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SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 1728
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CARTER.
7409S.01I KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary
AN ACT
To amend chapter 660, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the establishment of
a community-based assistance program.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 660, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto 1
one new section, to be known as section 660.365, to read as 2
follows:3
660.365. 1. This section shall be known and may be 1
cited as the "True Charity" act. 2
2. For purposes of this section, the following terms 3
mean: 4
(1) "Missouri partner network", a group of entities, 5
including state departments and agencies, public-private 6
partnerships, and nonprofit, private-sector, and faith-based 7
organizations, which provides goods or services to directly 8
support the participants' goals and address identified 9
barriers; 10
(2) "Participant", an individual who voluntarily 11
participates in the true charity program; 12
(3) "Participating state agency", a state department, 13
division, or agency that takes part in the true charity 14
program at the direction of the governor. 15
3. (1) There shall be created within the department 16
of social services the "True Charity" program. The 17
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department, in consultation with the office of the governor, 18
shall: 19
(a) Facilitate coordination and collaboration among 20
participating state agencies to implement the provisions of 21
this section; 22
(b) Expand the Missouri partner network to meet the 23
needs of participants; 24
(c) Empower and assist participants in need to help 25
identify and achieve immediate, intermediate, and long-term 26
goals and remove barriers to achievement of personal goals; 27
(d) Use participating state agencies to serve families 28
holistically in achieving self-sufficiency, maximizing 29
community integration, and building a prosperous future. 30
Barriers to self-sufficiency may include the inability to: 31
a. Obtain stable employment; 32
b. Increase wages; 33
c. Obtain the necessary skills for greater 34
independence, education, or training; 35
d. Meet basic needs; and 36
e. Find stable housing; and 37
(e) Refer participants requiring assistance with 38
employment or vocational training to appropriate entities to 39
prepare, train, and place the participants in meaningful 40
employment. 41
(2) (a) To participate in the true charity program, 42
an individual shall be: 43
a. A legal resident of this state; 44
b. A citizen of the United States or a permanent 45
resident alien of the United States, as determined by the 46
U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services; 47
c. (i) At least eighteen years of age; 48
(ii) If emancipated, at least sixteen years of age; or 49
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(iii) If under eighteen years of age and not 50
emancipated, authorized to participate by written consent of 51
his or her parent or guardian. 52
(b) Participation in the true charity program is 53
voluntary. 54
(3) The department shall: 55
(a) Develop and maintain a website for individuals to 56
connect with the true charity program; and 57
(b) Develop and maintain a true charity program case 58
management system that, at a minimum, conducts intake for 59
true charity program inquiries and makes referrals for 60
individuals and families in need of services. 61
4. (1) The Missouri partner network shall work to 62
build a network of partnerships to sustain the effectiveness 63
of the true charity program. 64
(2) (a) State agencies shall participate in the true 65
charity program at the direction of the governor. 66
(b) In order to use government resources more 67
effectively and efficiently, participating state agencies 68
shall use existing resources and personnel, to the extent 69
possible, to operate the true charity program. 70
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