1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Show-Me Heroes” program, the purpose of which is to:

(1) Assist the spouse of an active duty National Guard or reserve component service member reservist and active duty United States military personnel to address immediate needs and employment in an attempt to keep the family from falling into poverty while the primary income earner is on active duty, and during the five-year period following discharge from deployment; and

(2) Assist returning National Guard troops or reserve component service member reservists and recently separated United States military personnel with finding work in situations where an individual needs to rebuild business clientele or where an individual’s job has been eliminated while such individual was deployed, or where the individual otherwise cannot return to his or her previous employment.

2. Subject to appropriation, the department of higher education and workforce development shall operate the Show-Me heroes program through existing programs. Eligibility for the program shall be based on the following criteria:

(1) Eligible participants in the program shall be those families where:

(a) The primary income earner was called to active duty in defense of the United States for a period of more than four months;

(b) The family’s primary income is no longer available;

(c) The family is experiencing significant hardship due to financial burdens; and

(d) The family has no outside resources available to assist with such hardships;

(2) Services that may be provided to the family will be aimed at ameliorating the immediate crisis and providing a path for economic stability while the primary income is not available due to the active military commitment. Services shall be made available up to five years following discharge from deployment. Services may include, but not be limited to the following:

(a) Financial assistance to families facing financial crisis from overdue bills;

(b) Help paying day care costs to pursue training and or employment;

(c) Help covering the costs of transportation to training and or employment;

(d) Vocational evaluation and vocational counseling to help the individual choose a visible employment goal;

(e) Vocational training to acquire or upgrade skills needed to be marketable in the workforce;

(f) Paid internships and subsidized employment to train on the job; and

(g) Job placement assistance for those who don’t require skills training.

3. (1) In addition to the benefits provided to those meeting the criteria established by subsection 2 of this section, the department of higher education and workforce development may award grants from the Show-Me heroes program or programs administering the Show-Me heroes program to one or more nonprofit organizations that facilitate the participation in apprenticeship training programs of veterans and active duty United States military personnel who are transitioning into civilian employment.

(2) A grant awarded pursuant to this subsection shall be used only to recruit or assist veterans or active duty United States military personnel who are transitioning into civilian employment to participate in an apprenticeship training program in this state.

(3) As used in this subsection, the term “apprenticeship training program” means a training program that provides on-the-job training, preparatory instruction, supplementary instruction, or related instruction in a trade that has been certified as an apprenticeable occupation by the Office of Apprenticeship of the United States Department of Labor.

4. The department shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2012, shall be invalid and void.