subject to appropriations, the liaison shall: 31 (1) Conduct an annual analysis of homeless pupils in this state to assess the needs 32 of such pupils; 33 (2) Develop a database to track, monitor, and analyze trends in the rates of 34 graduation and retention of homeless pupils; 35 (3) Develop a model for college and career readiness for homeless pupils; 36 (4) Collaborate with high school staff members responsible for assisting 37 homeless and unaccompanied pupils; 38 (5) Collaborate with high schools to identify homeless pupils to refer such pupils 39 to appropriate support services after the admission of such pupils to an institution of 40 higher education within this state; 41 (6) Establish connections between and collaborate with financial aid offices, 42 student support services, and campus housing services of institutions of higher 43 education within this state; 44 (7) Identify and refer homeless pupils to mentoring programs; 45 (8) Increase awareness among teachers, instructors, professors, and other staff 46 members of institutions of higher education in this state who work with pupils on issues 47 relating to homeless pupils including, without limitation, identifying such pupils and 48 referring such pupils to appropriate resources; 49 (9) Establish and maintain a database of food banks, clothing banks, and low- 50 cost health care providers, to be provided, without limitation, to financial aid offices and 51 student support services of institutions of higher education; 52 (10) Identify and coordinate with food banks and clothing banks within this state 53 to provide services to homeless pupils; and HB 3373 3
54 (11) Establish and publish a searchable directory of each institution of higher 55 education's designated homeless and foster student liaison, which shall be accessible to 56 the public and updated annually. ✔
Statutes affected: