FIRST REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 311
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR FITZWATER.
1272S.01I KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary
AN ACT
To amend chapter 210, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the provision of
services to youth in the custody of the department of social services.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 210, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto 1
one new section, to be known as section 210.119, to read as 2
follows:3
210.119. 1. The department of social services shall 1
establish a program to provide a comprehensive system of 2
service delivery, education, and residential care for youth 3
with severe behavioral challenges or severe developmental 4
disabilities. In order to be eligible for services under 5
this program, youth shall: 6
(1) Be in the custody of the children's division; 7
(2) Be under twenty-one years of age; and 8
(3) Be determined by a team of specialized 9
professionals within the department to have needs that 10
cannot be met by existing state programs. Such 11
determination shall include any assessment necessary to 12
maximize resources for the youth. 13
Youth under twenty-one years of age who are subject to a 14
voluntary placement agreement may access this program if 15
they meet the qualifications of this subsection and 16
resources are available to provide services for suc h youth. 17 SB 311 2
2. The department shall be authorized to enter into 18
any contracts necessary to implement this program, including 19
contracts for program operations with a qualified service 20
provider or consortium of qualified service providers. 21
Qualified service providers shall be licensed or accredited 22
in their respective fields of service, based in this state, 23
and not-for-profit entities with a record of success in the 24
areas for which they shall provide services, as well as meet 25
any additional requir ements set by the department designed 26
to meet the best interests of the children they serve. 27
3. The department shall be authorized to enter into 28
memoranda of understanding with any facility or campus under 29
state ownership that is appropriate for t he program and the 30
youth being served. Such facilities shall include, but 31
shall not be limited to, facilities owned and operated by 32
the division of youth services or the department of mental 33
health. The division of youth services and the department 34
of mental health shall make available such facilities to the 35
department of social services when such facilities are 36
appropriate, under-utilized, or vacant. 37
4. The provisions of section 210.114 shall apply to 38
qualified service providers providing s ervices to youth 39
under this section. 40
5. The department may promulgate such rules and 41
regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions of 42
this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term 43
is defined in section 536.010, that is cre ated under the 44
authority delegated in this section shall become effective 45
only if it complies with and is subject to all of the 46
provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 47
536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and 48
if any of the powers vested with the general assembly 49 SB 311 3
pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective 50
date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently 51
held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking 52
authority and any rule proposed or adopt ed after August 28, 53
2025, shall be invalid and void. 54