MO HB1541

Establishes a two-year pilot project beginning January 1, 2015, allowing children ages newborn to seventeen to visit incarcerated parents who retain parental rights, excluding those convicted of crimes against children or child abuse.

Pilot project covers four prison facilities: two housing women and two housing men, with departments of corrections and social services collaborating to implement the program.

Provides transportation for children and their caretakers to visit incarcerated parents at least once monthly, with priority focus on children living fifty or more miles from the facility.

Funding comes from existing appropriations or specific pilot project appropriations, divided equally between children visiting male and female parents.

Requires a joint report to the governor and general assembly by February 1, 2018, evaluating program efficacy, costs, and recommending expansion to other prison facilities.