Bill > HB2772

This bill establishes the "Youth Workforce Development Program" within the department of higher education and workforce development, aiming to provide young people, specifically those aged twelve to twenty-one who are at-risk or involved with the juvenile justice system, with opportunities to enter the workforce and develop essential skills. The program, which will initially be limited to five hundred participants in counties with over one million inhabitants or a city not within a county, will offer job training, certification programs in high-demand industries, internships, apprenticeships, and life skills training, including communication, teamwork, and financial literacy. It also includes provisions for vocational training and educational programs within juvenile detention facilities and encourages partnerships with local businesses and community organizations to create job opportunities and provide basic needs support for participants. Referrals to the program can come from juvenile courts, the department of social services, or schools. A dedicated "Youth Workforce Development Program Fund" will be created to support program activities, including stipends and participant support services, and any remaining funds will not revert to the general revenue fund. The program is subject to a sunset provision, meaning it will expire six years after its effective date unless reauthorized by the General Assembly, and the department will be required to submit annual reports on the program's effectiveness and participant outcomes.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB2772&year=2026&code=R