FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 604

91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES HILGEMANN, SHELTON, DAVIS, CAMPBELL, KELLY (27),

HAGAN-HARRELL AND COLEMAN.

Read 1^st time January 31, 2001, and 1000 copies ordered printed.

TED WEDEL, Chief Clerk

1046L.01I

AN ACT

To amend chapter 166, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the character education grant program and fund.

Section A. Chapter 166, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 166.515, to read as follows:

166.515. 1. There is hereby established within the department of elementary and secondary education the "Character Education Grant Program". Beginning with the 2002-2003 school year, the program shall award grants to schools on a competitive grant basis. School districts may develop student character education programs and submit proposals to the department, pursuant to criteria established by the department for grant approval and on forms promulgated by the department for grant applications. Copies of the criteria established pursuant to this section shall be provided by the department to all school districts in this state. The criteria for grant approval by the department may include, but shall not be limited to:

(1) Any criteria developed for any federal character education grant or program; or

(2) Programs for at-risk students that are designed to develop responsibility, honesty, citizenship, respect, self-discipline, acceptance of people of other races and ethnic backgrounds or any similar positive character traits.

2. Subject to appropriation, in the 2002-2003 school year, the department shall award ten grants of one hundred thousand dollars per grant to ten different school districts for the development and implementation of student character education programs consistent with this section. In the event that the appropriations or other moneys available for such grants are less than the amount necessary to fully fund all grants for the 2002-2003 school year or any subsequent school year, the moneys shall be distributed to approved schools on a pro-rata basis. The number and amount of grants may be increased in successive school years subject to appropriation and department approval.

3. The general assembly shall make an annual appropriation to the "Character Education Grant Program Fund", which is hereby created in the state treasury for the sole purpose of funding grants pursuant to this section. The fund shall be administered by the department. The fund shall consist of moneys appropriated annually by the general assembly from general revenue to such fund, any moneys paid into the state treasury and required by law to be credited to such fund and any gifts, bequests or donations to such fund. The fund shall be kept separate and apart from all other moneys in the state treasury and shall be paid out by the state treasurer pursuant to chapter 33, RSMo. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080, RSMo, to the contrary, moneys in the fund at the end of the biennium shall not be transferred to the credit of the general revenue fund. All interest and moneys earned on the fund shall be credited to the fund.

4. No rule or portion of a rule promulgated pursuant to this section shall take effect unless such rule has been promulgated pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo.

Missouri House of Representatives