455.220. Requirements for shelter to qualify for funds. - Missouri Statutes

Requirements for shelter to qualify for funds.

455.220. 1. To qualify for funds allocated and distributed pursuantto section 455.215 a shelter shall meet all of the following requirements:

(1) Be incorporated in the state as a nonprofit corporation;

(2) Have trustees who represent the racial, ethnic and socioeconomicdiversity of the community to be served, at least one of whom must possesspersonal experience in confronting or mitigating the problems of domesticviolence;

(3) Receive at least twenty-five percent of its funds from sourcesother than funds distributed pursuant to section 455.215. These othersources may be public or private and may include contributions of goods orservices, including materials, commodities, transportation, office space orother types of facilities or personal services;

(4) Provide residential service or facilities for children whenaccompanied by a parent, guardian, or custodian who is a victim of domesticviolence and who is receiving temporary residential service at the shelter;

(5) Require persons employed by or volunteering services to theshelter to maintain the confidentiality of any information that wouldidentify individuals served by the shelter and any information or recordsthat are directly related to the advocacy services provided to suchindividuals;

(6) Prior to providing any advocacy services, inform individualsserved by the shelter of the nature and scope of the confidentialityrequirement in subdivision (5) of this subsection.

2. Any person employed by or volunteering services to a shelter forvictims of domestic violence shall be incompetent to testify concerning anyconfidential information described in subdivision (5) of subsection 1 ofthis section, unless the confidentiality requirement is waived in writingby the individual served by the shelter.

3. A shelter does not qualify for funds if it discriminates in itsadmissions or provision of services on the basis of race, religion, color,age, marital status, national origin, or ancestry.

(L. 1982 H.B. 1069 § 6, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1677, et al.)

(2004) Confidentiality requirements of section are not legally recognized privileged communications within meaning of section 210.140, RSMo. State ex rel. Hope House, Inc. v. Merrigan, 133 S.W.3d 44 (Mo.banc).