SS SCS HCS HB 437 -- MISSOURI MILITARY FAMILY RELIEF FUND AND
MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARD SCHOLARSHIPS

This bill authorizes a contribution check-off box on state income
tax forms for the Missouri Military Family Relief Fund and
modifies the educational assistance grant program of the Missouri
National Guard.

MISSOURI MILITARY FAMILY RELIEF FUND

The bill 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
may 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.  In 2006, up to $70,000 of the moneys
contributed by corporations will be used to pay for the program's
administration.

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 moneys remaining in the fund at the
end of the biennium will not revert to the General Revenue Fund.

These provisions of the bill will expire six years from the
effective date.

MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARD SCHOLARSHIP

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
bill 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 medically disqualified from service prior to
the end of their three-year obligation are not required to repay
the grant, and individuals who are called to active duty will be
credited for time served in fulfillment of their three-year
obligation.  Currently, these scholarship funds may only be used
after all available United States Department of Defense
educational assistance funds have been expended.  The bill
removes this requirement.

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