HCS HB 1580 -- HERO AT HOME PROGRAM

SPONSOR:  Day (Smith, 14)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Veterans by a vote of 10 to 0.

Currently, services provided under the Hero at Home Program
include financial assistance due to reduced income after the
deployment of a spouse.  This substitute adds providing
assistance to individuals returning to employment which they are
no longer suited for and removes the deployment requirement
allowing services to be provided to any military family facing
financial crisis.  The substitute also removes the provision
which requires certain agencies to provide a 20% match to the
program through indirect or direct expenditures.

The Department of Economic Development is required to submit a
report on the operations and progress of the program to the
Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tem
of the Senate by January 1, 2011.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2011, FY 2012, and
FY 2013.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the Hero at Home Program is
underutilized in communities, and many agencies are unwilling to
participate because of the required 20% match.  By eliminating
the agency's match, there will be much more participation.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Smith (14); Dewey
Rhein, Missouri Association of Veterans Organizations and the
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Missouri Department; and Department of
Economic Development.

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