HB 2062 -- Military Families

Sponsor:  Pearce

This bill changes the laws regarding members of the military and
their families.  In its main provisions, the bill:

(1)  Adds the chairman of the Missouri Veterans Commission to the
Missouri Military Preparedness and Enhancement Commission and
clarifies that the commission's duties include developing
policies and methods to improve the prosperity and employment
opportunities of retired military members and the families of
former military members;

(2)  Specifies that the chair of the Missouri Military
Preparedness and Enhancement Commission will be an ex officio
member of the Missouri Veterans Commission and the commission
will help veterans who are legal residents of Missouri;

(3)  Allows a person in federal service who is eligible to
register, but has not registered, to vote in any election.
Currently, a person in federal service can only vote in a federal
election;

(4)  Allows a military dependent who has completed an accredited
prekindergarten or kindergarten program in another state to enter
kindergarten or first grade even if the child has not reached the
required age for Missouri schools by August 1;

(5)  Requires the State Board of Education to establish a rule to
allow the issuance of a provisional teacher's certificate before
the completion of a background check to the spouse of a military
member who holds a teacher's certificate in another state that
requires a background check and who has relocated within the last
year;

(6)  Allows school districts to accept a course in government
completed in another state when a student transfers to a Missouri
high school in ninth to twelfth grade to satisfy the state's
graduation requirement;

(7)  Establishes a new grant program for war veteran survivors at
public higher education institutions.  Twenty-five grants will be
available annually, subject to appropriations, for the children
or spouses of deceased or disabled Missouri resident veterans of
combat for tuition and up to $500 for the actual cost of books,
with at least $2,000 per semester for room and board.  The grant
may not be used for graduate study and is not available to a
surviving child who is 25 years of age or older.  Survivors must
be certified as eligible by the Missouri Veterans Commission or a
United States Veterans Affairs medical authority;

(8)  Renames the Guard at Home Program to the Hero at Home
Program and extends the program to cover the first year after
discharge from deployment, to cover reservists, and to cover
situations in which an individual cannot return to his or her
previous employment;

(9)  Requires the Department of Higher Education to establish a
rule ensuring that resident tuition continues to be available to
the spouse and dependents of any military family who remain in
Missouri after the military member has retired, died, or been
reassigned;

(10)  Requires the State Board of Education to pursue reciprocity
agreements with other states for the transfer of students who are
military dependents and specifies the contents of the agreements,
which focus on the granting of credit;

(11)  Requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education to facilitate agreements between school districts and
military installations to address strategies to assist children
in transition to Missouri schools;

(12)  Specifies that certain military dependents will be eligible
to enroll full time in courses through the Missouri Virtual
School; and

(13)  Allows school districts to establish course credit and
other policies to assist military dependents in meeting
graduation requirements.

The bill contains an emergency clause except for the provisions
regarding membership in the Missouri Preparedness and Enhancement
Commission and the renaming of the Guard at Home Program.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:11 pm