HCS HB 437 -- MISSOURI MILITARY FAMILY RELIEF FUND

SPONSOR:  Jackson

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Veterans
by a vote of 11 to 0.

This substitute creates the Missouri Military Family Relief Fund
to be administered by the Adjutant General.  The Adjutant General
will make, subject to appropriations, grants from the fund to
families of persons who are members of the Missouri National
Guard or Missouri residents who are members of the reserves of
the armed forces of the United States and have been called to
active duty as a result of the terrorist attacks on September 11,
2001.  A panel of three individuals will administer the fund and
determine eligibility criteria for grants made from the fund.
The panel will include a command sergeants major of the Missouri
National Guard, a command sergeants major of the reserves or its
equivalent, and a representative of the Missouri Veterans
Commission.

In addition to state appropriations, in each taxable year
beginning January 1, 2005, Missouri residents and corporations
can designate a minimum contribution of $1 on a single return or
$2 on a combined return to the fund from their refund amount or
by separate payment.  One percent of the money contributed by
corporations in 2006 will be transferred to the General Revenue
Fund; however, this amount cannot exceed $70,000.

The Director of the Department of Revenue is required to transfer
the contributions on a monthly basis to the State Treasurer for
deposit into the fund.  Any money remaining in the fund at the
end of the biennium will not revert to the General Revenue Fund.

Currently, if a Missouri National Guard scholarship recipient
ceases to be a member of the Missouri National Guard, he or she
is required to repay the full amount of the scholarship.  The
substitute requires the recipients to maintain their military
affiliation in order to avoid repayment penalties, although they
are not required to be members of the Missouri National Guard.
Individuals who are called to active duty will be credited for
time served in fulfillment of their three-year obligation.
Currently, these scholarship funds can only be used after all
available United States Department of Defense educational
assistance funds have been expended.  The substitute removes this
requirement.

The provisions of the substitute will expire six years from the
effective date.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2006, FY 2007, and
FY 2008.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the primary purpose of the bill
is to allow a designation on the Missouri income tax form that
will allow citizens to contribute to the Military Family Relief
Fund.  The donation is voluntary.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Jackson; and Missouri
National Guard Association.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Alice Hurley, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 25, 2005 at 1:19 pm