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Journal of the House

NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

of the

STATE OF MISSOURI

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

FIRST DAY, Wednesday, January 8, 2003

The House was called to order at twelve o’clock noon by the Honorable Matt Blunt, Secretary of State.

Prayer by former Representative Pat Kelley.

Unless the Lord builds the House,

Its builders labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city,

The watchmen stand guard in vain. Psalm 127:1

Gracious God,

You are an awesome and wonderful God and we praise You and give You thanks for Your many gifts; for the gift of life, family, friends and all your blessings. We put You first on the agenda because that is where You belong. You were here before we were. You created us and put us here to take care of Your incredible creation. You gave us a plan and laws and moral principles that would guide us to a wonderful life. However, all too often, we went our own way and didn’t follow Your plan. History has taught us when we go our way instead of Yours, we labor in vain.

Gracious God, we come humbly today to acknowledge the error of our ways and to ask You to fill us with Your spirit and guide us into the future. We pray that as these legislators take their solemn oath to serve here they will also commit to follow You and use the plans and principles You have given us. When we build this House we pray that You will not only be first on the agenda, but that You will be central in our minds and hearts in everything we do. We pray that You will guide and direct the legislators, staff and all those in government and that everything we do will bring honor and glory to You.

Gracious God, thank You for the legislators and others who served in government for their service to our state and bless these new legislators, their families, our staff and all our workers and give them wisdom to make the right decisions and hearts of compassion and a passion for justice for our people.

We pray that You will bless all the people in our state and that all of us will join together to build a House based on the strong foundation You have given us.

In the name of our Lord we pray. Amen.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was recited.

ADDRESS BY SECRETARY OF STATE MATT BLUNT

Governor Holden, Auditor McCaskill, Treasurer Farmer, Attorney General Nixon, Judge Benton and Judge Garrison, Members of the 92nd General Assembly, honored guests, families, fellow citizens, and friends. Good morning.

As a former member of this body it is an honor to preside at this important occasion, the first day of this session and the first day of service as elected officials for many in this Assembly.

This day is the culmination of the brilliant process by which free people select their leaders and this is a prominent moment in Missouri history.

Not only have the people placed 90 new legislators in this body, but today we also witness a shift in the leadership of this Chamber for the first time in nearly half a century.

This day is and should always be a great cause of celebration and many Missourians look with renewed hope to this General Assembly; however, those celebratory thoughts are tempered this year by the evident needs of Missourians and by our sacred duty to place state government on a course of service to the people.

Regardless of party affiliation, your energy, your ideas, and your vast experiences are required as our state and its citizens face imposing challenges. All of these obstacles can be surmounted if we apply the same determination demonstrated everyday by the working families of Missouri.

Woodrow Wilson said, "The ear of the leader must ring with the voices of the people." Let us not forget that the best ideas for improving Missouri government are derived from those who sent you to this capitol.

Missourians have entrusted you with the task of collectively working for the common good of our state. They have asked you to author new ideas and new solutions to Missouri's growing problems.

Democracy is a covenant between the people and their representatives and I have great confidence that you will keep their charge as a sacred obligation.

Fortunately, you will not be alone in your efforts. Missouri is abundant with sound local governments with thousands of dedicated public servants. Missouri's farmers and entrepreneurs continue to provide economic opportunities for the people of our state.

Our state's employers have proven to be good corporate citizens. Missouri businesses want to create good jobs for Missouri's families. And most importantly Missouri is blessed with the finest workforce in the world - men and women whose labor is the foundation of Missouri's future.

I look forward to working with each and every one of you in the days ahead. I congratulate you on your new responsibilities and I thank you for your willingness to serve the people of our great state.

May God grant you the wisdom to guide our state, the strength to make the difficult decisions required of your office and the courage to see those decisions through.

COMMUNICATION FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE

To the Honorable House of Representatives of the 92nd General Assembly, First Regular Session, of the State of Missouri:

In compliance with Section 115.525, Revised Statutes of Missouri 2002, I have the honor to lay before you herewith a list of the names of the members of the House of Representatives for the 92nd General Assembly (First Regular Session) of the State of Missouri, elected at the General Election held on November 5, 2002.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and affix the official seal of my office this 8th day of January, 2003.

/s/ Matt Blunt

SECRETARY OF STATE

MISSOURI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

92nd General Assembly, First Regular Session

_________________________________________________________________

District Name

_________________________________________________________________

1st Brian Munzlinger

2nd Robert J. Behnen

3rd Jim Whorton

4th Brad Lager

5th Jim Guest

6th Rachel Bringer

7th John Quinn

8th Chris Shoemaker

9th Wes Shoemyer

10th Terry L. Witte

11th Wayne J. Henke

12th Sherman Parker

13th Scott T. Rupp

14th Joe Smith

15th Thomas S. Green

16th Carl L. Bearden

17th Vicki Schneider

18th Tom Dempsey

19th Cynthia L. Davis

20th Danielle (Danie) Moore

21st Steve Hobbs

22nd Therese Sander

23rd Robert (Jeff) Harris

24th Chuck Graham

25th Vicky Riback Wilson

26th Jim Seigfreid

27th Ed Wildberger

28th Rob Schaaf

29th Maurice Lawson

30th Jason Brown

31st Trent Skaggs

32nd Susan Phillips

33rd Philip Willoughby

34th Annie Reinhart

35th Doug Ervin

36th Gary Kelly

37th Sharon Sanders Brooks

38th Dan Bishop

39th Marsha Campbell

40th John Patrick Burnett

41st Melba J. Curls

42nd Yvonne S. Wilson

43rd Craig C. Bland

44th Jenee Lowe

45th Cathy Jolly

46th Kate Meiners

47th Robert Thane (Bob) Johnson

48th Mike Sager

49th Terry Young

50th Vicki Walker

51st Ray Salva

52nd Paul LeVota

53rd Curt Dougherty

54th Gary Dusenberg

55th Bryan Pratt

56th Brian Yates

57th Yaphett El-Amin

58th Rodney R. Hubbard

59th Russ Carnahan

60th Amber (Holly) Boykins

61st Connie (LaJoyce) Johnson

62nd Dennis Wood

63rd Robin Wright Jones

64th Bob Hilgemann

65th Fred Kratky

66th Michael Vogt

67th Michael Daus

68th Larry Gene Taylor

69th Gina Walsh

70th Matt Muckler

71st Esther Haywood

72nd Betty L. Thompson

73rd Margaret Donnelly

74th Thomas (Tom) George

75th Bruce David Darrough

76th Michael Spreng

77th Michael George Corcoran

78th Clint Zweifel

79th Albert J. (Al) Liese

80th Theodore (Ted) Hoskins

81st Juanita Head Walton

82nd Sam Page

83rd Barbara Fraser

84th Allen Icet

85th Jim Lembke

86th Jane Cunningham

87th Catherine L. Hanaway

88th Neal C. St. Onge

89th Jack Jackson

90th Rick Johnson

91st Kathlyn Fares

92nd Charles (Chuck) Portwood

93rd Jodi A. Stefanick

94th Richard G. Byrd

95th Jim Avery

96th Patricia (Pat) Yaeger

97th Walt Bivins

98th Brian D. Nieves

99th Mike Sutherland

100th Sue Schoemehl

101st Ray Adams

102nd Ryan McKenna

103rd Mark C. Abel

104th Wes Wagner

105th Harold R. Selby

106th Kevin Engler

107th Dan Ward

108th Thomas A. Villa

109th Kevin Threlkeld

110th Belinda Harris

111th Charles W. Schlottach

112th Merrill Townley

113th Mark J. Bruns

114th Bill Deeken

115th Blaine Luetkemeyer

116th Tom Self

117th Larry Crawford

118th Todd Smith

119th Larry D. Wilson

120th Shannon Cooper

121st David Pearce

122nd D. J. Davis

123rd Brian L. Baker

124th Rex Rector

125th Jerry R. King

126th Ed Emery

127th Steve Hunter

128th Bryan P. Stevenson

129th Ron Richard

130th Kevin Bill Wilson

131st Marilyn Ruestman

132nd Jack Goodman

133rd Ronnie Miller

134th James Viebrock

135th Roy W. Holand

136th B.J. Marsh

137th Mark Wright

138th Larry Morris

139th Brad Roark

140th Bob Dixon

141st Jay Wasson

142nd Jerry Bough

143rd Maynard Wallace

144th Van Kelly

145th Mike Cunningham

146th Randy Angst

147th Mark Hampton

148th Bill L. Ransdall

149th Bob May

150th Frank A. Barnitz

151st Chuck Purgason

152nd J. C. Kuessner

153rd Mike Dethrow

154th Gayle Kingery

155th Wayne Cooper

156th Rod Jetton

157th Scott A. Lipke

158th Jason G. Crowell

159th Robert (Rob) Mayer

160th Peter Myers

161st Lanie Black

162nd Denny Merideth

163rd Otto Bean, Jr.

