HCS/SB 656 - This act modifies provisions relating to veterans. HONOR GUARD APPRECIATION DAY (Section 9.302) This act designates every August 19th as "Honor Guard Appreciation Day" in Missouri. GHOST ARMY RECOGNITION DAY (Section 9.305) This act designates every June 6th as "Ghost Army Recognition Day" in Missouri. This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/SS/SCS/SB 718 (2020). BUDDY CHECK 22 DAY (Section 9.311) This act designates the 22nd day of each month as "Buddy Check 22 Day" to encourage citizens check in on veterans and to raise awareness of the problem of suicide facing military personnel. This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/SS/SCS/SB 718 (2020). MISSOURI KOREAN WAR VETERANS MEMORIAL (Section 10.230) This act designates the Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial located in Kansas City, Missouri as the official Korean War veterans memorial for the state of Missouri. GOLD STAR FAMILIES MEMORIAL MONUMENT (Section 10.237) This act designates the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument at the College of the Ozarks as an official Gold Star Memorial Monument for the state of Missouri. GOLD STAR MEMORIAL MONUMENT AND PAVILION (Section 10.238) This act designates the Gold Star Memorial Monument and Pavilion at Jefferson Barracks Park shall be known as an official Gold Star Memorial Monument for the state of Missouri. GOLD STAR MEMORIAL MONUMENT AT THE MISSOURI CAPITOL (Section 10.239) This act designates the Gold Star Memorial Monument at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City as an official Gold Star Memorial Monument for the state of Missouri. ATTORNEY GENERAL MILITARY PROGRAM (Section 27.115) This act requires the Attorney General to design, implement, and oversee a program to assist members of the military and their families in finding and retaining legal counsel. The program shall be marketed to attorneys in addition to military families and shall publicize pro bono legal services available to military families. The Attorney General shall collaborate with the Missouri Bar in the administration of the program. This provision is similar to a provision in HCS/SS/SCS/SB 718 (2020). JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR VETERANS (Section 42.017) This act requires the Missouri Veterans' Commission to seek out business organizations that are interested in hiring veterans for available job opportunities. This provision is identical to HB 1454 (2020). TEACHER LICENSING FOR MILITARY SPOUSES (Section 168.021) This act provides that a provisional certificate issued to any qualified military spouse who is hired to teach in a Missouri public school is valid for three years. Additionally, within 30 days after receiving an application and of completion of the required background check, the State Board of Education shall issue a full certificate of license to a spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who meets certain residence requirements if all necessary fees are paid and all other licensing requirements are met. This provision is similar to a provision in HCS/SS/SCS/SB 718 (2020) and HB 1316 (2020). STATE OMBUDSMAN & VETERANS' HOMES (Section 192.2305) This act authorizes the Office of State Ombudsman for Long-Term Care Facility Residents to receive, respond to, and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents of Missouri veterans' homes relating to the action, inaction, or decisions of providers or agencies affecting resident health, safety, welfare, or rights. The State Ombudsman or representatives of the Office, in addition to all current authority granted by state statute, shall have the authority to enter any veterans' home and have access to residents in a reasonable time and manner and have access to resident records with the permission of the resident or the resident's guardian. Additionally, the Office shall analyze and monitor the development and implementation of federal, state, and local law and regulations regarding Missouri veterans' homes. This provision is identical to SB 846 (2020) and a provision in HCS/SS/SCS/SB 718 (2020). DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY SERVICES FOR MILITARY FAMILIES (Section 208.151) This act provides that Missouri members of the Armed Forces and their immediate family shall have their eligibility for MO HealthNet developmental disability services temporarily suspended for any period of time during which such person temporarily resides outside of Missouri for reasons relating to military service. Upon returning to the state, the eligibility shall be immediately restored. If the military member or an immediate family member is not a legal resident of this state, but would otherwise be eligible for developmental disability services, the individual shall be eligible for such services during the time in which the individual is temporarily present in Missouri for reasons relating to military service. This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/SS/SCS/SB 718 (2020) and substantially similar to a provision in HB 1316 (2020). SERVICE DOGS AND ANIMALS (Sections 209.150 to 209.204) This act modifies the definition of a "service dog" to be a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Additionally, this act adds "mental health service dog" to the definition of a service dog. A mental health service dog, or a psychiatric service dog, is a dog that has been individually trained for an owner who has a psychiatric disability, medical condition, or developmental disability. The dog