Military & Veteran's Law

HCS HB 136 – Unemployment benefits and courtesy professional licenses for certain military spouses  Changes the laws regarding unemployment benefits for military spouses and courtesy professional licenses for nonresident military spouses.

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR MILITARY SPOUSES  Specifies that a claimant seeking unemployment compensation is not disqualified for waiting week credit or benefits, if the claimant quit work in order to relocate with his or her spouse who is on active duty in the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, or other reserve.  If a claimant is not disqualified as a result of this provision, no benefits based on wages paid for work prior to the quitting date can be chargeable to the claimant’s former employer.

COURTESY PROFESSIONAL LICENSES FOR NONRESIDENT MILITARY SPOUSES Any state agency or board that regulates an occupation or profession must establish criteria for the issuance of a temporary courtesy license to a nonresident spouse of an active duty member of the military who has been transferred to Missouri allowing the spouse to lawfully practice his or her occupation or profession in this state.
These provisions will not apply to the practice of law or the regulation of attorneys. (Signed 7/14/11)

SCS HB 149 – Missouri military family relief fund Currently, the provisions that allow an individual or corporation to designate part of a tax refund to the Missouri Military Family Relief Fund expire August 28, 2011, and terminate December 31, 2012.  This bill removes the expiration and termination dates of those provisions.

HB 204 – Driver's license renewal for military personnel Provides that, a resident who is a member of the National Guard or the armed forces of the United States or any of its reserves who is serving on active duty and fails to renew his or her driver’s license is not required to take a complete examination if he or she renews within 90 days after completing the military service.
Any person discharged from the armed forces of the United States will have six months from the date of discharge or within 90 days after re-establishment of residence within the state, whichever is sooner, to renew an expired driver’s license without examination.  A Missouri resident on active military duty or any dependent, 21 years of age or older, residing outside Missouri or the United States may renew his or her driver’s license by mail. (Signed 6/16/11)

HB 358 – Police retirement system of St. Louis (See Labor & Employment Law)