The following roll call indicated a majority of the Representatives present:

AYES: 162

Abel	Adams	Angst	Avery	Baker
Barnitz	Bean	Bearden	Behnen	Bishop
Bivins	Black	Bland	Bough	Boykins
Bringer	Brooks	Brown	Bruns	Burnett
Byrd	Campbell	Carnahan	Cooper 120	Cooper 155
Corcoran	Crawford	Crowell	Cunningham 145	Cunningham 86
Curls	Darrough	Daus	Davis 122	Davis 19
Deeken	Dempsey	Dethrow	Dixon	Donnelly
Dougherty	Dusenberg	El-Amin	Emery	Engler
Ervin	Fares	Fraser	George	Goodman
Graham	Green	Guest	Hampton	Hanaway
Harris 110	Harris 23	Haywood	Henke	Hilgemann
Hobbs	Holand	Hoskins	Hubbard	Hunter
Icet	Jackson	Jetton	Johnson 47	Johnson 61
Johnson 90	Jolly	Jones	Kelly 144	Kelly 36
King	Kingery	Kratky	Kuessner	Lager
Lembke	LeVota	Liese	Lipke	Lowe
Luetkemeyer	Marsh	May	Mayer	McKenna
Meiners	Merideth	Miller	Moore	Morris
Muckler	Munzlinger	Myers	Nieves	Page
Parker	Pearce	Phillips	Portwood	Pratt
Purgason	Quinn	Ransdall	Rector	Reinhart
Richard	Roark	Ruestman	Rupp	Sager
Salva	Sander	Schaaf	Schlottach	Schneider
Schoemehl	Seigfreid	Selby	Self	Shoemaker
Shoemyer	Skaggs	Smith 118	Smith 14	Spreng
St. Onge	Stefanick	Stevenson	Sutherland	Taylor
Thompson	Threlkeld	Townley	Viebrock	Villa
Vogt	Wagner	Walker	Wallace	Walsh
Walton	Ward	Wasson	Whorton	Wildberger
Willoughby	Wilson 119	Wilson 130	Wilson 25	Wilson 42
Witte	Wood	Wright	Yaeger	Yates
Young	Zweifel

NOES: 000

PRESENT: 000

ABSENT WITH LEAVE: 001

Lawson

The following Representatives advanced to the bar and subscribed to the oath of office, which was administered by the Honorable Duane Benton, Judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri.


Abel	Adams	Angst	Avery	Baker
Barnitz	Bean	Bearden	Behnen	Bishop
Bivins	Black	Bland	Bough	Boykins
Bringer	Brooks	Brown	Bruns	Burnett
Byrd	Campbell	Carnahan	Cooper 120	Cooper 155
Corcoran	Crawford	Crowell	Cunningham 145	Cunningham 86
Curls	Darrough	Daus	Davis 122	Davis 19
Deeken	Dempsey	Dethrow	Dixon	Donnelly
Dougherty	Dusenberg	El-Amin	Emery	Engler
Ervin	Fares	Fraser	George	Goodman
Graham	Green	Guest	Hampton	Hanaway
Harris 110	Harris 23	Haywood	Henke	Hilgemann
Hobbs	Holand	Hoskins	Hubbard	Hunter
Icet	Jackson	Jetton	Johnson 47	Johnson 61
Johnson 90	Jolly	Jones	Kelly 144	Kelly 36
King	Kingery	Kratky	Kuessner	Lager
Lembke	LeVota	Liese	Lipke	Lowe
Luetkemeyer	Marsh	May	Mayer	McKenna
Meiners	Merideth	Miller	Moore	Morris
Muckler	Munzlinger	Myers	Nieves	Page
Parker	Pearce	Phillips	Portwood	Pratt
Purgason	Quinn	Ransdall	Rector	Reinhart
Richard	Roark	Ruestman	Rupp	Sager
Salva	Sander	Schaaf	Schlottach	Schneider
Schoemehl	Seigfreid	Selby	Self	Shoemaker
Shoemyer	Skaggs	Smith 118	Smith 14	Spreng
St. Onge	Stefanick	Stevenson	Sutherland	Taylor
Thompson	Threlkeld	Townley	Viebrock	Villa
Vogt	Wagner	Walker	Wallace	Walsh
Walton	Ward	Wasson	Whorton	Wildberger
Willoughby	Wilson 119	Wilson 130	Wilson 25	Wilson 42
Witte	Wood	Wright	Yaeger	Yates
Young	Zweifel

NOMINATIONS FOR TEMPORARY SPEAKER

Representative Cunningham (86) nominated Representative Charles Portwood for temporary Speaker of the House.

Representative Yates seconded the nomination.

Representative Hubbard nominated Representative Russ Carnahan for temporary Speaker of the House.

Representative Carnahan withdrew his nomination.

Secretary of State Blunt declared the nominations closed.

Secretary of State Blunt called for a vote for temporary Speaker of the House.

Secretary of State Blunt ruled that Representative Portwood was elected temporary Speaker of the House.

The following committee was appointed to escort Representative Portwood to the dais:

Representatives Marsh, Rector, Cooper (120), Cunningham (86), Bearden, Kelly (144), Donnelly, Carnahan, Walton and Seigfreid.

Representative Portwood assumed the Chair.

ADDRESS BY TEMPORARY SPEAKER CHARLES PORTWOOD

Thank you Mr. Secretary

Whether a Republican or a Democrat, the significance of this day is the same - our motivation is the same - to serve the people of Missouri.

Serving in this august body and presiding as temporary Speaker of the House indeed is an honor. I am pleased to welcome each of our family members, guests, constituents, friends, former members and fellow Missourians who have allowed this day to come to pass.

I am especially proud to be accompanied by my family - if you would please stand: my beautiful and intelligent wife of 20 years, Dawn, my eldest son Charles, my two adorable daughters Katherin and Laura, and my baby boy Harrison. I am thankful for my family who has made the sacrifices to allow me to serve the 92^nd district.

The support, love and prayers of our families, friends and constituents are the foundation of this chamber. A change in leadership and direction of the House of Representatives represents a new beginning.

In ushering in this new era, with our sights set not upon politics or partisanship, but upon the principles of good government, I now declare that nominations are in order for Speaker of the House.

NOMINATIONS FOR SPEAKER

Representative Wright nominated Representative Catherine Hanaway for Speaker of the House.

Representative Pratt seconded the nomination.

Representative Villa nominated Representative Mark Abel for Speaker of the House.

Representative Portwood declared the nominations closed.

Representative Portwood called for a vote for Speaker of the House by voting “aye” for Representative Hanaway and voting “no” vote for Representative Abel.

The Chair ruled that Representative Hanaway was elected Speaker of the House.

The following committee was appointed to escort Representative Hanaway to the dais:

Representatives Townley, Miller, Reinhart, Crawford, Holand, Purgason, Bland, Campbell, Hampton and Merideth.

Representative Hanaway subscribed to the oath of office which was administered by the Honorable Phillip R. Garrison, Appellate Judge, Southern District Court of Appeals for the State of Missouri.

Speaker Hanaway assumed the Chair.

ADDRESS BY SPEAKER CATHERINE HANAWAY

BUILDING MISSOURI'S FUTURE

Governor, Mr. Secretary, Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney General, Mr. Chief Justice, Your Honors, Esteemed Colleagues and Honored Guests. Today, as I take this gavel, I feel its weight - the weight of the responsibility we all share, regardless of party, to build a better Missouri.

For as John Adams said in his inaugural address, "there can be no spectacle by any nation more pleasing, more noble, majestic or august than an assembly like [this] ... selected at regular periods by their neighbors to make and execute laws for the general good."

If you look at this gavel, it really is very much like another tool, a hammer - a hammer with two heads and no claw. A hammer meant only for building not for tearing down or tearing apart.

All of us have been entrusted by our fellow citizens to build something greater than we have inherited.

First, let's thank those people who helped us get here. Stand up, look into the galleries for your friends and family, wave to them, and applaud with all the gratitude that is in your hearts.

Thank you, members of the House, for choosing me as your Speaker. Thank you, staff members, for your tremendous hard work and a successful transition. Thank you, former members of the House, for the sacrifices you made and your service to this House.

Now, I would like to say a special thank you to my family. My aunt and uncle, Dorothy and Dick Moore, my in-laws, Joe and Nancy Hanaway, my brother, Charles Moore, my sister, Anne Moore, and my parents, Bob and Virginia Moore who have all traveled great distances to be here today.

I thank them for the values they instilled in me, their constant challenge to me to always do my best, and all of their love and support.

Finally, my husband, Chris, and my daughter, Lucy. They have truly made the greatest sacrifices for this day. How do you thank a husband who always puts you before himself or a daughter who is the light of your life? The best I can say is life would not be worth living without you, and I love you with all my heart.

