JEFFERSON CITY — On Monday (7-2), the governor signed into a law a measure benefiting Missouri’s veterans and their families. House Bill 1680, widely supported in the Missouri Senate, expands and strengthens a program designed to help veterans and their families find employment. The legislation is the second bill given the governor’s approval in recent weeks that supports Missouri’s servicemen and women, reflecting the Legislature’s on-going commitment to helping the state’s heroes.
House Bill 1680 renames the Heroes at Home Program the Show-Me Heroes Program and expands it to include spouses of active duty military personnel. Under the bill, families of active duty service members are eligible for financial assistance, including payment of overdue bills, transportation and daycare costs during employment searches, vocational counseling and job-placement assistance. The legislation also allows for the creation of an on-the-job training program within the initiative, whereby employers would be reimbursed for 50 percent of a Show-Me Heroes participant’s wages during a specified training period.
The Show-Me Heroes initiative was created in 2010 to help veterans find employment opportunities through a number of state services, including access to resources, tools and links. Employers can also take the ‘Pledge of Support to Missouri’s Veterans,’ which signals they are willing to consider and hire citizens with military experience. Since the program was established, it has helped more than 1,600 veterans find employment, with more than 2,100 businesses taking the pledge.
In May, the governor signed into law House Bill 1731, which creates a stable funding source for Missouri’s seven veterans’ homes by earmarking a portion of the state’s casino fees. Both measures, HB 1680 and HB 1731, are part of lawmakers’ continued efforts to support the state’s veterans.
House Bill 1680 will take effect on Aug. 28, along with the majority of legislation passed by the General Assembly this year.
To learn more about the Show-Me Heroes program, click here. To see a complete list of the bills delivered to the governor for his approval, visit www.senate.mo.gov and click on the “Truly Agreed Bills” link under the “Legislation” tab. To contact the Senate Newsroom, call (573) 751-3824 or email newsroom@senate.mo.gov.
|
