Missouri HB 2524: Establishes the Office of State Adoption Services.

Bill Text

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 2524
100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE PIETZMAN.
5328H.01I DANA RADEMAN MILLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 37, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the office of state
adoption services.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 37, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be
2 known as section 37.1000, to read as follows:
37.1000. 1. As used in this section, the term "office" means the office of state
2 adoption services established under subsection 2 of this section.
3 2. There is hereby established within the office of administration the "Office of
4 State Adoption Services" for the purpose of providing adoption services to persons
5 residing in Missouri seeking to adopt a child. Such services shall include, but are not
6 limited to, the adoption assessment process and updates, home study or studies, and
7 postplacement supervision. The director shall report directly to the commissioner of the
8 office of administration.
9 3. The office shall be administered by the director, who shall be appointed jointly
10 by the governor and the chief justice of the Missouri supreme court with the advice and
11 consent of the senate. The director shall hold office for a term of six years and shall
12 continue to hold office until a successor has been duly appointed.
13 4. The office of administration shall hire three attorneys licensed in the state of
14 Missouri to provide the services required under subsection 2 of this section and provide
15 administrative support and staff as deemed necessary.
16 5. (1) There is hereby created in the state treasury the "State Adoption Services
17 Fund", which shall consist of moneys appropriated to it by the general assembly and any
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended
to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.

HB 2524 2
18 grants, gifts, and bequests. The state treasurer shall be custodian of the fund. In
19 accordance with sections 30.170 and 30.180, the state treasurer may approve
20 disbursements. The fund shall be a dedicated fund and, upon appropriation, moneys in
21 the fund shall be used solely for the administration of this section.
22 (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 to the contrary, any moneys
23 remaining in the fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the credit of the
24 general revenue fund.
25 (3) The state treasurer shall invest moneys in the fund in the same manner as other
26 funds are invested. Any interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be credited
27 to the fund.
28 6. The commissioner of the office of administration shall promulgate all necessary
29 rules and regulations for the administration of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule,
30 as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in
31 this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the
32 provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536
33 are nonseverable, and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to
34 chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are
35 subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule
36 proposed or adopted after August 28, 2020, shall be invalid and void.
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