Together, we are setting an uncharted course. There are more new members of this House than ever before, a change in party control for the first time in 48 years and, for the first time in decades, a budget with declining general revenues. We will have less with which we will be expected to do more and do better.

But, we are all leaders and builders. We are the representatives of a great and resilient people.

Together, we can build:

A Missouri where every person who wants a job can find one;

A Missouri where every person regardless of gender, race, creed or color can live their dreams;

A Missouri where every child can get a world-class education from kindergarten through high school and beyond;

A Missouri where the most vulnerable citizens are cared for and treated with dignity;

and, a Missouri that knows the best is yet to come.

We can build a Missouri that begins with accountability and ends with greater opportunity.

This is a grand plan - a plan that will take time, discipline, sacrifice and hard work. But, Missouri is known for hard work. We have led this country in times of great challenge and opportunity. The farmers of our state have fed the world. The men and women of our factories revolutionized air travel and aerospace. Our scientists have mapped the human genome.

Now, our citizens are facing a very difficult time. A time when those who want to work hard and sacrifice have been denied that chance. During the past 19 months, 77,000 Missourians have lost their jobs. Missouri has led the country in job losses. 77,000 times men and women had to go home and say to their spouses and their children, "Honey, I lost my job today."

Nothing has hurt those families and our state more. In a flash, a taxpayer became a tax consumer. In a flash, a person who was gainfully employed, had health insurance and provided for themselves and their family became a person without a job, without health insurance, without the means to care for themselves and their family.

The policies of our state government have driven jobs out of this state and kept others from coming here. Our state government has stifled growth through an economy-eating, ever ballooning budget, through an open door for job-killing frivolous lawsuits, and through regulatory burdens that crush initiative.

Part of the reason the state is facing a budget crisis is because each time a man or woman loses their job, the state loses tax revenue and has to provide services to the unemployed.

No state program can replace a job. We might be able to provide some short-term assistance. But, we can't give back productivity, we can't give back self-respect and self-reliance, we can't give back opportunity, we can't give back dreams.

Therefore, priority-one must be the creation and retention of good jobs.

When we unbridle the ingenuity, the innovation, the drive, and the creativity within in each of our fellow Missourians, we will reach the heights of prosperity, progress and productivity.

Much will be made of our budget situation. Without question, we can no longer afford to do everything state government has been doing. There is not enough money, because we have overspent and overextended. There will be much pressure to try to borrow or tax our way out of these difficult times. The state is collecting less money because our citizens are earning less money. The voters told us twice last year to keep our hands out of their pockets. We must resist the temptation to take more from our citizens at a time when they have less to give.

The table has been set by our fellow Missourians. They want us to spend what we have more wisely. They want us to hold government accountable. They want to know we have set priorities and that we demand performance from every aspect of state government.

To Governor Holden, I say we need your help, and we want to be your partners. We will do all that we can to craft a state budget that serves our state well. But, you must do your part. Do not send us a budget that balances only through tax increases, expansions of gambling, and use of the Rainy Day Fund - do not send us a budget that does not reflect the will of people of Missouri.

To Department Directors and all those who run state programs, I say when you come to this House this year, come prepared. Be prepared to explain what you do, what you hope to do, why it is important, and how we can measure whether you are successful. The vast majority of the men and women who work in state government are hard working people who serve this state well. But, we are now called on to decide what is working and what is most important.

There are also some Missourians who can't provide for themselves. They can't work because they are young or they are old or they are severely disabled. State government has a solemn duty to educate the young, protect the old, and care for the disabled.

Education is the great equalizer. With a quality education, every Missourian can rise to the highest levels of achievement. Public education is the highest priority in our state constitution, and we must live up to that duty. We must also be willing to change the status quo and act boldly and innovatively to improve our schools.

Our seniors deserve dignity, respect and quality care in our nursing homes. Most nursing homes are filled with caregivers who treat residents like a second family. But, for those who abuse or neglect our seniors, we must make clear that they will pay for their actions.

There are almost 13,000 children who are in the custody of the state. We are by law their guardians. We are their stewards. Last year, we failed five of those children mortally - they died while in our custody. This must not stand. No program, no person, no judge, no caseworker, no foster parent will be able to hide from our quest to root out what is evil in this system.

And, we must also work to protect those children who would be killed even before they are born.

We can build a better Missouri than we have inherited.

I cannot help but think about one of the great builders in my own family - my maternal grandfather - Charlie Mimick.

Grandpa was born in 1898. He was born to large family, without much in the way of material wealth, on the prairies of Nebraska. His first language was Polish, and he had a fourth grade education. But, in his 85 years on this earth he built much of the backbone of this country.

For 50 years, he was a laborer - a bridge builder for the Union Pacific railroad. Throughout my childhood he told me stories of the hardships of life as a bridge builder, how he lived most of the time in a train car, baking in the summer, freezing in the winter, and of the incredible risks they took each day building bridges across great divides. Many men were seriously injured. Some died. Literally, great divides were crossed by building bridges into the air until they reached the other side.

At times, it must have seemed impossible. But, my grandfather and fellow workers didn't see impossibility, they saw possibility. They saw the opportunity to make this country stronger, to get farmers food to people who were hungry, to get medicines to people on the frontier, and to open the West. Along with tens of thousands of men just like him, he built the railroads that opened this country to progress and commerce that united this country from coast-to-coast.

Today, we all begin to answer the call to be builders for the future of Missouri. Not only do we build upon what has gone before, but in many ways we must rebuild the greatness of this state. Like my grandfather, we are going to face enormous challenges - against tremendous odds - and like he and his fellow workers we will have to work as a team to be successful.

The challenges we face were not created in a day, a session, or year; and they won't be solved quickly or easily. But, we can meet these challenges, because our people are strong, able, and willing. The strength of the human spirit will shine through these dark days to bring an even more brilliant dawn.

Each day as I pickup this gavel, I will ask God, our Father, to give me the strength to wield it with justice, compassion, wisdom and strength. I ask the Almighty to bless the work of this House. God bless you and God bless Missouri.

NOMINATIONS FOR SPEAKER PRO TEM

Representative Behnen nominated Representative Rod Jetton for Speaker Pro Tem of the House.

Representative Ruestman seconded the nomination.

Representative Riback Wilson (25) nominated Representative Bill Ransdall for Speaker Pro Tem of the House.

Speaker Hanaway declared the nominations closed.

The Speaker called for a vote for Speaker Pro Tem of the House by voting “aye” for Representative Jetton and voting “no” for Representative Ransdall.

Speaker Hanaway ruled that Representative Jetton was elected Speaker Pro Tem of the House.

The following committee was appointed to escort Representative Jetton to the dais:

Representatives King, Wright, Black, Luetkemeyer, Myers, Phillips, Davis (122), Kratky, Thompson and Riback Wilson (25).

Representative Jetton subscribed to the oath of office which was administered by the Honorable Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr., Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri.

Speaker Pro Tem Jetton assumed the Chair.

ADDRESS BY SPEAKER PRO TEM ROD JETTON

PATH TO PROSPERITY

Chief Justice Limbaugh, statewide elected officials, Madam Speaker, fellow members and honored guests. Today we are observing not a political victory but a change in Missouri's direction.

This is the first time in 48 years a new party will be leading the Missouri House. Term limits have ushered in new faces, new ideas, and new energy into Missouri government. These ideas and energy will lead the House down a new path that leads to prosperity for all Missourians.

200 years ago this year another journey was begun to blaze a new trail by Lewis and Clark. Their journey was filled with danger and they faced many obstacles along the way, but we have reaped the rewards of following the path they laid out for Missouri.

I want to take a few moments to describe what this new path to prosperity will look like, and discuss some of the obstacles that we'll have to overcome during our journey. Like Lewis and Clark, it will not be an easy path, but together we can overcome the challenges and leave the generations that follow us the same rewards our forefathers gave us.

The Budget and Out of Control Spending

The first obstacle we will encounter is our economy and Missouri's state budget. There is no use in sugar coating the situation. Our budget is a mess. State spending has doubled from 9 to $19 billion in just the last 10 years. Truthfully we don't even know how or where all that money is being spent! But the citizens of this state know where it is coming from. They are paying it in higher taxes.

In the past 10 years our state has increased gas taxes, property taxes, and income taxes. This flooded the state treasury with money, but as fast as the tax revenues have come in they've not been able to keep pace with state spending. We must reform our budget and stop out of control state spending.

Revive The Economy

But controlling spending will not solve our budget problems alone. We must adopt policies that improve Missouri's economy. Missouri lost 77,000 jobs just the last 19 months. This is more per capita than any other state in the country. Can you imagine what those 77,000 jobs would have done for our economy? Can you also imagine the devastation felt by those 77,000 families?

