Governor Signs Two of Rep. Day's

Bills Aiding Military Families

 

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Two bills aiding military families in Missouri, HB’s 136 and 149, sponsored by Rep. David Day, R-Dixon, were signed by the governor Thursday at the National Veterans of Foreign Wars Headquarters in Kansas City. 

HB 136 will allow the spouse of an active member of the military to be eligible for unemployment benefits if accompanying the spouse in the event of a military transfer. Currently, military spouses cannot collect unemployment in Missouri if they left their job to travel with their spouse to a new duty station. Missouri is the 39th state to allow unemployment benefits for military spouses. The bill will also allow for temporary licensing in Missouri for family members.

HB 149 will extend a successful program that has provided financial assistance to many Missouri families. The Missouri Military Family Fund is a state-administered fund which will assist families of persons who are members of the Missouri National Guard or Missouri residents who are members of the reserves of the armed forces of the United States and have been called to active duty as a result of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.  Originally signed into law in 2005, it was set to expire this year.

“These bills will help military families who sacrifice so much for their country,” said Day. “Military families face many hardships and these two bills will allow Missouri to better serve those who have served our great country.  I also want to say a special thanks to Senator Dan Brown who handled this legislation on the other side of the Capitol, without his help this legislation would not be possible."

Representative Day serves as Chairman of the House Veterans Committee.  He has been in that position for five years, one of the longest serving chairmen currently in the Missouri House of Representatives.