Effective 28 Aug 2000

209.258. Deaf relay service fund established, purpose — deposit — unexpended balance not to be transferred to general revenue — commission and advisory assistive technology council to request appropriations from fund for service delivery. — 1. All remaining deaf relay service and equipment distribution program fund surcharge money collected by local exchange telephone companies pursuant to section 209.257 shall be paid to the director of revenue in a manner prescribed by the public service commission. The director of revenue shall remit such payments to the state treasurer.

2. The state treasurer shall credit such payments to a special fund, which is hereby created, to be known as the "Deaf Relay Service and Equipment Distribution Program Fund" which fund shall be devoted solely to the payment of expenditures actually incurred in operation of the statewide dual-party relay service and equipment distribution program authorized by section 209.253, including expenses associated with the administration of the dual-party relay service and equipment distribution program or incurred by members of any advisory committee appointed by the commission or Missouri assistive technology advisory council to help in the administration of the statewide telecommunications equipment distribution program authorized by section 209.253.

3. Any unexpended balance in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall be exempt from the provisions of section 33.080 relating to the transfer of unexpended balances to the general revenue fund, but shall be applicable by appropriation of the general assembly to the payment of expenditures for the dual-party relay service and equipment distribution program in the succeeding fiscal year.

4. The commission shall annually request, through a separate budget line item, appropriations from the deaf relay service and equipment distribution program fund to deliver the dual-party relay service. The Missouri assistive technology advisory council shall annually request, through a separate budget line item of its departmental budget, appropriations from the deaf relay service and equipment distribution program fund to deliver the telecommunications equipment distribution program.

5. The current surcharge rate shall not increase for a period of two years after August 28, 2000, subject to change in federal requirements for deaf relay services.

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(L. 1991 S.B. 95, A.L. 1994 S.B. 552, A.L. 1996 S.B. 525, A.L. 2000 S.B. 721)