You may wonder where all those jobs went? Well, 20,000 of them went overseas, but the others went to states like Tennessee, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Arkansas. We have to do something. We need to reform our workers compensation laws. We need to fix our unemployment system. We must cut the needless regulations and bureaucratic red tape that is strangling our small businesses. These policy changes will create a business climate that stimulates our economy and produces jobs.

Together we must create jobs and put Missourians back to work.

Partisan Politics

Another obstacle that stands in our way is partisan politics. All too often in the past partisan politics stifled good policies. Term limits has given us a unique opportunity to put the past behind us. Let's pledge to forget the partisan past and build new bonds of bipartisan friendship that will carry us into the future.

I pledge to work with the Governor, members of the Senate, and each and every one of you for the benefit of all our citizens.

Regional Interests

Missouri is a large state with a very diverse geography. It's citizens are just as diverse as the land they live on. We have the flat farmland where I live in Southeast Missouri, the Ozark Mountains in the southwest corner of the state, and the rolling hills of northern Missouri.

We are also fortunate to have St. Louis and Kansas City, two of the leading cities in America. Kansas City and St. Louis both have big industries, major corporations and large populations. Around these cities we have prosperous suburban communities. The rest of the state is filled with good farmland and friendly small towns and cities. Missouri basically has a little bit of everything. Some states are only farming states while others are just big metropolitan areas. We are blessed to be a well-rounded state.

Too often we let our differences drive us apart. St. Louis fights with Kansas City. The cities fight with the counties. The north fights with the south. The east fights with the west. Sometimes it seems that each area only cares about their selves.

Our differences should be our strength. What we do in this chamber affects the whole state. As the Governor said in his inaugural we have one state and it will take all of us working together to make it great. Let’s take the new path that leads to prosperity by putting our regional interest aside and working for all Missourians.

Conclusion

Over the past few weeks I have had many people ask me what the issues and priorities will be in the House next year. Fortunately we have good people in both parties who want to improve Missouri. There are some pressing problems that must be dealt with this year. I believe some of them include:

• Reforming MoDOT and building roads

• Improving education and giving our schools the resources they need

• Protecting the unborn and standing up for the sanctity of life

• Making healthcare more affordable and accessible by passing meaningful tort reform

• Protecting the Second Amendment and allowing citizens to defend themselves

• Ensure our hard-earned tax dollars are spent as promised

These are all issues we'll work on as we go down this new path to prosperity. But we won't be able to solve any of them if we don't fix our budget, stop the partisan fighting, and put the state ahead of our own regional interests. Because all three of the obstacles I have mentioned will affect our ability to address the pressing problems we all care about.

It's a big challenge and it will take each of us doing our part. As I said at the beginning - this new path will not be easy, but it will be rewarding.

We'll never be able to do it without the support of our families. I want to take a moment to thank your families for allowing you to join us in this challenge. I also want to thank someone very special to me, my wife Cassie, and my children Callie, Emily and Will. Without their support I wouldn't be here today. And I want to thank each of you for electing me to be one of your leaders in this chamber. I will strive to help and serve all the members of this House.

As we set out on this journey if we will remember to stay on the path that controls spending, revitalizes our economy, shuns partisan politics and places the state's interest before our own. We can take pride that Missouri will be headed into the 21st century on the right path. The same path that Lewis and Clark blazed for Missouri over 200 years ago.

I ask for your help as we set out on this journey and I pledge my full service and support in overcoming the challenges that lie ahead.

The apostle Paul wrote, "Let us not be weary in well-doing. For in due season we shall reap if we faint not."

Let those of us in the chamber be strong in that resolve. Let us go forward into the next century doing much good and reaping many rewards for the citizens of Missouri.

Thank you, God bless you and God bless our state.

The Speaker resumed the Chair.

The Bill of Rights was read by Miss Danielle Livers, pursuant to SB 831 passed during the Second Regular Session of the Ninety-first General Assembly.

BILL OF RIGHTS

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Amendment VII

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

The Speaker appointed the following to act as Honorary Pages for the Day, to serve without compensation: Ashleigh Duncan, Zoe Anastosopolos, Chelsea Brauninger and Eric Brauninger.

HOUSE RESOLUTIONS

Representative Crowell offered House Resolution No. 1, which was read.

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 1

BE IT RESOLVED that the following be elected permanent officers of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-second General Assembly:

Chief Clerk...........................Stephen S. Davis

Doorkeeper...........................Alexander Graham Bell

Sergeant-at-Arms.................Ralph Robinett

Chaplains.............................Father David Buescher and Reverend James Earl Jackson

On motion of Representative Crowell, House Resolution No. 1 was adopted.

The following officers subscribed to the oath of office, which was administered by the Honorable Catherine Hanaway, Speaker of the House.

Chief Clerk...........................Stephen S. Davis

Doorkeeper...........................Alexander Graham Bell

Sergeant-at-Arms.................Ralph Robinett

Chaplains.............................Reverend James Earl Jackson

Representative Crowell offered House Resolution No. 2, which was read.

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2

BE IT RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-second General Assembly, First Regular Session, inform the Senate that the House is duly convened and is now in session ready for consideration of business; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-second General Assembly is hereby instructed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives is now duly organized with the following officers to wit:

Speaker.................................Catherine Hanaway

Speaker Pro Tem..................Rod Jetton

Chief Clerk...........................Stephen S. Davis

Doorkeeper...........................Alexander Graham Bell

Sergeant-at-Arms.................Ralph Robinett

Chaplains.............................Father David Buescher and Reverend James Earl Jackson

On motion of Representative Crowell, House Resolution No. 2 was adopted.

Representative Crowell offered House Resolution No. 3, which was read.

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 3

BE IT RESOLVED that a message be sent to the Governor of the State of Missouri to inform His Excellency that the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Ninety-second General Assembly, First Regular Session of the State of Missouri, are now regularly organized and ready for business, and to receive any message or communication that His Excellency may desire to submit, and that the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives be directed to inform the Senate of the adoption of this resolution.

On motion of Representative Crowell, House Resolution No. 3 was adopted.

Representative Crowell offered House Resolution No. 4, which was read.

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 4

WHEREAS, the members of the Missouri House of Representatives take great pride in recognizing those outstanding public servants who have consistently performed their official duties with the highest degree of dedication, competence, and integrity; and

WHEREAS, the Honorable Matt Blunt is to be praised and commended for the conscientious and effective manner in which he has performed his duty of presiding over the deliberations of the House of Representatives prior to its temporary organization, one of the numerous responsibilities of the Secretary of State pursuant to the Constitution of the Great State of Missouri; and

WHEREAS, since taking the oath on January 8, 2001, the Honorable Matt Blunt has distinguished himself through tireless commitment to each and every one of his responsibilities as Secretary of State; and

WHEREAS, during his distinguished naval career, Matt Blunt served on the USS JACK WILLIAMS and the USS PETERSON, participated in Operation Support Democracy, and has received numerous commendations including three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and a Humanitarian Service medal; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure in office, Matt Blunt's primary goal is to make the Secretary of State's office more "efficient and accessible to all Missourians" and he is committed to a belief that the Elections process must be above politics:

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the members of the Missouri House of Representatives, Ninety-second General Assembly, join unanimously in expressing sincere appreciation and deep gratitude to the Honorable Matt Blunt for the proud and faithful manner in which he has served this legislative body and in wishing him only the best in his continuing endeavors to meet the needs of Missouri's citizens by providing them with the finest quality of service and information available through the office of the Secretary of State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for the Honorable Matt Blunt as a mark of our esteem for him.

On motion of Representative Crowell, House Resolution No. 4 was adopted.

Representative Crowell offered House Resolution No. 5.

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 5

WHEREAS, as the Ninety-second General Assembly of the State of Missouri convenes on Wednesday, January 8, 2003, the members of the Missouri House of Representatives proudly acknowledge services rendered to the General Assembly by distinguished public servants of this fair state; and

WHEREAS, the Honorable Duane Benton, Justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri, deserves countless words of praise and commendation for the selfless manner in which he has given his valuable time to administer the oath of office to members of this legislative body in accordance with Missouri law; and

WHEREAS, during the inaugural session of the House of Representatives, Justice Benton displayed the highest degree of dedication in continuing the long-established tradition of rendering a sense of both dignity and solemnity in the prestigious ceremony which marks the official beginning of each legislator's two-year term in office as an elected representative of the people of Missouri; and

WHEREAS, since his appointment to the Supreme Court in August 1991, Justice Benton has worked tirelessly to help maintain open lines of communication between the judicial and legislative branches of Missouri state government so that each may be informed of the role of the other in serving all citizens; and

WHEREAS, it is entirely fitting and proper that this legislative body should take pause to applaud the numerous laudable achievements of the Honorable Duane Benton during his exemplary legal career:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the members of the Missouri House of Representatives, Ninety-second General Assembly, join unanimously in expressing our most sincere thanks and deepest appreciation to the Honorable Duane Benton for the devoted and faithful manner in which he has served this body and further extend our very best wishes for continued great success and even more outstanding accomplishments in executing his numerous varied duties and responsibilities as a Justice of our State's Highest Court; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for the Honorable Duane Benton as a mark of our esteem for him.

