Establishes the "Task Force on Juvenile Justice and Education"

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 2343
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBL Y
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENT A TIVE PROUDIE.
5707H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
T o amend chapter 21 1, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the task force on
juvenile justice and education.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 21 1, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be
2 known as section 21 1.575, to read as follows:
21 1.575. 1. The "T ask For ce on Juvenile Justice and Education" is her eby
2 cr eated to study and make r ecommendations on the pr ocesses, pr ocedur es, and
3 pr otocols r egarding education for adjudicated youth in Missouri. The task for ce shall
4 consist of the following members:
5 (1) One member of the senate appointed by the pr esident pr o tempor e of the
6 senate;
7 (2) One member of the senate appointed by the minority floor leader of the
8 senate;
9 (3) One member of the house of rep res entatives appointed by the speaker of the
10 house of r epresent atives;
11 (4) One member of the house of rep rese ntatives appointed by the minority floor
12 leader of the house of r epresent atives;
13 (5) The secr etary of state or his or her designee;
14 (6) The attorney general or his or her designee; and
15 (7) A curren t or former judge fr om the juvenile or family court appointed by the
16 St. Louis juvenile court system.
EXPLANA TION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law . Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
17 2. Members of the task for ce shall be individuals who ar e actively involved in or
18 have a well-documented interes t in the fields of education, special education, or
19 adjudicated youth. The appointment of members shall r eflect the geographic diversity
20 of the state.
21 3. The task forc e shall elect a pr esiding officer by a majority vote of the members
22 of the task for ce. The task for ce shall meet at the call of the presid ing officer .
23 4. The task for ce shall study nationally recogn ized best practices and make
24 r ecommendations regard ing the development and implementation of effective state-
25 wide pr ocesses and pro cedur es for the appr opriate education of adjudicated youth. In
26 making the reco mmendations, the task for ce shall:
27 (1) Gather information concerning curren t pr ocesses, proced ures, pr otocols, and
28 adher ence fr om thr oughout the state;
29 (2) Receive reports and testimony fro m individuals, state and local agencies,
30 community-based organizations, and other public and private organizations; and
31 (3) Creat e goals for state policy that would ensur e adjudicated youth rec eive
32 fr ee, appr opriate, and consistent education.
33 5. The recomm endations may include prop osals for specific statutory changes
34 and additions or methods to foster cooperation among state agencies and between the
35 state and local government.
36 6. The task for ce shall consult with employees of the department of social
37 services, the department of public safety , the department of elementary and secondary
38 education, the department of corr ections, and any other state agency , board,
3 9 commission, office, or department as necessary to accomplish the task for ce's
40 r esponsibilities under this section.
41 7. The task for ce shall meet within two months of August 28, 2026.
42 8. The members of the task for ce shall serve without compensation and shall not
43 be r eimbursed for their expenses.
44 9. The secr etary of state's and attorney general's offices shall pr ovide
45 administrative support to the task for ce.
46 10. On or befor e December 31, 2026, the task for ce shall submit a report on the
47 task forc e's findings to the governor and general assembly .
✔
HB 2343 2