Effective 28 Aug 2014

161.940. Assistive technology loan program created — council to promulgate rules to enforce. — 1. The Missouri assistive technology advisory council, established in section 161.905, shall establish an assistive technology loan program. The loan program shall be funded from the assistive technology loan revolving fund established pursuant to section 161.945. The fund shall receive any appropriation and grant moneys received pursuant to subsection 2 of this section to provide loans for the purchase of assistive technology devices and services, as defined in section 161.900.

2. The loan program shall provide loans for the first fiscal year following appropriation. Any matching grant moneys received by the state pursuant to Title III of the federal Assistive Technology Act of 1998 or through any other applicable sources shall be used to fund the loan program. The state treasurer shall provide the assistive technology advisory council with information on the amount of moneys in the assistive technology loan revolving fund at the beginning of each fiscal year. The council shall quarterly expend such moneys in four equal shares to ensure that the loan program will provide loans throughout the entire fiscal year. Any repayments or interest earned during a fiscal year shall not be used for loans in the current fiscal year, but shall be carried over for use in the next fiscal year.

3. The interest rates for loans shall be lower than comparable commercial lending rates and shall be established by the council based on the borrower's ability to pay. Loans may be made with no interest. Loan repayment periods shall not exceed ten years.

4. The council shall:

(1) Promulgate rules relating to borrower eligibility, interest rates, repayment terms and other matters necessary to implement the purpose of this section, including limits on the number and amounts of loans to assure the continued solvency of the fund; and

(2) File annual reports with the governor and general assembly which shall include an accounting of the loans and repayments to the fund during the preceding fiscal year.

5. The council may enter into contracts as necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, including but not limited to contracts with disability organizations and lending institutions.

6. By no later than January 1, 2001, the council shall submit a report to the general assembly regarding any rules proposed or promulgated for the implementation of this program.

7. No rule or portion of a rule promulgated pursuant to the authority of this section shall become effective unless it has been promulgated pursuant to chapter 536.

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(L. 2000 S.B. 721 § 191.862, A.L. 2014 H.B. 1299 Revision)

Transferred 2014; formerly 191.865