Missouri Senate

House Committee Substitute

GIFTED AND TALENTED CHILDREN: This act creates the Advisory Council on the Education of Gifted and Talented Children. The Council will have seven members appointed by the Commissioner of Education. Members will serve for a term of four years, with the initial appointments of shorter lengths to stagger the council's membership. The Commissioner of Education must consider recommendations for membership from organizations of educators and parents of gifted and talented children. Members must be Missouri residents and selected based on their knowledge and experience with the education of gifted and talented children.

The Commissioner must seek the advice of the council regarding all rules and policies to be adopted by the State Board of Education relating to the education of gifted and talented children. The State Board must appoint a staff member to be a liaison to the council and must also provide necessary clerical support and assistance to the council.

This section is identical to a provision contained in SB 193 (2013) and is similar to HB 1595 (2012). (Section 161.249)

CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION: This act shall be known and may be cited as the Career and Technical Education Student Protection Act. This act establishes the Career and Technical Education Advisory Council. It repeals the State Advisory Committee for Vocational Education.

The advisory council will consist of eleven members, appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Members will serve a term of five years, except for the initial appointees. Members will consist of the following individuals: a director or administrator of a career and technical education center; an individual from the business community with a background in commerce; three current or retired career and technical education teachers who serve or have served as an advisor to a career and technical education student organization; a representative from Linn State Technical College; a school administrator; a representative from a business organization; a representative from a community college; a representative from SEMO or UCM; and an individual participating in an apprenticeship recognized by the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations or approved by the United States Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship.

A director of career and guidance counseling at the Department of Elementary and Secondary education, the director of the Division of Workforce Development and one member of the Coordinating Board for Higher Education will serve as ex-officio members.

The Assistant Commissioner for the Office of College and Career Readiness of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will provide staff support to the advisory council. The advisory council must meet at least four times annually. Business coming before the advisory council, including all decisions, votes, exhibits, outcomes, and materials must be made available by free electronic record, as described in the act.

The advisory council must make an annual written report to the State Board of Education and the Commissioner of Education regarding the state budget for career and technical education. The advisory council must annually submit written recommendations to the State Board of Education and Commissioner of Education regarding the oversight and procedures for the handling of students career and technical education organization funds.

The advisory council must: develop a statewide short-range and long-range plan for career and technical education; identify legislative recommendations to improve career and technical education; promote coordination of existing career and technical education programs, as described in the act.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must provide documentation and information to allow the advisory council to be effective. (Section 178.550)

MICHAEL RUFF