160.375. Program established, purpose--mentor qualifications--rulemaking authority--fund established, use of moneys--sunset provision.
Program established, purpose--mentor qualifications--rulemakingauthority--fund established, use of moneys--sunset provision.
160.375. 1. There is hereby established the "Missouri Senior CadetsProgram", which shall be administered by the department of elementary andsecondary education. The program shall encourage high school seniors tomentor kindergarten through eighth grade students in their respectiveschool districts for a minimum of ten hours per week during the schoolyear.
2. In order to be a mentor in the program, a student must:
(1) Be a Missouri resident who attends a Missouri high school;
(2) Possess a cumulative grade point average of at least three on afour-point scale or equivalent; and
(3) Plan to attend college.
3. The department of elementary and secondary education shallpromulgate rules to implement this section, which shall include, but maynot be limited to, guidelines for school districts and mentors in theprogram. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in thissection shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject toall of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section536.028, RSMo. This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and ifany of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536,RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul arule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemakingauthority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2009, shall beinvalid and void.
4. The mentor shall work with the school principal, classroomteachers, and other applicable school personnel in planning andimplementing the mentoring plan. Such mentoring may occur before, during,or after school.
5. If a mentor in the program successfully provides mentoringservices for an average of at least ten hours per week during a schoolyear, the following shall apply, subject to appropriations:
(1) The mentor shall receive one hour of elective class credit, whichmay satisfy graduation requirements; and
(2) Should the mentor attend college with the stated intention ofbecoming a teacher, the mentor shall be reimbursed, subject toappropriation, by the department of elementary and secondary education forthe costs of three credit hours per semester for a total of no more thaneight semesters.
6. There is hereby established in the state treasury a fund to beknown as the "Missouri Senior Cadets Fund", which shall consist of allmoneys that may be appropriated to it by the general assembly, and inaddition may include any gifts, contributions, grants, or bequests receivedfrom federal, state, private, or other sources. The fund shall beadministered by the department of elementary and secondary education. Thestate treasurer shall be custodian of the fund and may approvedisbursements from the fund in accordance with sections 30.170 and 30.180,RSMo. Upon appropriation, moneys in the fund shall be used solely for theadministration of the Missouri senior cadets program. Notwithstanding theprovisions of section 33.080, RSMo, to the contrary, any moneys remainingin the fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the credit ofthe general revenue fund. The state treasurer shall invest moneys in thefund in the same manner as other funds are invested. Any interest andmoneys earned on such investments shall be credited to the fund.
7. Pursuant to section 23.253, RSMo, of the Missouri sunset act:
(1) Any new program authorized under this section shall automaticallysunset six years after August 28, 2009, unless reauthorized by an act ofthe general assembly; and
(2) If such program is reauthorized, the program authorized underthis section shall automatically sunset twelve years after the effectivedate of the reauthorization of this section; and
(3) This section shall terminate on September first of the calendaryear immediately following the calendar year in which a program authorizedunder this section is sunset.
(L. 2009 S.B. 291)Sunset date 8-28-15, unless reauthorized
Termination date 9-01-16, unless reauthorized