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SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 1610
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR WASHINGTON.
5654S.01I KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary
AN ACT
To amend chapter 173, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to support for homeless
pupils through the department of higher education and workforce development.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 173, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto 1
one new section, to be known as section 173.2541, to read as 2
follows:3
173.2541. 1. As used in this section, the following 1
terms mean: 2
(1) "Homeless pupils", includes any person who 3
satisfies the definition of "homeless children and youths" 4
established in 42 U.S.C. Section 11434a(2) and any person 5
who satisfies the definition of "unaccompanied youth" 6
established in 42 U.S.C. Section 11434a(6); 7
(2) "Liaison", the liaison for postsecondary education 8
for homeless pupils established in this section. 9
2. There is hereby established the liaison for 10
postsecondary education for homeless pupils within the 11
department of higher education and workforce development. 12
3. There is hereby created in the state treasury the 13
"Liaison for Postsecondary Education for Homeless Pupils 14
Fund", which shall consist of moneys appropriated by the 15
general assembly or any gifts, donations, or bequests for 16
the purpose of implementing the provisions of this section. 17
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The state treasurer shall be custodian of the fund. In 18
accordance with sections 30.170 and 30.180, the state 19
treasurer may approve disbursements. The fund shall be a 20
dedicated fund and money in the fund shall be used solely by 21
the department of higher education and workforce development 22
for the purposes of implementing the provisions of this 23
section. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 24
to the contrary, any moneys remaining in the fund at the end 25
of the biennium shall not revert to the credit of the 26
general revenue fund. The state treasurer shall invest 27
moneys in the fund in the same manner as other funds are 28
invested. Any interest and moneys earned on such 29
investments shall be credited to the fund. 30
4. The governor shall, subject to appropriations, 31
appoint the liaison for a term of four years. The 32
individual appointed: 33
(1) Shall be knowledgeable in the various issues 34
relating to homeless pupils, including, but not limited to, 35
the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, 42 36
U.S.C. Section 11431, et seq.; 37
(2) Shall be independent of and have no pecuniary 38
interest in any other organization or entity that provides 39
services to homeless pupils; 40
(3) Shall devote all of such individual's time to the 41
business of such individual's office and shall not pursue 42
any other business or vocation or hold any other office of 43
profit; and 44
(4) Shall not be a member of any political party or a 45
member of any committee of any political party. 46
5. The governor may remove the liaison from office for 47
inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. 48
6. Subject to appropriations, the liaison shall: 49
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(1) Conduct an annual analysis of homeless pupils in 50
this state to assess the needs of such pupils; 51
(2) Develop a database to track, monitor, and analyze 52
trends in the rates of graduation and retention of homeless 53
pupils; 54
(3) Develop a model for college and career readiness 55
for homeless pupils; 56
(4) Collaborate with high school staff members 57
responsible for assisting homeless and unaccompanied pupils; 58
(5) Collaborate with high schools to identify homeless 59
pupils to refer such pupils to appropriate support services 60
after the admission of such pupils to an institution of 61
higher education within this state; 62
(6) Establish connections between and collaborate with 63
financial aid offices, student support services, and campus 64
housing services of institutions of higher education within 65
this state; 66
(7) Identify and refer homeless pupils to mentoring 67
programs; 68
(8) Increase awareness among teachers, instructors, 69
professors, and other staff members of institutions of 70
higher education in this state who work with pupils on 71
issues relating to homeless pupils, including, without 72
limitation, identifying such pupils and referring such 73
pupils to appropriate resources; 74
(9) Establish and maintain a database of food banks, 75
clothing banks, and low-cost health care providers, to be 76
provided, without limitation, to financial aid offices and 77
student support services of institutions of higher education; 78
(10) Identify and coordinate with food banks and 79
clothing banks or establish one or more food banks or 80
clothing banks on a campus of an institution of higher 81
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education within this state to provide services to homeless 82
pupils; 83
(11) Establish a plan for housing homeless pupils when 84
campus housing is not available, including, without 85
limitation, establishing a list of host homes in the local 86
community and keeping one or more campus housing buildings 87
open; and 88
(12) Apply for and accept grants awarded through the 89
College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, Pub. L. 110- 90
84. 91
7. Subject to appropriations, the liaison may: 92
(1) Employ such staff as is necessary to carry out the 93
liaison's duties and the functions of the liaison's office, 94
in accordance with any applicable personnel practices and 95
procedures established by the coordinating board for higher 96
education. The liaison has sole discretion to employ and 97
remove any member of the liaison's staff; 98
(2) Purchase necessary equipment; 99
(3) Lease or make other suitable arrangements for 100
office space, provided that any lease that extends beyond 101
the term of one year shall be reviewed and approved by the 102
commissioner of administration; and 103
(4) Perform such other functions and make such other 104
arrangements as may be necessary to carry out the liaison's 105
duties and the functions of the liaison's office. 106
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