HCS HB 1858 -- MINORITY AND UNDERREPRESENTED ENVIRONMENTAL
LITERACY PROGRAM

SPONSOR:  Ruzicka (Zimmerman)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Conservation and Natural Resources by a vote of 10 to 0.

Currently, the Minority Environmental Literacy Advisory Committee
within the Department of Natural Resources administers the
Minority and Underrepresented Environmental Literacy Program
which awards scholarships to ethnic groups who are most severely
underrepresented as determined by data gathered by the National
Academy of Sciences in specified academic areas.  This substitute
transfers the administrative responsibility of this program and
the committee to the Department of Higher Education.

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

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that appropriations for the Minority
and Underrepresented Environmental Literacy Program have already
been transferred to the Department of Higher Education.  The bill
will transfer the administration of the program to the
appropriate department.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Zimmerman; and
Department of Natural Resources.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill answered questions
regarding the difference between the transfer of this program and
the proposal to transfer the Large Animal Veterinarian
Scholarship Program during the 2009 session.

Testifying on the bill was Missouri Farm Bureau.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:12 pm