HCS HB 1524 & 2260 -- VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY

SPONSOR:  Day (Largent)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Veterans
by a vote of 11 to 0.

This substitute changes the laws regarding veterans and members
of the military and establishes the Missouri Youth Challenge
Academy.  In its main provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Specifies that the State of Missouri recognizes the
designations of Prisoner of War (POW) and Missing in Action (MIA)
as valid descriptions of casualty status and category
classification for military personnel;

(2)  Defines "primary next of kin" as, in order of precedence,
surviving spouse, eldest child, father or mother, eldest brother
or sister, or eldest grandchild as it relates to the Uniform Code
of Military Justice;

(3)  Requires the Adjutant General to establish the Missouri
Youth Challenge Academy for at-risk high school age youth.  The
residential military-based academy will provide work experience
and training in life skills, citizenship, life-coping and
academic skills, among others.  The Missouri Youth Challenge
Foundation Fund is created consisting of gifts, donations,
appropriations, transfers, and bequests.  The Adjutant General is
authorized to make grants from the fund to support the academy;

(4)  Allows a sergeant major or a command sergeant major from the
National Guard and a reserve unit to serve on the panel of the
Missouri Military Family Relief Fund.  Currently, only a command
sergeants major of the guard and a command sergeants major of a
reserve unit can be members of the panel;

(5)  Requires a member of the state militia, including its
reserve forces, to be considered a state employee for the
purposes of the State Legal Expense Fund and for workers'
compensation coverage when he or she is ordered to active
military duty or called to duty by the Governor;

(6)  Authorizes the Governor, upon the recommendation of the
Adjutant General, to present:

(a)  A Legion of Merit Medal to individuals who have
exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of
outstanding military service and achievement reflecting honorably
and creditably upon the state; and

(b)  A campaign ribbon to individuals who have served in direct
support of several military campaigns.  The ribbons include a
Missouri Iraq Campaign Ribbon, a Missouri Afghanistan Campaign
Ribbon, a Missouri Kosovo Campaign Ribbon, and a Missouri Vietnam
Campaign Ribbon;

(7)  Authorizes the Adjutant General to present:

(a)  A Missouri Adjutant General Staff Identification Badge to an
individual based on demonstrated outstanding performance of duty;
and

(b)  The Missouri National Guard First Sergeant Ribbon to an
individual who has been a first sergeant for three years and has
been recommended by his or her squadron or company for having
demonstrated exceptional and honorable leadership qualities and
dedication as a first sergeant;

(8)  Requires the Secretary of State to establish procedures for
absent uniformed services and overseas voters to request voter
registration applications and absentee ballot applications.  At
least one form of electronic communication for use by absent
uniformed services and overseas voters must be designated for
requesting voter registration applications and absentee ballots.
These voters may request and designate a preferred method of
electronic transmission of these applications and ballots or
request receipt by mail.  The Secretary of State must also
develop, in coordination with local election authorities, a free
access system by which these voters may determine whether an
absentee ballot has been received by the appropriate election
authority.  A sufficient quantity of paper ballots for federal
elections must be printed and available for these voters within
45 days prior to the election.  Registration applications and
paper ballots cannot be rejected by an election authority because
of any restriction on the paper or envelope type.  Missouri is
required to use the special write-in absentee ballot provided in
Section 115.292, RSMo, for all elections for federal office as
authorized by federal law;

(9)  Adds a dependent of a retired military member who relocates
to Missouri within one year of the date of his or her parent's
retirement from active duty to the three year attendance
exemption requirement for the A+ Program;

(10)  Adds a person designated by an active duty military member
on the United States Department of Defense Form 93, Record of
Emergency Data, to the term next-of-kin as it relates to the
common law right of sepulcher in choosing and controlling the
final disposition of a person who died while on active duty;

(11)  Requires the State Treasurer upon receiving a military
medal to hold and maintain it until the original owner or his or
her heirs or beneficiaries can be found.  The State Treasurer may
designate a veteran's organization or other appropriate
organization as custodian of a medal until the owner or his or
her heirs or beneficiaries are located; and

(12)  Authorizes the Governor to present the Governor's Unit
Citation to a unit, team, or task force of the Missouri National
Guard which served after September 11, 2001, during state
emergency duty or a federal deployment with outstanding honor and
distinction.

The substitute contains an emergency clause for the provisions
regarding the Missouri Youth Challenge Academy.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue of $15,575 in
FY 2011, $0 in FY 2012, and $0 in FY 2013.  Estimated Effect on
Other State Funds of an income of $0 or a cost of Unknown in
FY 2011, FY 2012, and FY 2013.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters of House Bill 1524 say that it is needed
to clarify that state employees in the Missouri National Guard
are eligible for the purposes of the State Legal Defense Fund
when deployed to active duty.  The new ribbons are the least the
state can do to show appreciation to these individuals who have
served our state and nation in direct support of several military
campaigns.

Supporters of House Bill 2260 say that it makes the state
statutes consistent with the federal Military and Overseas Voting
Act.  The bill makes sure that ballots are sent and received by
the members of the military serving out of state and overseas.
Currently, there is a very cumbersome process in place, and it is
difficult for service members to vote.  The bill will ensure that
the rights of soldiers are protected and that they are allowed to
participate in the election process.

Testifying for HB 1524 were Representative Largent; Missouri
National Guard Association; and Dewey Rhein, Veterans of Foreign
Wars, Missouri Department and Missouri Association of Veterans
Organizations.

Testifying for HB 2260 were Representative Todd; Anthony
Bamvokais, Missouri National Guard; Dewey Rhein, Veterans of
Foreign Wars, Missouri Department and Missouri Association of
Veterans Organizations; Robert Osborn, Korean War Veterans
Association; and Office of the Secretary of State.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:11 pm