HCS HB 664 -- VETERANS HONOR GUARD (Ross)

This substitute requires the Adjutant General or a Missouri
state veterans' organization upon request to provide an honor
guard at the burial of any person who has served in the United
States armed forces during time of war or is entitled to
military honors at the person's burial, interment, or memorial
service.  If the honor guard is provided by a veterans'
organization, the organization will be reimbursed for expenses
by the Adjutant General's office.  The Adjutant General's office
will be responsible for the training of all honor guards.

The substitute also establishes the Missouri National Guard
Trust Fund.  The fund is established to provide funding for
honor guards at the burial of qualified veterans.  Until the
fund exceeds $1 million only half the monies deposited will be
available for disbursement.  After the fund exceeds $1 million
the Adjutant General may distribute funds within the limits of
appropriation.  The fund may receive contributions, gifts,
bequests, grants, and federal funds.

In each tax year beginning January 1, 1998, individuals and
corporations may contribute a minimum of $2 to the Missouri
National Guard Trust Fund on their income tax form.  A
contribution designation section will be clearly printed on
income tax forms.  The names of individuals and corporations who
contributed may be supplied to the Adjutant General for the sole
purpose of acknowledgement of the gift.

Beginning, July 1, 1998, all funds in the Veterans' Commission
Capital Improvements Trust Fund will be transferred to the
Veterans' Trust Fund to establish an endowment in the amount of
$100 million for funding of all Veterans' Commission operations
and capital improvements as appropriated by the General
Assembly.  All unencumbered gaming commission funds which had
been transferred into the Veterans' Commission Capital
Improvements Trust Fund will be transferred equally into the
Veterans' Trust Fund and the Missouri National Guard Trust Fund
to maintain a balance in the respective funds of $100 million.
Language is also removed from current law which transfers all
unencumbered gaming commission funds to general revenue
beginning July 1, 2000.

The substitute also places any rule promulgated under its
authority under certain standards for withstanding a challenge,
requires the court to award reasonable fees and expenses to any
prevailing party in such a challenge, and requires that rules
promulgated pursuant to the bill expire on August 28th of the
year after they become effective unless extended by statute.
These rules provisions have a conditional termination.

FISCAL NOTE:  Loss to Veterans' Commission Capital Improvement
Trust Fund of $0 for FY 1998, $48,850,000 for FY 1999, and $0
for FY 2000.  Estimated Net Effect to Veterans' Trust Fund of $0
for FY 1998, an income of $48,850,00 for FY 1999, and a loss of
$15,000,000 for FY 2000.  Estimated Net Cost to General Revenue
Fund of $333,919 for FY 1998, $1,190,654 for FY 1999, and $0 for
FY 2000.  Estimated Net Income to Missouri National Guard Trust
Fund of $0 for FY 1998, $0 for FY 1999, and $12,869,983 for FY
2000.

HCS HB 664 -- VETERANS HONOR GUARD

SPONSOR:  Boucher (Ross)

COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Federal
State Relations and Veterans Affairs by a vote of 10 to 0.

This substitute requires the Adjutant General or a Missouri
state veterans' organization upon request to provide an honor
guard at the burial of any person who has served in the United
States armed forces during time of war or is entitled to
military honors at the person's burial, interment, or memorial
service.  If the honor guard is provided by a veterans'
organization, the organization will be reimbursed for expenses
by the Adjutant General's office.  The adjutant general's office
will be responsible for the training of all honor guards.

The substitute also establishes the Missouri National Guard
Trust Fund.  The fund is established to provide funding for
honor guards at the burial of qualified veterans.  Until the
fund exceeds $1 million only half the monies deposited will be
available for disbursement.  After the fund exceeds $1 million
the Adjutant General may distribute funds within the limits of
appropriation.  The fund may receive contributions, gifts,
bequests, grants, and federal funds.

In each tax year beginning January 1, 1998, individuals and
corporations may contribute a minimum of $2 to the Missouri
National Guard Trust Fund.  A contribution designation section
will be clearly printed on income tax forms.  The names of
individuals and corporations who contributed may be supplied to
the Adjutant General for the sole purpose of acknowledgement of
the gift.

Beginning, July 1, 1998, all funds in the Veterans' Commission
Capital Improvements Trust Fund will be transferred to the
Veterans' Trust Fund to establish an endowment in the amount of
$100 million for funding of all Veterans' Commission operations
and capital improvements as appropriated by the General
Assembly.  All unencumbered gaming commission funds which had
been transferred into the Veterans' Commission Capital
Improvements Trust Fund will be transferred equally into the
Veterans' Trust Fund and the Missouri National Guard Trust Fund
to maintain a balance in the respective funds of $100 million.

The substitute also removes language which transfers all
unencumbered gaming commission funds to general revenue
beginning July 1, 2000.

FISCAL NOTE:  Loss to Veterans' Commission Capital Improvement
Trust Fund of $48,850,000 in FY 1999.  Estimated Net Effect to
Veterans' Trust Fund of $0 in FY 1998, Increase of $48,850,000
in FY 1999, & Cost of $15,000,000 in FY 2000.  Estimated Net
Cost to General Revenue Fund of $333,919 in FY 1998, $1,190,654
in FY 1999, & $0 in FY 2000.  Estimated Net Increase to Missouri
National Guard Trust Fund of $0 in FY 1998, FY 1999, &
$12,869,983 in FY 2000.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that this house committee substitute
will honor those who have served in the military.  All veterans
have the right to be buried with honor and no veteran should be
refused proper burial due to lack of funds.  Missouri currently
has military personnel in Iraq and Bosnia.  Within the next few
years Missouri will bury 12,000 to 14,000 veterans per year.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Ross, Pouche,
Patek, and Boucher; Missouri Association of Veterans
Organizations; Missouri National Guard Association; Marine Corps
League; Veterans of Foreign Wars; American Legion; and Missouri
Veterans' Commission.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Steve Bauer, Research Analyst

HB 664 -- Veterans Burial

Co-Sponsors:  Ross, Pouche

This bill permits the Adjutant General or a Missouri state
veterans' organization to provide a firing squad at the burial
of any person who has served in the United States armed forces
during time of war, or in the National Guard for more than 20
years, or who died while a member of the National Guard.  If the
firing squad is provided by a veterans' organization, the
organization may bill the Adjutant General's office for the
service.