SECOND REGULAR SESSION
97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE WALTON GRAY.
4681L.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 162, RSMo, by adding thereto three new sections relating to the establishment of a community schools program.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 162, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto three new sections, to be known as sections 162.667, 162.668, and 162.669, to read as follows:
162.667. 1. As used in sections 162.667 to 162.669, the following terms mean:
(1) "Board", the board of education of a metropolitan school district located in a city not within a county, a school district located in a county with a charter form of government and with more than nine hundred fifty thousand inhabitants, an urban school district located in a home rule city with more than four hundred thousand inhabitants and located in more than one county, or a school district located in a county with a charter form of government and with more than six hundred thousand but fewer than seven hundred thousand inhabitants;
(2) "Community school", a school located within a metropolitan school district located in a city not within a county, a school district located in a county with a charter form of government and with more than nine hundred fifty thousand inhabitants, an urban school district located in a home rule city with more than four hundred thousand inhabitants and located in more than one county, or a school district located in a county with a charter form of government and with more than six hundred thousand but fewer than seven hundred thousand inhabitants, that makes its facilities available for citizen use, coordinates activities of local citizens in identifying program needs and establishing priorities, identifies and utilizes available program resources, and assists in the initiation of programs to improve the cultural, social, recreational, and educational opportunities available in a community;
(3) "Community education program", a program in which a public building, including a public elementary or secondary school, is used as a community center operated by a school board in cooperation with other groups in the community, community organizations, and local governmental agencies to provide educational, recreational, cultural, health care, and other related community services in accordance with the needs, interests, and concerns of the community;
(4) "Community education director", an employee of a school district located in a metropolitan school district located in a city not within a county, a school district located in a county with a charter form of government and with more than nine hundred fifty thousand inhabitants, an urban school district located in a home rule city with more than four hundred thousand inhabitants and located in more than one county, or a school district located in a county with a charter form of government and with more than six hundred thousand but fewer than seven hundred thousand inhabitants, who is responsible for a countywide or citywide program of community education in such school district.
2. The state board of education shall develop a state plan for community education which sets forth the goals and objectives of the community schools program and establishes a system of priorities for targeting available resources on the areas with the greatest need within a district.
3. The department of elementary and secondary education shall administer a grant program to provide money to a school district located in a metropolitan school district located in a city not within a county, a school district located in a county with a charter form of government and with more than nine hundred fifty thousand inhabitants, an urban school district located in a home rule city with more than four hundred thousand inhabitants and located in more than one county, or a school district located in a county with a charter form of government and with more than six hundred thousand but fewer than seven hundred thousand inhabitants, to employ one full-time community education director to plan and manage programs and services for community education that are targeted to the greatest educational needs in the community and to encourage cooperation among all schools in a district located in a metropolitan school district located in a city not within a county, a district located within a county with a charter form of government and with more than nine hundred fifty thousand inhabitants, an urban school district located in a home rule city with more than four hundred thousand inhabitants and located in more than one county, or a school district located in a county with a charter form of government and with more than six hundred thousand but fewer than seven hundred thousand inhabitants. Funds shall also be used to provide professional development training to the state-funded community education director.
4. Funds appropriated for this purpose shall be distributed by the department of elementary and secondary education through a grant process.
5. There is hereby created in the state treasury the "Community Schools Fund", which shall consist of money collected under this section. The state treasurer shall be custodian of the fund. In accordance with sections 30.170 and 30.180, the state treasurer may approve disbursements. The fund shall be a dedicated fund and, upon appropriation, money in the fund shall be distributed by the department of elementary and secondary education through a grant process for the purpose of establishing and supporting community schools within a school district located in a metropolitan school district located in a city not within a county, a county with a charter form of government and with more than nine hundred fifty thousand inhabitants, an urban school district located in a home rule city with more than four hundred thousand inhabitants and located in more than one county, or a school district located in a county with a charter form of government and with more than six hundred thousand but fewer than seven hundred thousand inhabitants. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 to the contrary, any moneys remaining in the fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the credit of the general revenue fund. The state treasurer shall invest moneys in the fund in the same manner as other funds are invested. Any interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be credited to the fund.
162.668. 1. A school district located in a metropolitan school district located in a city not within a county, a school district located in a county with a charter form of government and with more than nine hundred fifty thousand inhabitants, an urban school district located in a home rule city with more than four hundred thousand inhabitants and located in more than one county, or a school district located in a county with a charter form of government and with more than six hundred thousand but fewer than seven hundred thousand inhabitants, may receive funding for a community school program if it meets all of the following criteria:
(1) Submits an application for approval by the state board of education in the manner and form prescribed by the department of elementary and secondary education;
(2) Submits a plan approved by the local board, which outlines the proposed community education program, including procedures for obtaining the involvement and cooperation of other agencies and groups in identifying and recommending programs for meeting locally determined needs;
(3) Establishes a council with the power to make district-wide decisions of policy to assist in conducting community needs assessments and recommending program priorities;
(4) Employs one full-time community education director.
2. Each grantee receiving state funds for a community education program shall submit an annual report to the department of elementary and secondary education. The report shall include an evaluation of the program and a financial statement. Failure to submit the report shall result in the loss of state funding.
162.669. 1. A state "Council for Community Education" shall be established for purposes of advising the commissioner of education and the department of elementary and secondary education on issues relating to community education programs and making recommendations for the funding of local community education programs.
2. The council shall have a membership of fifteen persons, appointed by the governor. Membership may include, but not be limited to, representatives of the following groups:
(1) Civic organizations;
(2) Community-based organizations;
(3) Community education organizations;
(4) Local government;
(5) Local school district administrators;
(6) Parent organizations;
(7) Post-secondary education;
(8) School boards; and
(9) Teachers.
3. The commissioner of education or the commissioner's designee shall convene the first meeting of the council for the purpose of establishing the bylaws of the council and electing officers to include a chairperson, vice chairperson, and secretary.
4. The council shall not meet more than four times annually. Members may be reimbursed for expenses but shall not receive a per diem allowance.
5. Under section 23.253 of the Missouri sunset act:
(1) The provisions of the new program authorized under sections 162.667 to 162.669 shall automatically sunset six years after the effective date of sections 162.667 to 162.669 unless reauthorized by an act of the general assembly; and
(2) If such program is reauthorized, the program authorized under sections 162.667 to 162.669 shall automatically sunset twelve years after the effective date of the reauthorization of sections 162.667 to 162.669; and
(3) Sections 162.667 to 162.669 shall terminate on September first of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the program authorized under sections 162.667 to 162.669 is sunset.
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