Bill > SB974

This bill modifies various provisions related to military affairs in Missouri, including expanding eligibility for financial assistance from the Missouri Military Family Relief Fund to members of the Missouri National Guard and their families, and to Missouri residents who are members of the U.S. Armed Forces reserves. It also updates compensation for active duty militia members to match federal pay scales, with a minimum pay for E5 personnel and a new allowance for TRICARE premiums for those on active duty for over thirty days. The bill authorizes the creation of a Missouri National Guard counterdrug program ribbon and establishes a revolving fund for moneys received through federal asset forfeiture programs to support counterdrug activities. Additionally, it allows for the presentation of ribbons for participation in the homeland response force program and engineer explosive ordnance clearance agent courses, and creates a Cybersecurity Revolving Fund to support cybersecurity aid to state entities and critical infrastructure. A new program, the "Missouri Guaranteed Inclusive Voluntary Exceptional Service (MO GIVES) Program," is established to provide paid leave, per diem, and housing allowances for Missouri National Guard members who become living organ donors. The bill also introduces new regulations for individuals who advise or assist others with veterans' benefits matters, prohibiting referral fees and requiring written agreements with specific fee structures, and clarifies the use of the Veterans Commission Capital Improvement Trust Fund for various veterans' facilities and programs. It further establishes programs to award medallions, medals, and certificates of appreciation to veterans of specific military operations, including Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Desert Shield, and Operation Desert Storm, and expands the military leave for public employees to sixty hours per federal fiscal year. Finally, the bill makes changes to tax provisions, including modifications to Missouri adjusted gross income calculations related to federal tax refunds, interest on governmental obligations, and retirement benefits for military service.

Budget and Finance, Military Affairs and Security

https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=374