CCS SCS HCS HB 1965 -- STATE GOVERNMENT

This bill repeals various expired provisions of law; changes the
laws regarding the publishing of state laws and resolutions, the
publication of the Official Manual of the State of Missouri, and
the criteria to qualify for certain state programs; and
establishes the Joint Committee on Missouri's Promise and the
Joint Subcommittee on Recovery Accountability and Transparency.

REPEAL OF EXPIRED STATUTES

The bill repeals various expired provisions in the Revised
Statutes of Missouri as identified in the January 2010 Annual
Report of the Joint Committee on Legislative Research on Laws
Which Expire, Sunset, Terminate, or Become Ineffective.

CERTAIN OFFICIAL STATE PUBLICATIONS

The Joint Committee on Legislative Research is authorized to
print or produce all state laws and resolutions in a web-based
electronic format.  A printed copy may be made available at a
price determined by the joint committee.  The Official Manual of
the State of Missouri, commonly known as the Blue Book, will be
made available only in an electronic format accessible on the
Secretary of State's web site.  The current distribution
requirements for the state laws and resolutions and the official
manual are repealed.

JOINT COMMITTEE ON MISSOURI'S PROMISE

The Joint Committee on Missouri's Promise is established
consisting of 10 legislative members with five appointed by the
President Pro Tem of the Senate and five by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives.  No more than three members of the
House of Representatives nor three members of the Senate may be
from the same political party.  A majority of the committee will
constitute a quorum, but the concurrence of a majority will be
required for the determination of any matter within the duties of
the committee.  Members of the committee will not receive
compensation but may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary
expenses associated with their official committee duties.  The
committee must examine issues impacting the future of Missouri
and its citizens; develop long-term strategies and plans for
increasing the economic prosperity and opportunities for Missouri
citizens, improving the health status of Missourians, developing
an education system that educates students and prepares them for
global competition, and other areas that are vital to improving
the lives of Missourians; develop three-, five-, and 10-year
plans for the General Assembly to meet the specified long-term
strategies; implement budget forecasting; and determine the
proper course of future legislative and budgetary actions on
these issues.  By January 1, 2011, and each year thereafter, the
committee must issue a report to the General Assembly regarding
any findings or recommendations.

JOINT SUBCOMMITTEE ON RECOVERY ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY

The Joint Subcommittee on Recovery Accountability and
Transparency is established within the Joint Committee on
Legislative Research to coordinate and conduct oversight to
prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of funds received from the
federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, commonly
known as the federal economic stimulus act.  The subcommittee
will be composed of four members of the House of Representatives
and four members of the Senate.  Procedural requirements for
holding hearings are specified in the bill.  The subcommittee's
powers and duties include the review of contracts, grant
management, job creation, and state agency and departmental
spending practices.  The subcommittee must submit an annual
report to the Governor and General Assembly of its findings.  All
submitted reports must be publicly available on the web site of
the Governor, the General Assembly, and each state agency.  A
state agency must report to the Governor and General Assembly
within 30 days of the receipt of a recommendation from the
subcommittee.  These provisions expire March 1, 2013.

CRITERIA TO QUALIFY FOR CERTAIN STATE PROGRAMS

Currently, several state programs require an area to meet
specific income, population, and unemployment thresholds based on
the last decennial census in order to qualify for certain state
programs.  The bill requires that these thresholds be based on
the most recent estimate from the United States Census Bureau's
American Community Survey.  This estimate must encompass a five-
year period, the last year of which must end in either 0 or 5.
This criteria will apply to:

(1)  The Missouri Downtown and Rural Economic Stimulus Act
(Section 99.918, RSMo);

(2)  The Downtown Revitalization Preservation Program (Section
99.1082);

(3)  An enhanced enterprise zone (Sections 135.205, 135.207, and
135.230);

(4)  Tax credits for investment in or relocating a business to a
distressed community (Section 135.530);

(5)  A rural empowerment zone (Sections 135.903 and 135.953);

(6)  Affordable housing (Section 215.263); and

(7)  The Business Extension Service Team Fund (Section 620.1023).

The repeal and re-enactment of the provisions regarding the
criteria to qualify for certain state programs become effective
April 1, 2011, or when the data becomes available, whichever
occurs first.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:12 pm