On motion of Representative Crowell, House Resolution No. 5 was adopted.

Representative Crowell offered House Resolution No. 6.

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 6

WHEREAS, the Honorable Phillip R. Garrison, Appellate Judge, Southern District Court of Appeals for the State of Missouri, deserves countless words of praise and commendation for the selfless manner in which he has given his valuable time to administer the oath of office to members of this legislative body in accordance with Missouri law; and

WHEREAS, during the inaugural session of the House of Representatives, Judge Garrison displayed the highest degree of dedication in continuing the long-established tradition of rendering a sense of both dignity and solemnity in

the prestigious ceremony which marks the official beginning of each legislator's two-year term in office as an elected representative of the people of Missouri; and

WHEREAS, it is entirely fitting and proper that this legislative body should take pause to applaud the numerous laudable achievements of the Honorable Phillip R. Garrison during his exemplary legal career:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the members of the Missouri House of Representatives, Ninety-second General Assembly, join unanimously in expressing our most sincere thanks and deepest appreciation to the Honorable Stephen R. Garrison for the devoted and faithful manner in which he has served this body and further extend our very best wishes for continued great success and even more outstanding accomplishments in executing his numerous varied duties and responsibilities as an Appellate Judge for the Souther District Court of Appeals for the State of Missouri; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for the Honorable Phillip R. Garrison as a mark of our esteem for him.

On motion of Representative Crowell, House Resolution No. 6 was adopted.

Representative Crowell offered House Resolution No. 7.

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 7

WHEREAS, the Honorable Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr., Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri, deserves countless words of praise and commendation for the selfless manner in which he has given his valuable time to administer the oath of office to members of this legislative body in accordance with Missouri law; and

WHEREAS, during the inaugural session of the House of Representatives, Chief Justice Limbaugh displayed the highest degree of dedication in continuing the long-established tradition of rendering a sense of both dignity and solemnity in the prestigious ceremony which marks the official beginning of each legislator's two-year term in office as an elected representative of the people of Missouri; and

WHEREAS, it is entirely fitting and proper that this legislative body should take pause to applaud the numerous laudable achievements of the Honorable Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. during his exemplary legal career:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the members of the Missouri House of Representatives, Ninety-second General Assembly, join unanimously in expressing our most sincere thanks and deepest appreciation to the Honorable Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. for the devoted and faithful manner in which he has served this body and further extend our very best wishes for continued great success and even more outstanding accomplishments in executing his numerous varied duties and responsibilities as Chief Justice of our State's Highest Court; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for the Honorable Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. as a mark of our esteem for him.

On motion of Representative Crowell, House Resolution No. 7 was adopted.

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS

Representative Crowell offered House Concurrent Resolution No. 1, which was read.

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1

BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-second General Assembly, First Regular Session of the State of Missouri, the Senate concurring therein, that the House of Representatives and the Senate convene a joint session in the Hall of the House of Representatives at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, January 15, 2003, to receive a message from His Excellency, the Honorable Bob Holden, Governor of the State of Missouri; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a committee of ten (10) from the House be appointed by the Speaker to act with a committee of ten (10) from the Senate, appointed by the President Pro Tem, to wait upon the Governor of the State of Missouri and inform His Excellency that the House of Representatives and Senate of the Ninety-second General Assembly, First Regular Session, are now organized and ready for business and to receive any message or communication that His Excellency may desire to submit, and that the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives be directed to inform the Senate of the adoption of this resolution.

On motion of Representative Crowell, House Concurrent Resolution No. 1 was adopted.

Representative Crowell offered House Concurrent Resolution No. 2, which was read.

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 2

BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-second General Assembly, First Regular Session of the State of Missouri, the Senate concurring therein, that the House of Representatives and the Senate convene a joint session in the Hall of the House of Representatives at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, January 22, 2003, to receive a message from His Honor Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr., the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Missouri; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a committee of ten (10) from the House be appointed by the Speaker to act with a committee of ten (10) from the Senate, appointed by the President Pro Tem, to wait upon the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Missouri and inform His Honor that the House of Representatives and Senate of the Ninety-second General Assembly, First Regular Session, are now organized and ready for business and to receive any message or communication that His Honor may desire to submit, and that the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives be directed to inform the Senate of the adoption of this resolution.

On motion of Representative Crowell, House Concurrent Resolution No. 2 was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTIONS

Representative Crowell offered House Resolution No. 8.

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 8

BE IT RESOLVED that the Rules of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-first General Assembly, and all amendments thereto, be the temporary Rules of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-second General Assembly, until or unless otherwise ordered.

On motion of Representative Crowell, House Resolution No. 8 was adopted.

Representative Crowell offered House Resolution No. 9.

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 9

Proposed

92nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

RULES OF THE HOUSE

TIME OF MEETING

Rule 1. The time of meeting by the House, unless otherwise ordered, shall be 10:00 a.m.

CONSTITUTIONAL MAJORITY DEFINED

Rule 2. The term "constitutional majority", as used herein, shall mean eighty-two members of the House.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

Rule 3. The first of each day, after the House is called to order, shall be employed as follows unless otherwise ordered by the House:

(a) Prayer.

(b) Pledge of Allegiance to American Flag.

(i) Reading and approval of the Journal of the previous

day's session.

(ii) Introduction and first reading of House Joint

Resolutions.

(iii) Introduction and first reading of House Bills.

(iv) Reports of standing committees.

(v) Reports of special committees.

(vi) Bills, reports and other business on the table.

(vii) House Joint Resolutions to be perfected and

printed.

(viii) House Bills to be perfected and printed.

(ix) Third reading of House Joint Resolutions.

(x) Third reading of House Bills.

(xi) Messages from the Senate.

(xii) First reading of Senate Joint Resolutions and

Senate Bills.

(xiii) Second reading of Senate Joint Resolutions and

Senate Bills.

(xiv) Third reading of Senate Joint Resolutions.

(xv) Third reading of Senate Bills.

(xvi) Introduction of petitions, memorials,

remonstrances and resolutions.

(xvii) Adoption of petitions, memorials, remonstrances

and resolutions.

(xiii) Such other orders of business as deemed necessary pursuant to law.

HEADINGS ON HOUSE CALENDAR

Rule 4. There shall be provided on the House calendar the following divisions:

(a) House Bills for second reading.

(b) House Joint Resolutions for second reading.

(d) House Joint Resolutions to be perfected and printed.

(e) House Appropriation Bills to be perfected and printed.

(f) House Revision Bills to be perfected and printed.

(g) House Bills - Federal Mandate to be perfected and

printed.

(h) House Bills to be perfected and printed - laid over informally.

(i) House Joint Resolutions to be perfected and

printed - laid over informally.

(j) House Appropriation Bills to be perfected and printed - laid over informally.

(k) House Revision Bills to be perfected and printed - laid over informally.

(l) House Bills - Federal Mandate to be perfected and

printed - laid over informally.

(m) House Bills to be agreed to and placed upon third reading and final passage.

(n) House Joint Resolutions to be agreed to and placed upon third reading and final passage.

(o) House Appropriation Bills to be agreed to and placed upon third reading and final passage.

(p) House Revision Bills to be agreed to and placed upon third reading and final passage.

(q) House Bills - Federal Mandate to be agreed to and placed upon third reading and final passage.

(r) House Bills to be agreed to and placed upon third reading and final passage - laid over informally.

(s) House Joint Resolutions to be agreed to and placed upon third reading and final passage - laid over informally.

(t) House Appropriation Bills to be agreed to and placed upon third reading and final passage - laid over informally.

(u) House Revision Bills to be agreed to and placed upon third reading and final passage - laid over informally.

(v) House Bills - Federal Mandate to be agreed to and placed upon third reading and final passage - laid over informally.

(w) House Bills reported out of committee by consent and placed upon Consent Calendar for Perfection.

(x) House Bills perfected by consent to be agreed to and placed upon third reading and final passage.

(y) Rules Committee Calendar, House Bills or Joint Resolutions to be perfected and printed.

(z) Rules Committee Calendar, House Bills or Joint Resolutions to be perfected and printed - laid over informally.

(aa) Rules Committee Calendar, House Bills or Joint Resolutions to be agreed to and placed upon third reading and final passage.

(bb) Rules Committee Calendar, House Bills or Joint Resolutions to be agreed to and placed upon third reading and final passage - laid over informally.

(cc) Rules Committee Calendar, Senate Bills or Joint Resolutions to be agreed to and placed upon third reading and final passage.

