FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 196

92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES SAGER, LOWE, LeVOTA, WILDBERGER, YOUNG, CURLS,

JOLLY, BLAND (Co-sponsors), DAUS, MEINERS AND LIESE.

         Read 1^st time January 15, 2003, and copies ordered printed.

STEPHEN S. DAVIS, Chief Clerk

0809L.01I

AN ACT

To amend chapter 453, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the establishment of a recruitment campaign for adoptive and foster care families.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

            Section A. Chapter 453, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 453.390, to read as follows:

            453.390. 1. Subject to appropriations, the department of social services shall:

            (1) Establish and implement an ongoing advertising campaign for the recruitment of adoptive and foster care families, with a special emphasis on the recruitment of qualified adoptive and foster care families for special needs children. The department may contract with professional advertising agencies or other professional entities to conduct such advertising campaign on behalf of the department; and

            (2) Establish a twenty-four hour toll-free telephone number to answer questions and assist persons inquiring about becoming adoptive or foster parents.