Summary: HB 3279 (2026) – Missouri Community Service Commission
Jurisdiction: Missouri
Sponsor: Rep. Shields
Purpose
- Repeal existing provisions establishing the Missouri Community Service Commission within the Department of Economic Development and replace them with seven new sections creating the Missouri Community Service Act.
- Move the Commission from the Department of Economic Development (DED) to the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (DHEWD).
- Clarify governance, powers, funding, and reporting related to national and community service in Missouri.
Key Provisions and Changes
- Name and Scope
- Establishes the Missouri Community Service Act, codifying the Missouri Community Service Commission and its functions.
- Defines terms including Act (National and Community Service Act of 1990), Commission, community service programs, Corporation (National and Community Service Corporation), and National Service Position.
Administrative Placement
- Transfers the Missouri Community Service Commission from the Department of Economic Development to the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development.
- Allows DHEWD staff to work with the Commission.
Commission Composition and Management (173.4006)
- Voting Members: at least 15 and no more than 19, appointed by the Governor with Senate advice and consent.
- Required Voting Seats (examples):
- Local government representative
- DES (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) or designee
- Expert in involving older adults in service/volunteerism
- Representative of a national service program
- Youth education/training needs expert (especially disadvantaged youth)
- Youth participant or supervisor in service programs (ages 16-25)
- Community-based agency representative
- Labor representative
- Business community representative
- Lieutenant Governor or designee
- Volunteer sector representative
- Additional Members: 4–8 other members, with limits to ensure no more than 20% of voting members are state officers/employees and no more than 50% + 1 from the same political party.
- Nonvoting Members: At least one ex officio member from the Corporation for National and Community Service; governor may appoint additional nonvoting ex officio members.
- Diversity: Appointments should reflect population characteristics (race, ethnicity, age, gender, disability).
- Terms: Three-year renewable terms; initial terms staggered (1, 2, or 3 years for one-third each) to establish rotation.
- Vacancies: Governor fills unexpired terms; vacancies do not impede ongoing duties.
- Compensation: Members do not receive compensation but may be reimbursed for ordinary and necessary expenses.
- Officers: Voting members elect a chair; other officers may be chosen as needed.
- Meetings: Commission must meet at least quarterly.
Powers and Duties (173.4008)
- Ensure funding decisions comply with federal/state requirements.
- Prepare an annual national service plan aligned with guidelines.
- Recommend innovative statewide service programs to boost participation across ages and diverse groups.
- Leverage local/state/federal resources to start, strengthen, and expand service programs.
- Promote interagency collaboration to maximize resources and develop a state model.
- Oversee application processes for Corporation grants/positions and approve service positions.
- Establish priorities and procedures for funds under national service laws and for funds in the Community Service Commission Fund (173.4012).
- Provide technical assistance to applicants for planning, implementing service programs, and seeking national service funds.
- Accept gifts, contributions, grants, bequests, and other aid from public/private sources, including government sources.
- Additional powers: Utilize staff from DHEWD or other agencies as needed and enter into contracts within available funding.
Information Sharing and Coordination (173.4010)
- State agencies, University of Missouri Extension, and local government units may share information and cooperate with the Commission.
- Agencies operating or planning community service programs may coordinate with the Commission.
Funding Vehicle (173.4012)
- Creates the Community Service Commission Fund in the state treasury.
- The fund receives appropriations, gifts, grants, bequests, and other aid. Money in the fund may be appropriated to support the Commission and its activities and shall not revert to the General Revenue Fund at the end of the biennium.
- Annual reporting: The Commission must report its activities to the Speaker of the House, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Governor by January 31 each year.
Reporting and Oversight
- The bill requires annual reporting to the Legislature and Governor (173.4012).
Related Fiscal Narrative
- Fiscal notes consistently indicate no net impact on General Revenue, other state funds, federal funds, or local funds in the initial forecast years (FY 2027–FY 2029).
- No new full-time equivalent (FTE) allocations are anticipated.
- Described as not creating direct fiscal impact on state agencies, universities, or local governments; transfer of the Commission is the primary administrative change.
Timeline and Procedural Aspects
- The bill repeals existing sections (620.580 through 620.592) and enacts seven new sections (173.4000 through 173.4012) to replace them.
- The transfer of the Commission to DHEWD and the associated staff collaboration would occur upon enactment and implementation, with ongoing duties including annual plans, reporting, and fund management.
- Annual reporting deadline: January 31 each year.
Who Would Be Affected
- State government: Missouri General Assembly, Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (new host for the Commission), and the existing Department of Economic Development (as the current host would no longer house the Commission).
- Local governments, schools, and community organizations: potential access to new funding opportunities, technical assistance, and alignment with statewide service plans.
- State-funded service programs and national service positions: subject to new oversight, funding prioritization, and governance by the Missouri Community Service Commission.
- The Corporation for National and Community Service: ongoing ex officio participation as a nonvoting member.
Notes
- The measure is similar to Senate Bill 1663 (2026).
- The fiscal notes indicate no anticipated cost to state or local budgets, though the administrative shift may entail implementation logistics.