(dd) Rules Committee Calendar, Senate Bills or Joint Resolutions to be agreed to and placed upon third reading and final passage - laid over informally.

(ee) Senate Bills for second reading.

(ff) Senate Joint Resolutions for second reading.

(gg) Senate Bills for third reading and final passage.

(hh) Senate Joint Resolutions for third reading and final passage.

(ii) Senate Revision Bills for third reading and final passage.

(jj) Senate Bills - Federal Mandate for third reading and final passage.

(kk) Senate Bills for third reading and final passage - laid over informally.

(ll) Senate Joint Resolutions for third reading and final passage - laid over informally.

(mm) Senate Revision Bills for third reading and final passage - laid over informally.

(nn) Senate Bills - Federal Mandate for third reading and final passage - laid over informally.

(oo) Senate Bills for third reading and final passage - Consent Calendar.

(pp) Courtesy Resolutions Calendar.

(qq) House Resolutions and Concurrent Resolutions Calendar.

(rr) Senate Concurrent Resolutions Calendar.

(ss) Bills in Conference.

(tt) House Bills with Senate Amendments.

(uu) House Bills taken from Committee, as provided by the Constitution.

(vv) Such other calendars as deemed necessary.

FIRST AND SECOND READING OF BILLS

Rule 5. A bill shall be read the first time by journal entry of the title of the bill on the legislative day following its filing. It shall be second read on the following legislative day by journal entry of the title of the bill. The reading of a bill by its title shall be deemed sufficient reading unless the further reading be called for. If the further reading be called for and no objection made, the bill shall be read at length; if however, objection be made, the question shall be determined by the majority of the members present.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

Rule 6. Upon recess or adjournment, the Majority Floor Leader shall advise the entire membership of the business anticipated to be conducted during the remainder of the legislative day and during the next legislative day.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

GENERALLY

Election; Oath; Compensation

Rule 7. The House shall elect by recorded vote the following officers at the commencement of the first regular session of each general assembly. Its presiding officer, who shall be called Speaker of the House, a Speaker Pro Tem, a Chief Clerk, a Sergeant-at-Arms, a Doorkeeper and a Chaplain, who shall hold office during all sessions until the convening of the succeeding General Assembly, unless sooner removed by a vote of the majority of the members. Each shall receive such compensation as may be provided for by law. Each shall take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and of this State and to faithfully demean themselves in office and to keep the secrets of the House. Said oath shall be administered to the Speaker and Speaker Pro Tem by a Judge of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals or a Circuit Court and by the Speaker to the other officers. All other officers of the House shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Speaker and receive such compensation as provided by law.

SPEAKER

Speaker to Call Members to Order

Rule 8. The Speaker shall take the chair at the hour to which the House has been adjourned and immediately call the members to order, and on the appearance of a quorum, shall cause the journal of the preceding day to be read (unless otherwise ordered by the House), which may then be corrected by the House.

Parliamentary Rulings;

Referral to Parliamentary Committee

Rule 9. Parliamentary rulings may be made only by the Speaker or the Speaker Pro Tem. At their option or at the request from a member of the Parliamentary Committee they may refer points of order to the Parliamentary Committee for an advisory opinion. In their absence rulings shall be made by a parliamentary committee. The Committee on Parliamentary Procedure shall be composed of the Speaker, the Majority Floor Leader and the Minority Floor Leader, or their designees. No member who is temporarily in the Chair may rule on points of order, except the Speaker or Speaker Pro Tem, until and unless the Parliamentary Committee has been called and ruled. It shall be the duty of the temporary Speaker to call said Parliamentary Committee at the time the point of order is raised and before any discussion on said point of order takes place.

Speaker May Speak on Points of Order

Rule 10. The Speaker may speak on points of order in preference to any other member, arising from his/her seat for that purpose, and shall decide questions of order, subject to an appeal to the House, upon which appeal no member shall speak more than once, except by leave of the House. No member shall inquire of another member nor debate with other members on points of order but shall address his/her remarks only to the chair.

Appeal From a Ruling of the Chair

Rule 11. Should there be an appeal from any ruling of the chair, the question, "Shall the chair be sustained?" shall be immediately put and determined before the House proceeds to other business.

Speaker Has General Supervision of Hall

Rule 12. The Speaker shall have general direction and supervision of the House and shall preserve decorum and order in the Hall.

Supervision of House Employees

Rule 13. The Speaker shall have general supervision and control over all employees of the House.

Speaker May Substitute Member to Perform Duties

Rule 14. The Speaker may substitute any member to perform the duties of the Chair in the absence of the Speaker Pro Tem.

Speaker Shall Sign Bills

Rule 15. The Speaker shall sign all bills, and perform all other duties in relation thereto, as required by the Constitution. He/she shall also sign all joint resolutions and addresses; and all writs, warrants and subpoenas issued by order of the House shall be under his/her hand, attested by the Chief Clerk.

Speaker May Clear Hall

Rule 16. In case of disturbance or disorderly conduct in the lobbies or galleries, the Speaker, temporary Speaker or Chairman of the Committee of the Whole House shall have power to order the same cleared. They shall not however, have the power to remove members from the floor of the House, except by a majority vote of those present.

Manner of Putting Questions

Rule 17. The Speaker shall rise to state and put questions. Questions shall be in the following form: "As many as are in favor (by electronic roll call) vote 'Aye'. As many as are opposed (if by electronic roll call) vote 'No' ". (Or if by voice vote say "Aye" or "No.") If the Speaker doubts on a voice vote, voting shall be ordered by electronic device.

OTHER OFFICERS

Speaker Pro Tem

Rule 18. The Speaker Pro Tem shall perform the duties of Speaker during the sickness or absence of the Speaker, except while some member is discharging such duties as a substitute under Rule 14.

Chief Clerk

Rule 19. It shall be the duty of the Chief Clerk to serve also as Chief Administrator of the House and to attend the House during its sittings. The Chief Clerk, under the direction of the Speaker, shall prepare and keep the House Journal and seasonably record the proceedings of the House; keep regular files of House papers; attest all writs, warrants and subpoenas issued by order of the House; keep an account of all fines imposed by the House; maintain a record of the members' attendance; keep an account of the traveling and expense allowances of all the members; transmit to the Senate messages, communications, copies and documents of the House; keep a docket of proceedings on all bills, resolutions and acts; and execute the commands of the House from time to time.

Sergeant-at-Arms; Doorkeeper and Chaplain

Rule 20. (a) SERGEANT-AT-ARMS. It shall be the duty of the Sergeant-at-Arms to attend the House during its sittings; to execute the commands of the House from time to time, together with such process issued by authority thereof as shall be directed to him/her by the Speaker. He/she shall preserve order in the galleries and lobby and keep the entry to the aisle cleared during the session of the House.

(b) DOORKEEPER. It shall be the duty of the Doorkeeper, subject to the orders of the Speaker, to attend the sittings of the House. The Doorkeeper shall allow no person to come or remain within the Hall or galleries except as are admitted by the rules or orders of the House. He/she shall execute the commands of the Speaker in relation to his/her duties, and shall obey such other orders as may be made by the House.

(c) CHAPLAIN. It shall be the duty of the Chaplain, or a person designated by the Speaker, to attend at the commencement of each day's sitting of the House, to open the sessions thereof with a prayer, visit any member who may be sick, and to preach in the Hall of the House of Representatives whenever requested by a vote of the House.

Employees

Rule 21. The House may employ, and the Speaker appoint, such employees as are necessary to perform the duties of the House. No person shall be initially hired by the House of Representatives who is related to any member of the House within the fourth degree, by consanguinity or by affinity.

COMMITTEES

By Whom Appointed; Composition of Membership

Rule 22. All standing, conference, interim and statutory committees shall be appointed by the Speaker who, when appointing a committee, shall designate a member thereof as chairman, designate another member as vice-chairman and designate the total number of members to serve on each committee, except the minority members of each committee shall be appointed by the Minority Floor Leader, subject to the final approval of the Speaker. The vice-chairman shall preside at all committee meetings in the absence of the chairman. The Speaker of the House, the Speaker Pro Tem, the Majority Floor Leader, the Assistant Majority Floor Leader, the Majority Whip, the Minority Floor Leader, the Assistant Minority Floor Leader and the Minority Whip shall be ex-officio members of all committees of the House for the purpose of a quorum and discussion but shall have no vote unless they are duly appointed members of said committee. The membership of all standing committees and all other committees and commissions, unless otherwise provided by the act or resolution creating them, shall be composed as nearly as may be, of majority and minority party members in the same proportion as the number of majority and minority party members in the House bears to the total membership of the House, except for the Ethics Committee. The Ethics Committee shall consist of an equal number of members from the majority and minority party.

Time of Sitting

Rule 23. No committee shall meet except during those times so designated by the Speaker. No committee shall sit during the session of the House without leave of the House.

