Definitions.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 210.1253
in effect210.1253. Definitions. — As used in sections 210.1250 to 210.1286 , unless the context clearly provides otherwise, the following terms mean:
(1) "Child" , a person who is under eighteen years of age;
(2) "Department" , the department of social services, or the children's division within the department of social services, as determined by the department;
(3) "Director" , a person who is responsible for the operation of the residential care facility;
(4) "Exempt-from-licensure" or "license-exempt" , a residential care facility that is not required to be licensed under section 210.516 ;
(5) "Person" , an individual, partnership, organization, association, or corporation;
(6) "Residential care facility" , any place, facility, or home operated by any person who receives children who are not related to the operator and whose parent or guardian is not a resident of the same facility and that provides such children with supervision, care, lodging, and maintenance for twenty-four hours a day, with or without transfer of custody.
(L. 2021 H.B. 557 & 560) Effective 7-14-21
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=210.1253Fetched: 10/17/2026