Legislation to Re-Establish
Missouri Youth Challenge Academy Sent to Governor
Jefferson City – The House gave final approval to HB 2262 & 2264 on May 13th by a vote of 133 - 3. The bill, sponsored by Rep. David Day, R-Dixon, would re-establish the Missouri Youth Challenge Academy, which would intervene in the lives of at-risk youth in Missouri. The Academy, which was originally established in FY 1999 and discontinued in FY 2002 due to lack of funding, utilizes residential military-based training and supervised work experience through the National Guard to teach life skills to high school dropouts.
“This is a voluntary program that young people who are considered at-risk, often those who have dropped out of high school, can enter to earn some life skills and life experience, along with their high school diploma or GED” Rep. Day said. “I’m thrilled the General Assembly has passed this important legislation and I look forward to the governor signing it into law.”
“A special thank you has to be given to Senator Bill Stouffer who carried the legislation in the senate. Without his help and hard work on that side of the capitol, this legislation would have never become a reality” continued Day.
Currently, the National Guard operates 32 academies in 28 states for at-risk high school dropouts. There are two phases to the academy, a five month residential phase, and a 12 month mentoring phase. The funding for the Academy would be 75 percent federal money and 25 percent private donations, meaning no additional tax dollars from Missouri will be utilized to fund this program. The Missouri National Guard foundation will handle donations for the program so it would not have to rely on state funding.
“I am proud of this legislation, it will have a tremendous impact on the lives of many young people for years to come and because they will become productive members of our society, it will save taxpayer dollars at the same time” concluded Day.
The bill now moves to the Governor’s office to be signed into law. The legislation contains an Emergency Clause so it will become law as soon as signed instead of waiting until August 28th as other laws do.