Standing Committees Enumerated

Rule 24. The standing committees of the House shall be as follows:

1. Administration and Accounts.

2. Agriculture

3. Appropriations - Agriculture and Natural Resources.

4. Appropriations - Education.

5. Appropriations - General Administration.

6. Appropriations - Health, Mental Health and Social Services.

7. Appropriations - Public Safety and Corrections.

8. Appropriations - Transportation and Economic Development.

9. Budget.

10. Child and Family Security.

11. Communications, Energy and Technology.

12. Conservation and Natural Resources.

13. Corrections and State Institutions.

14. Crime Prevention and Public Safety.

15. Education.

16. Elections.

17. Financial Services.

18. Health Care Policy.

19. Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs.

20. Job Creation and Economic Development.

21. Judiciary.

22. Local Government.

23. Professional Registration and Licensing.

24. Retirement.

25. Rules.

26. Senior Security

27. Small Business.

28. Tax Policy.

29. Tourism and Cultural Affairs.

30. Transportation and Motor Vehicles.

31. Workforce Development and Workplace Safety.

The Speaker may appoint such special committees as he/she deems necessary. Any special committee shall have the authority and duties of a standing committee if so designated by the Speaker.

Duties of the Standing Committees

Rule 25. (1) Administration and Accounts.

(a) Duties generally. The Committee on Administration and Accounts shall superintend and have sole and complete control of all financial obligations and business affairs of the House except those employees appointed by or assigned to the Speaker, or assigned to the Budget Committee Chair, the Speaker Pro Tem, the Majority Floor Leader, The Minority Floor Leader and the Officers of the House. The committee shall provide for the receiving and receipt of all supplies, equipment and furnishings purchased for the account of the House, and shall further provide for the use and distribution thereof.

(b) Funds for operation of member's individual offices. The committee shall also prescribe rules governing the expenditure of funds allotted to individual members for the operation of their offices. Such rules shall be applied equally to, and shall require the equal treatment of, all members with regard to the expenditure of such funds. Subject to such rules, each member shall have discretion to expend such funds, for the use of his or her office, without the approval of the committee.

(c) Allotment of offices, chamber seats and parking spaces. Each member shall be allotted his or her own office, chamber seat and parking assignment. The committee shall assign all offices, chamber seats, and parking spaces under its control and reserved for members, according to seniority within each respective party caucus, except that no member shall be forced to give up his/her offices, chamber seat or parking space that he/she currently occupies unless such office, chamber seat or parking space is re-assigned by the committee to the members of the opposite party. Notwithstanding any provision of this rule to the contrary, the committee may make assignments to House officers, the floor leaders and assistant floor leaders of each party, the Budget Committee Chair, and the chairman and ranking minority member of the Administration and Accounts Committee, without respect to the seniority of those members.

(d) Duties of the Chief Clerk in Respect to Committee. The Chief Clerk of the House may be authorized to act for the committee, but only in the manner and to the extent as may have been previously authorized by the committee. Such authorization shall be entered in the minutes of the committee. The Chief Clerk shall maintain financial records for the House of Representatives in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Chief Clerk of the House shall keep a detailed accounting of all transactions and shall furnish each member of the committee and the Speaker with a copy of such account on a monthly basis.

(2) The Committee on Agriculture. The Committee on Agriculture may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the protection, promotion and encouragement of agriculture and agri-business in this state.

(3) The Committee on Appropriations - Agriculture and Natural Resources. The Committee on Appropriations - Agriculture and Natural Resources shall report to the Budget Committee upon all bills, measures, and questions referred to it by the Budget Committee pertaining to the appropriations and disbursements of public money for the funding of the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Conservation.

(4) The Committee on Appropriations - Education. The Committee on Appropriations - Education shall report to the Budget Committee upon all bills, measures, and questions referred to it by the Budget Committee pertaining to the appropriations and disbursements of public money for the funding of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of Higher Education.

(5) The Committee on Appropriations - General Administration. The Committee on Appropriations - General Administration shall report to the Budget Committee upon all bills, measures, and questions referred to it by the Budget Committee pertaining to the appropriations and disbursements of public money for the funding of the Public Debt, Elected Officials, Office of Administration, the General Assembly, the Department of Revenue, the Judiciary and the Public Defender.

(6) The Committee on Appropriations - Health, Mental Health and Social Services. The Committee on Appropriations - Health, Mental Health and Social Services shall report to the Budget Committee upon all bills, measures, and questions referred to it by the Budget Committee pertaining to the appropriations and disbursements of public money for the funding of the Department of Health, the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Social Services.

(7) The Committee on Appropriations - Public Safety and Corrections. The Committee on Appropriations - Public Safety and Corrections shall report to the Budget Committee upon all bills, measures, and questions referred to it by the Budget Committee pertaining to the appropriations and disbursements of public money for the funding of the Departments of Public Safety and Corrections.

(8) The Committee on Appropriations - Transportation and Economic Development. The Committee on Appropriations - Transportation and Economic Development shall report to the Budget Committee upon all bills, measures, and questions referred to it by the Budget Committee pertaining to the appropriations and disbursements of public money for the funding of the Department of Transportation, the Department of Economic Development, the Department of Insurance and the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

(9) The Committee on Budget.

(a) The Committee on Budget shall have the responsibility of filing all appropriations bills, assigning of those bills to the appropriate appropriations committees and shall report upon all bills recommended to it by the respective appropriation committee and any other bills, measures, or questions referred to it pertaining to the appropriation and disbursement of public money.

(b) The Committee on Budget shall consider any bill which requires net additional expenditures of state money in excess of $100,000 or which reduces net state revenue by more than $100,000 in any of the four fiscal years immediately following the effective date of the bill. Any such House bill, after having been perfected and ordered printed by the House, shall be referred to the Committee on Budget for its consideration prior to the bill's submission to the House for third reading and final passage. Any House bill with Senate amendment(s) or any House bill with a Senate substitute which requires net additional expenditure of state money in excess of $100,000 or which reduces net state revenue by more than $100,000 in any of the four fiscal years immediately following the effective date of the bill shall be referred to the Committee on Budget for its consideration prior to the bill's submission to the House. Any such Senate bill, after having been approved by the regular standing committee to which it was referred, shall be referred to the Committee on Budget for its consideration prior to its submission to the House for third reading and final passage. Any Senate or House bill amended so as to increase net expenditures or reduce net revenues shall, upon timely motion to recommit, be referred to the Committee on Budget. The primary sponsor or, in the case of a Senate bill, the floor handler, of a bill referred to the Committee on Budget shall be entitled to a hearing on the bill but such hearing shall be limited to the reception of testimony by the primary sponsor or floor handler, as the case may be, in person and none other, without leave of the committee Chair. For the purposes of this rule, "net" is defined as the sum of revenues and expenditures, after reductions and increases brought about by a bill have been calculated. The Committee on Budget may, with the consent of the House Sponsor or Floor Handler, amend an effective date onto any bill referred to the Committee.

(c) Other duties. The Committee may consider and report upon any bill or resolution referred to it, which in the opinion of the Speaker, merits special consideration. . The Committee may also consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the reorganization, consolidation and abolition of boards, bureaus, commissions and other offices and buildings of the state, including the Division of Design and Construction, the capitol grounds and the state and legislative library. The Committee is empowered to study and investigate the efficiency and economy of all branches of Government including the possible existence of fraud, misfeasance, malfeasance, collusion, mismanagement, incompetence, corruption, waste, conflicts of interests and the improper expenditure of Government funds in transactions, contracts and activities of Government or Government officials and employees. The Committee is authorized to hold hearings, sit and act at any time or place within the State of Missouri during the recess and adjournment periods of the House, administer oaths, and take testimony, either orally or by sworn written statement. If the Committee, after hearing, and upon findings incorporated in a report, deems that a particular activity, bureau, agency, committee, commission, department or any other entity of state government should be discontinued, it shall report such finding to the House for further action by the House. The committee shall also consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the efficiency of government in the state.

(10) The Committee on Child and Family Security. The Committee on Child and Family Security may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the health and security of children and families. The Committee may also consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to social services.

(11) The Committee on Communications, Energy and Technology. The Committee on Communications, Energy and Technology may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the development, uses and regulation of communications, technology and utilities and the development, use and conservation of energy and other energy related concerns, environmental impact and pollution and public health and safety as it relates to the issue of energy.

(12) The Committee on Conservation and Natural Resources. The Committee on Conservation and Natural Resources may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the Department of Conservation, state parks, fish and game, forestry, natural resources and mining.

(13) The Committee on Corrections and State Institutions. The Committee on Corrections and State Institutions may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to adult and juvenile penal and correctional problems, the administration of correctional institutions, the state penitentiary, state hospitals, charitable institutions, and other state properties.

