MO HB3159

Missouri Department of Social Services would provide legal counsel to every immigrant child under 18 residing in the state, subject to appropriation

Legal representation begins when a child is designated as unaccompanied by a federal/state agency or identified by an immigration attorney, and covers state court proceedings, federal immigration proceedings, and related appeals

Children who turn 18 remain eligible for counsel during proceedings initiated before their 18th birthday; those with independent counsel are excluded

Contracts must go to nonprofit legal services organizations with at least 3 years of asylum/T-Visa/U-Visa/special immigrant status experience and 25+ represented individuals, or the public defender's office if it has a qualifying immigration attorney

"Immigrant child" defined as an undocumented minor per 6 U.S.C. Section 279, or a person under 18 with no lawful status who arrived without a parent/guardian or has no available parent/guardian to assist in immigration proceedings