is trained to perform tasks to mitigate or assist the owner with difficulties directly related to the disability. These provisions are identical to SS/SB 644 (2020) and provisions in HCS/HB 1319 (2020), substantially similar to provisions in HB 750 (2020), and similar to provisions in HCS/HB 107 (2019), HB 1369 (2019), HB 262 (2017), HCS/HB 1907 (2018), HCS/SS/SCS/SB 918 (2018), and SB 335 (2017), HCS/HB 1428 (2016), HB 787 (2015), and HB 142 (2015). Under this act, any person knowingly misrepresenting a dog as a service dog, as described in the act, for the purposes of receiving accommodations regarding service dogs under the Americans with Disabilities Act shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class B misdemeanor for each subsequent offense. Additionally, any person knowingly misrepresenting any animal as an assistance animal, as described in the act, for the purposes of receiving accommodations regarding assistance animals under the Fair Housing Act or the Rehabilitation Act shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class B misdemeanor for each subsequent offense. Any person violating these provisions shall also be civilly liable for any actual damages resulting from such misrepresentation. The Governor's Council on Disability shall prepare and make available online a placard for posting in a front window or door of a business stating that service dogs are welcome and that misrepresenting a service dog is a violation of Missouri law. The Council shall also prepare and make available a brochure detailing guidelines regarding service dogs and assistance animals. These provisions are identical to SS/SB 644 (2020) and substantially similar to provisions in HCS/HB 1319 (2020) and SB 750 (2020) and similar to provisions in HCS/HB 107 (2019), SCS/SB 107 (2019), HCS/HB 2031 (2018), and HCS/SS/SCS/SB 918 (2018). CHILD PROTECTION FOR MILITARY FAMILIES (Sections 210.109 and 210.150) This act requires the Children's Division to attempt to ascertain whether the suspected perpetrator or any person responsible for the care, custody, and control of a child is a member of the Armed Forces after receiving a report on alleged abuse or neglect of a child. This act allows appropriate staff of the United States Department of Defense to receive access to investigation records contained in the central registry of the Children's Division and records maintained by the Children's Division following a report of child abuse and neglect in cases where the suspected perpetrator or any person responsible for the care, custody, and control of the subject child is a member of the Armed Forces. Additionally, this act requires the Division to report findings in cases where the person responsible for the care, custody, and control of a child is a member of the Armed Forces to the most relevant family advocacy program or other relevant person authorized by the United States Department of Defense to receive reports. These provisions are identical to a provision in HCS/SS/SCS/SB 718 (2020) and substantially similar to provisions in HB 1316 (2020). PURPLE HEART SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES (Section 301.451) Currently, a recipient of the Purple Heart medal shall be charged only regular registration fees to be issued Purple Heart special license plates from the Department of Revenue. This act exempts Purple Heart special license plates from vehicle registration fees for the first set of the plates issued to an eligible person. Under the act, any registered co-owner of the vehicle shall be entitled to use and renew the plates until he or she remarries, or for the rest of his or her life if he or she does not remarry. These provisions are identical to provisions in HCS/SB 686 (2020) and HCS/HB 1800 (2020). CENTRAL MISSOURI HONOR FLIGHT SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES (Section 301.3069) This act establishes a "Central Missouri Honor Flight" special license plate. The plate requires an annual emblem-use fee of $25, paid to Central Missouri Honor Flight and to be used for financial assistance to transport veterans to Washington D.C. to view veteran memorials, in addition to the $15 special personalized license plate fee and other requirements and fees as provided by law. These provisions are identical to provisions in HCS/SB 686 (2020), SCS/HB 1963 (2020) and to provisions in HCS/HB 1473 (2020). MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES (Section 301.3159) This act establishes a "Meritorious Service Medal" special license plate. Applicants shall provide proof of having been awarded the medal as required by the Director of the Department of Revenue. There shall be an additional fee for issuance of the plates equal to the $15 special personalized license plate fee. Meritorious Service Medal license plates shall not be transferable to any other person, except that any registered co-owner of the motor vehicle shall be entitled to operate the motor vehicle with such plates for the duration of the year licensed in the event of the death of the qualified person. These provisions are identical to HCS/SB 686 (2020), HB 2249 (2020), to provisions in SCS/HB 1963 (2020), and to provisions in HCS/HB 1473 (2020). CONCEALED CARRY PERMITS FOR MILITARY MEMBERS (Section 571.104) This act authorizes an active military member of the armed forces to renew his or her permit to carry a concealed weapon by mail. A permit may be picked up in person or sent by certified mail. This provision is identical to HB 2259 (2020) and HB 1160 (2019). JIM ERTLE