FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 441

91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES HOLT, BOUCHER, HAMPTON, COLEMAN, GEORGE,

REYNOLDS, ROSS, ABEL (Co-sponsors), LOWE, O'CONNOR, CRUMP, SHOEMYER, BARNITZ,

HAYWOOD, MERIDETH, GAMBARO AND GREEN (15).

Read 1st time January 18, 2001, and 1000 copies ordered printed.

TED WEDEL, Chief Clerk

1275L.02I

AN ACT

To amend chapter 160, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the awarding of honorary high school diplomas to certain veterans.



Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

Section A. Chapter 160, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 160.341, to read as follows:

160.341. 1. The department of elementary and secondary education, with the cooperation of the Missouri veterans' commission, shall develop and administer a program to be known as "Operation Recognition". The purpose of the program is to award honorary high school diplomas to World War I, World War II and Korean War veterans who left high school prior to graduation to enter United States military service. The department and commission shall jointly develop an application procedure, distribute applications and publicize the program to school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, veterans' organizations, and state, regional and local media.

2. All honorably discharged World War I, World War II and Korean War veterans who are residents or former residents of the state of Missouri, who served in the United States military during World War I, World War II or the Korean War, and who did not return to school and complete their education after the war shall be eligible to receive a diploma. Diplomas may be issued posthumously.

3. Upon approval of an application, the department shall issue an honorary high school diploma for an eligible veteran. The diploma shall indicate the veteran's school of attendance. The department and commission shall work together to provide school districts, schools, communities and veterans' organizations with information about hosting a diploma ceremony on or around Veterans Day. The diploma shall be mailed to the veteran or, if the veteran is deceased, to the veteran's family.


Missouri House of Representatives