SCS SB 46 -- FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATION LIAISON ACT

SPONSOR:  Mayer (Grisamore)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Family Services by a vote of 7 to 1.

This substitute establishes the Faith-based Organization Liaison
Act which requires the Director of the Department of Social
Services to designate existing regional department employees to
serve as the liaison to faith-based organizations in their
respective region to facilitate the need for and benefits of
community services for individuals in need of financial and/or
other assistance.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2008, FY 2009, and
FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will establish a formal
process for defining the role of a faith-based liaison within the
districts established by the Department of Social Services.  The
work of the liaison is already being done, and the bill does not
require any additional personnel or workload.  A liaison will
promote the awareness of services that are offered by faith-based
organizations for needy persons in a community, help coordinate
the delivery of those services, and facilitate faith-based
resources to supplement the areas of assistance where the state
has exhausted its resources.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Mayer; Missouri Family
Network; Catholic Charities Archdiocese of St. Louis; and
Department of Social Services.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:21 am