SB 1003 - This act modifies the composition of the panel that recommends to the Adjutant General to make grants or provide other financial assistance or services from the Missouri Military Family Relief Fund. Instead of a sergeant major of the Missouri National Guard, the panel shall include a senior enlisted leader of the Missouri National Guard. This act also provides that the Adjutant General, rather than the panel, shall have the power to establish criteria for the grants. Furthermore, the grants may be made to members of the Missouri National Guard in addition to families of members and other reserve members of the Armed Forces of the United States. This act establishes a Missouri National Guard Counterdrug Program Ribbon, which the Adjutant General is authorized to present to any member of the Missouri National Guard who has participated in the Counterdrug Program after January 1, 1989. This act also establishes the Missouri National Guard Homeland Response Force Program Ribbon, which the Adjutant General is authorized to present to any member of the Missouri National Guard who has participated in the Homeland Response Force Program after January 1, 2012. This act establishes a Missouri
National Guard Engineer Explosive Ordnance Clearance Agent Ribbon, which the Adjutant General is authorized to present to any member of the Missouri National Guard who has participated in a engineer explosive ordnance clearance agent course after January 1, 2012.
Additionally, this act establishes the Cybersecurity Mission Act, which provides that the Missouri National Guard may engage in cybersecurity, cyber-attack prevention, cyber-attack response, and cyber-attack support activities for this state and for political subdivisions, governing bodies, public colleges and universities, law enforcement agencies, utility companies, and critical infrastructure facilities of this state. The Adjutant General may activate members on state order to carry out such activities. The Missouri National Guard Cyber-Security Revolving Fund is created and shall consist of monies appropriated by the General Assembly and monies received as a charge and monies received as reimbursement for expenses incurred by the Missouri National Guard related to rendering aid under this act.
The Missouri Veterans' Commission may use the Veterans Commission Capital Improvement Trust Fund for payment of expenses associated with providing medals, medallions, and certificates in recognition of service in the Armed Forces of the United States for any conflict, war, operation, and similar incident identified in law, rather than during World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War.
Furthermore, this act provides that spouses or eldest living survivors of a deceased veteran, who was entitled to but died prior to applying, may apply for, on behalf of the deceased veteran, the following medallions, medals, and certificates:
• Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn;
• Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Freedom's Sentinel, and Operation Allies Refuge Program; and
• Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.
The Missouri Veterans' Commission shall design the form for such medallions, medals, and certificates. The Adjutant General shall determine as expeditiously as possible those persons who are entitled to such medallions, medals, and certificates and shall notify the General Assembly when such supply totals less than 100.
Currently, the tuition and fee waiver for undergraduate courses at Missouri higher education institutions to Missouri National Guard members apply after GI Bill educational entitlements. This act repeals this provision. Finally, this act repeals the Military Council, which duties included acting in an advisory capacity on matters provided by the Governor and the Adjutant General and making recommendations of appropriations for the needs of the militia and expending such appropriations.
KATIE O'BRIEN