HB 357 -- Family and Community Trust Act

Co-Sponsors:  Riback Wilson (25), Kelley (47), Bray, Surface,
Hollingsworth, Richardson, Meredith, Campbell, Berkowitz, Burton

This bill creates the Family and Community Trust Act.  The trust
is governed by a board which includes 9 private sector members
and the directors of the departments of Corrections, Elementary
and Secondary Education, Health, Labor and Industrial Relations,
Economic Development, Mental Health, Public Safety, and Social
Services.  Residency requirements, employment background,
appointment procedures, selection of the chair, and terms for
private sector members are stated in the bill.  Additional
members of the board can be appointed.

The purpose of the trust is to provide leadership through
collaboration with community agencies and organizations in order
to improve the well-being of Missouri families, children,
individuals, and communities.  The trust is required to
collaborate with public/private entities in order to build and
strengthen comprehensive community-based support systems.  The
trust is required to coordinate efforts with other statewide
boards and commissions in order to advise the Governor and
Legislature on statewide goals.

The trust is defined as a body politic and has the power to:

(1)  Receive, accept, and utilize gifts, grants, donations,
money, facilities, and services with or without compensation
from any person, firm, foundation, the state of Missouri,
agencies and political subdivisions of Missouri, and agencies or
instrumentalities of the United States government;

(2)  Provide sustained technical support and training for state
agencies and communities in their attempts to improve the well--
being of Missouri families, children, individuals, and
communities;

(3)  Create collaborative plans that identify a common core of
measurable results across communities.  These plans are required
to assure accountability and to incorporate interagency and
community strategies;

(4)  Monitor the implementation and evaluate the effectiveness
of action plans; and

(5)  Devise strategies to respond to federal fiscal policy
changes affecting programs which impact the well-being of
Missouri families, children, individuals, and communities.

The trust is required to advise the Governor and the General
Assembly on state budget and policy changes as stated.  The
trust is required to hold at least 2 public hearings a year.
Budget proposals developed by the trust must be available to the
public upon request prior to the first meeting.

The bill also establishes the Family and Community Legislative
Oversight Committee and specifies the composition of the
committee.  The committee is required to ensure that the trust
is overseeing the state's progress on improving the well-being
of Missouri families, children, individuals, and communities and
to ensure accountability of expenditures and effectiveness of
the plans.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated November 26, 2001 at 11:43 am