Missouri Revised Statutes § 209.605 - Program created

209.605. Program created — ABLE board to administer, members, terms — powers — meetings — investment of funds. — 1. There is hereby created the "Missouri Achieving a Better Life Experience Program". The program shall be administered by the Missouri ABLE board which shall consist of the Missouri state treasurer who shall serve as chairman, the director of the department of health and senior services or his or her designee, the commissioner of the office of administration or his or her designee, the director of the department of economic development or his or her designee, two persons having demonstrable experience and knowledge in the areas of finance or the investment and management of public funds, one of whom is selected by the president pro tempore of the senate and one of whom is selected by the speaker of the house of representatives, and one person having demonstrable experience and knowledge in the area of banking or deposit rate determination and placement of depository certificates of deposit or other deposit investments. Such member shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. The three appointed members shall be appointed to serve for terms of four years from the date of appointment, or until their successors shall have been appointed and qualified. The members of the board shall be subject to the provisions of section 105.452. Any member who violates the provisions of section 105.452 shall be removed from the board. 2. In order to establish and administer the ABLE program, the board, in addition to its other powers and authority, shall have the power and authority to: (1) Develop and implement the Missouri achieving a better life experience program; (2) Promulgate reasonable rules and regulations and establish policies and procedures to implement sections 209.600 to 209.645 to permit the ABLE program to qualify as a qualified ABLE program pursuant to 26 U.S.C. Section 529A of the Internal Revenue Code and to ensure ABLE program's compliance with all applicable laws; (3) Develop and implement educational programs and related informational materials for participants, either directly or through a contractual arrangement with a financial institution for investment services, and their families, including special programs and materials to inform individuals with disabilities regarding methods for financing the lives of individuals with disabilities so as to maintain health, independence, and quality of life; (4) Enter into agreements with any financial institution, or any state or federal agency or entity as required for the operation of the ABLE program pursuant to sections 209.600 to 209.645; (5) Enter into participation agreements with participants; (6) Accept any grants, gifts, legislative appropriations, and other moneys from the state, any unit of federal, state, or local government or any other person, firm, partnership, or corporation for deposit to the account of the ABLE program; (7) Invest the funds received from participants in appropriate investment instruments to achieve long-term total return through a combination of capital appreciation and current income; (8) Make appropriate payments and distributions on behalf of designated beneficiaries pursuant to participation agreements; (9) Make refunds to participants upon the termination of participation agreements pursuant to the provisions, limitations, and restrictions set forth in sections 209.600 to 209.645 and the rules adopted by the board; (10) Make provision for the payment of costs of administration and operation of the ABLE program; (11) Effectuate and carry out all the powers granted by sections 209.600 to 209.645, and have all other powers necessary to carry out and effectuate the purposes, objectives, and provisions of sections 209.600 to 209.645 pertaining to the ABLE program; (12) Procure insurance, guarantees, or other protections against any loss in connection with the assets or activities of the ABLE program; and (13) Enter into agreements with other states to allow residents of that state to participate in the Missouri achieving a better life experience program. 3. Four members of the board shall constitute a quorum. No vacancy in the membership of the board shall impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the board. No action shall be taken by the board except upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present. Any member of the board may designate a proxy for that member who will enjoy the full voting privileges of that member for the one meeting so specified by such member. No more than three proxies shall be considered members of the board for purposes of establishing a quorum. 4. The board shall meet within the state of Missouri at the time set at a previously scheduled meeting or by the request of any four members of the board. Notice of the meeting shall be delivered to all members of the board in person or by depositing notice in a United States Post Office in a properly stamped and addressed envelope not less than six days prior to the date fixed for the meeting. The board may meet at any time by unanimous mutual consent. There shall be at least one meeting in each quarter. 5. The funds of the ABLE program shall be invested only in those investments which a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with these matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims, as provided in section 105.688. For new contracts entered into after August 28, 2015, board members shall study investment plans of other states and contract with or negotiate to provide benefit options the same as or similar to other states' qualified plans for the purpose of offering additional options for members of the plan. The board may delegate to duly appointed investment counselors authority to act in place of the board in the investment and reinvestment of all or part of the moneys and may also delegate to such counselors the authority to act in place of the board in the holding, purchasing, selling, assigning, transferring, or disposing of any or all of the securities and investments in which such moneys shall have been invested, as well as the proceeds of such investments and such moneys. Such investment counselors shall be registered as investment advisors with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. In exercising or delegating its investment powers and authority, members of the board shall exercise ordinary business care and prudence under the facts and circumstances prevailing at the time of the action or decision. No member of the board shall be liable for any action taken or omitted with respect to the exercise of, or delegation of, these powers and authority if such member shall have discharged the duties of his or her position in good faith and with that degree of diligence, care, and skill which a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with these matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims. 6. No investment transaction authorized by the board shall be handled by any company or firm in which a member of the board has a substantial interest, nor shall any member of the board profit directly or indirectly from any such investment. 7. No member of the board or employee of the ABLE program shall receive any gain or profit from any funds or transaction of the ABLE program. Any member of the board, employee, or agent of the ABLE program accepting any gratuity or compensation for the purpose of influencing such member of the board's, employee's, or agent's action with respect to the investment or management of the funds of the ABLE program shall thereby forfeit the office and in addition thereto be subject to the penalties prescribed for bribery. (L. 2015 S.B. 174 § 166.605, A.L. 2016 H.B. 2125)