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SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
HOUSE BILL NO. 2998
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBL Y
3970H.02C JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
T o amend chapters 226 and 620, RSMo, by adding thereto two new sections relating to rural
economic development.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapters 226 and 620, RSMo, are amended by adding thereto two new
2 sections, to be known as sections 226.1205 and 620.070, to read as follows:
226.1205. 1. The department of transportation shall conduct a feasibility study
2 on potential impr ovements to the upper Mississippi river basin, which shall include
3 evaluation of the following:
4 (1) Incr easing the navigation season on the Mississippi river to twelve-month
5 navigation;
6 (2) Upgrading the existing locks to one-thousand-two-hundre d-foot locks; and
7 (3) Adding hydr opower on existing locks and dams.
8 2. The department shall r eport the findings of the study to the general assembly
9 no later than December 1, 2029.
620.070. 1. There is hereb y established in the department of economic
2 development the "Rural Development Office", which shall have the purpose and duty to
3 advocate for and pr omote rural Missouri and focus on efforts designed to aid rural
4 impr ovements.
5 2. The rural development office shall:
6 (1) Build and foster collaborative partnerships and networks of individuals and
7 organizations to impr ove the coordination and effectiveness of federal, state, and other
8 pr ograms, services, and actions affecting rural areas in this state;
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.
9 (2) Serve as a liaison to federal, state, and local governmental agencies to ensur e
10 that pro grams affecting rural Missourians are effectively utilized and that benefits ar e
11 available to all rural res idents;
12 (3) Advocate on behalf of the state's rural communities;
13 (4) Pr omote community-based pr oblem-solving strategies;
14 (5) Advise the governor , agencies, organizations, and other entities on issues
15 affecting rural communities;
16 (6) Serve as a reso urce for private and nonpr ofit organizations on rural issues,
17 pr ograms, and available sources of technical and financial assistance; and
18 (7) Conduct surveys of need and repo rt on the needs of rural Missourians in the
19 following area s:
20 (a) Housing;
21 (b) Child car e and early childhood education;
22 (c) Br oadband infrastructure;
23 (d) Health care and wellness;
24 (e) W orkforce development; and
25 (f) Community development.
26 3. The department of economic development shall provi de administrative
27 support and staff as deemed necessary to assist the rural development office.
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HCS HB 2998 2