SCS HCS HB 1787 -- GUARD AT HOME PROGRAM

This bill establishes the Guard at Home Program to assist the
spouse of an active-duty national guardsman or reservist by
addressing his or her immediate needs and employment in order to
keep the family from falling into poverty while the primary
income earner is on active duty and to help returning guardsmen
find work in situations where an individual needs to rebuild
business clientele or an individual's job was eliminated while on
deployment.

Subject to appropriations, the Department of Economic Development
will hire a contractor to administer the program and ensure that
the contractor meets certain qualifications specified in the
bill, including the ability to provide a 20% match to the program
through indirect or direct expenditures.  The department will
develop the criteria of the contract based on the following:

(1)  Eligible program participants will be families where:

(a)  The primary income earner was called to active duty in
defense of the United States for more than four months;

(b)  The primary income is no longer available;

(c)  The family is experiencing a significant hardship due to
financial burdens; and

(d)  The family has no outside resources available to assist with
these hardships; and

(2)  Services may be provided to families in order to alleviate
an immediate crisis and to provide economic stability while the
primary income is not available due to the active military
commitment.  The bill specifies some of the services which may be
provided.

The department will submit a report to the President Pro Tem of
the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the
operation and progress of the program by January 1, 2007.

The bill becomes effective July 1, 2006, and the department must
make every effort to ensure that families are being served by
August 1, 2006.

The bill contains an emergency clause.

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:44 am