Section 160.375

Title XI EDUCATION AND LIBRARIES

Chapter 160

Effective - 28 Aug 2009, 2 histories, see footnote   (history) 

  160.375.  Program established, purpose — mentor qualifications — rulemaking authority — fund established, use of moneys — sunset provision. — 1. There is hereby established the "Missouri Senior Cadets Program", which shall be administered by the department of elementary and secondary education. The program shall encourage high school seniors to mentor kindergarten through eighth grade students in their respective school districts for a minimum of ten hours per week during the school year.

  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 a four-point scale or equivalent; and

  (3) Plan to attend college.

  3. The department of elementary and secondary education shall promulgate rules to implement this section, which shall include, but may not be limited to, guidelines for school districts and mentors in the program. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2009, shall be invalid and void.

  4. The mentor shall work with the school principal, classroom teachers, and other applicable school personnel in planning and implementing the mentoring plan. Such mentoring may occur before, during, or after school.

  5. If a mentor in the program successfully provides mentoring services for an average of at least ten hours per week during a school year, the following shall apply, subject to appropriations:

  (1) The mentor shall receive one hour of elective class credit, which may satisfy graduation requirements; and

  (2) Should the mentor attend college with the stated intention of becoming a teacher, the mentor shall be reimbursed, subject to appropriation, by the department of elementary and secondary education for the costs of three credit hours per semester for a total of no more than eight semesters.

  6. There is hereby established in the state treasury a fund to be known as the "Missouri Senior Cadets Fund", which shall consist of all moneys that may be appropriated to it by the general assembly, and in addition may include any gifts, contributions, grants, or bequests received from federal, state, private, or other sources. The fund shall be administered by the department of elementary and secondary education. The state treasurer shall be custodian of the fund and may approve disbursements from the fund in accordance with sections 30.170 and 30.180. Upon appropriation, moneys in the fund shall be used solely for the administration of the Missouri senior cadets program. 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.

  7. Pursuant to section 23.253 of the Missouri sunset act:

  (1) Any new program authorized under this section shall automatically sunset six years after August 28, 2009, unless reauthorized by an act of the general assembly; and

  (2) If such program is reauthorized, the program authorized under this section shall automatically sunset twelve years after the effective date of the reauthorization of this section; and

  (3) This section shall terminate on September first of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which a program authorized under this section is sunset.

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(L. 2009 S.B. 291)

Sunset date 8-28-15, unless reauthorized

Termination date 9-01-16, unless reauthorized