Bill > HB1308

This bill modifies provisions for grants administered by the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, specifically expanding and clarifying grant opportunities for deaf-blind individuals and supporting organizations. The bill allows the commission to provide grants in three key areas: (1) organizations serving deaf-blind children and their families, which can include funding for family support advocates and education specialists to help deaf-blind children participate in community activities and support family interactions; (2) organizations providing services to deaf-blind adults, with the goal of helping them establish and maintain independence; and (3) organizations that train support service providers, with grants aimed at enabling certification of these providers in Missouri. The grants will be awarded through a request-for-proposal process, and organizations receiving grants will have flexibility in how they use the funds within the specified purposes. Notably, the bill removes a previous annual cap of $300,000 on total grant funding, potentially allowing for more comprehensive support. The grants are subject to available appropriations, meaning the actual funding will depend on the state's budget allocations.