(14) The Committee on Crime Prevention and Public Safety. The Committee on Crime Prevention and Public Safety Affairs may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to criminal laws, public safety and law enforcement matters.

(15) The Committee on Education. The Committee on Education may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to elementary, secondary and higher education in this state, including teachers, financing, property, indebtedness and curriculum.

(16) The Committee on Elections. The Committee on Elections may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to elections and election contests involving members of the House.

(17) The Committee on Financial Services. The Committee on Financial Services may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to banks, banking, savings and loans, credit unions and other financial institutions and matters related to insurance, insurance companies and the Department of Insurance.

(18) The Committee on Health Care Policy. The Committee on Health Care Policy may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the health care of the citizens of the State, including mental health, and the Departments of Health and Mental Health. The Committee may also consider and report on bills and matters referred to it relating to medicaid and related matters.

(19) The Committee on Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs. The Committee on Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to terrorism and security against terrorism; veterans affairs and the promotion and strengthening of states rights and military and naval affairs of the State.

(20) The Committee on Job Creation and Economic Development. The Committee on Job Creation and Economic Development may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to commerce, industrial growth, expansion, and development and the creation of jobs.

(21) The Committee on Judiciary. The Committee on Judiciary may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the judicial branch of the State and the practices and procedures of the courts of this State, and on matters pertaining to civil and administrative laws and procedures, and on matters relating to the ethics of public officials.

(22) The Committee on Local Government. The Committee on Local Government may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to counties, cities, towns, villages, other political subdivisions of the State and local government generally.

(23) The Committee on Professional Registration and Licensing. The Committee on Professional Registration and Licensing may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating the regulation of professions and occupations and relating to boards, bureaus and commissions that examine the qualifications of persons engaged in certain professions and occupations and the duties of such agencies and the persons registered by them. The committee may also consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to consumer protection issues.

(24) The Committee on Retirement. The Committee on Retirement may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the retirement and pensions of state and local officials and employees.

(25) The Committee on Rules. (a) Duties Generally. The Committee on Rules shall formulate and present for consideration the rules of the House; shall consider and report upon all propositions to amend or change the rules, which propositions shall stand referred without reading or consideration and without discussion, explanation, or debate to the Committee on Rules, and upon any bill which merits special consideration.

(b) Duties related to printing and proofing bills. The Committee shall supervise the printing of all bills ordered perfected and printed, assuring that procedures are followed in which all amendments to every such bill are incorporated therein before the bill is printed and that the printed copies of the bill on the desks of the members are true and accurate copies of the bill as ordered perfected and printed. The Committee shall also supervise the printing of all bills which are truly agreed and finally passed, assuring that procedures are followed in which every bill is a true copy of the bill as passed with clerical errors corrected.

(c) Duties relating to the issuance of courtesy resolutions. A courtesy resolution is a non-controversial resolution in the nature of congratulations on the birth of a child, celebration of a wedding anniversary, congratulations of an outstanding citizen achievement or a similar event which is in the practice and procedure of the House to consider as a courtesy resolution. While the House is in session, the resolutions that have been issued under the supervision of the Committee shall be printed in the House Journal by number and sponsor. Any resolution that is not a courtesy resolution shall require action by the House as provided for by the House Rules.

(d) Petition to remove from perfection calendar. Upon petition of two-thirds of the standing committee chairmen recommending a House Bill or Joint Resolution be removed from the regular perfection calendar and placed on the Rules Committee Calendar to be perfected and printed, the Committee on Rules shall have authority to consider and remove any House Bill or Joint Resolution from the regular perfection calendar and place it upon the Rules Committee Calendar, House Bills or Joint Resolutions to be perfected and printed. And any bill so placed upon said calendar shall, after being perfected and printed, be placed upon the Rules Committee Calendar, House Bills or Joint Resolutions to be agreed to and placed upon third reading and final passage.

(e) Petition to remove from third reading calendar. Upon petition of 2/3 of the standing committee chairmen, the Committee on Rules shall have the authority to consider and remove, any Senate Bill or Joint Resolution from the regular third reading calendar and place it upon the Rules Committee Calendar, Senate Bills or Joint Resolutions to be agreed to and placed upon third reading and final passage. The Committee has the privilege of reporting at any time and the consideration of its report shall have precedence over all other business. Any bill placed upon the Rules Committee Calendar, House Bills or Joint Resolutions to be perfected and printed, by the Committee on Rules may be recommitted to the same committee by a Constitutional majority of the elected members, and if this occurs the bill shall be returned to its place on the Perfection Calendar from which it had been removed.

(26) The Committee on Senior Security. The Committee on Senior Security may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the security and health of the senior citizens of the State, including matters relating to their care and housing, and the providers of those services.

(27) The Committee on Small Business. The Committee on Small Business may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the establishment, growth, development, expansion, retention and operations of small businesses in the State.

(28) The Committee on Tax Policy. The Committee on Tax Policy may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the taxes of the State, tax credits, revenue and public debt of the State, and the interest thereon, and the administration of taxation and revenue laws. The Committee may also inquire into and suggest to the House such changes, if any, that should be made in respect to existing sources of revenue and such new sources of revenue, if any, that in the judgment of the Committee should be considered by the House. The Committee may also inquire into and suggest to the House such changes, if any, that should be made in respect to eliminating any existing sources of revenue, if any, that in the judgment of the Committee should be considered by the House.

(29) The Committee on Tourism and Cultural Affairs. The Committee on Tourism and Cultural Affairs may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the development and promotion of travel, tourism, recreation, the arts and cultural affairs.

(30) The Committee on Transportation and Motor Vehicles. The Committee on Transportation and Motor Vehicles may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the Department of Transportation, all means of transportation, including roads, highways, bridges, ferries, airports, railroads and other means of transportation. The Committee may also consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to motor vehicles and traffic regulations.

(31) The Committee on Workforce Development and Workplace Safety. The Committee on Workforce Development and Workplace Safety may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to, Workmen's Compensation, Employment Security and the departments administering each of these, and on matters referred to it relating to the conditions and interest of labor.

Duties of Committee Chair;

Committee Organization

Rule 26. (a) Duty to preside. It is the duty of the chair to preside at all sessions of the committee. In the absence of the chair, the vice-chair of the committee shall preside, and in his/her absence, a member appointed by the chair.

(b) Duty to maintain minute book. The chair shall see that a minute book is kept for his/her committee. The minute book shall contain the attendance and voting records of the committee members, a brief statement of the business that comes before the committee, the names of the persons and witnesses appearing before the committee and what side of a proposition they appeared on behalf of at the committee hearing, or if the appearance was informational in nature and neither for or against the proposition. The Chief Clerk shall be the repository of the minute book after each general assembly.

(c) Duty to preserve order. The chair, while the committee is in session, shall preserve order and decorum in and adjacent to the committee room and shall conduct all hearings in accordance with the Rules of the House including the provisions that relate to decorum, debate and dress code. The chair may punish breaches of order and decorum by censure and exclusion from the hearings.

(d) Bills, reports and other documents. The chair shall have custody of all bills, papers and other documents referred to the committee and shall make reports authorized by the committee and submit the same to the House without delay.

(e) When a bill fails. Whenever a motion that a bill "Do Pass" shall fail, or if there be an even division on the question, the chair shall report said bill back to the House "Do Not Pass" unless said bill is otherwise disposed of by another motion.

Committee Hearings

Rule 27. All bills referred to committees shall be considered by giving the author, the proponents and the opponents a reasonable opportunity to be heard. A committee chair shall not restrict the length of testimony of any witness nor the length of questioning of any witness by a committee member except that the "15 minute rule" shall apply. At the Chair's discretion, the "15 minute rule" may be extended. The "15 minute rule" may only be shortened by the unanimous consent of the committee members present when such waiver is proposed. Persons addressing the committee shall keep their remarks to the point and avoid repetition and are subject to call to order by the chair for failure to do so. The time limits set forth in this rule shall apply to witnesses as well as members.

Quorum

Rule 28. A majority of all committees of 30 or less, and 15 members of all committees consisting of more than 30 members, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Meetings - How Announced

Rule 29. Announcement of all meetings of standing committees, except the Budget Committee, shall include a statement of all matters to be considered at the meeting, shall include the bill or resolution numbers to be considered and shall be entered in the journal prior to the day on which the meeting is to take place.

The chair of each committee shall give written notice of the time, date, place and agenda of the meetings, including executive sessions, of his/her committee and each committee having matters pending before it shall hold a meeting at such time, date and place unless excused by the Speaker of the House. Notice shall be given at least one legislative day in advance of the committee meeting. Notice may be reduced to 24 hours by unanimous consent of all members of the committee, whether in attendance or not. Except for the Budget Committee, notice shall never be less than 24 hours. All notices shall include posting of the notice on the bulletin board outside the Speaker's office.

Committees shall comply with the requirements of the statutes pertaining to open meetings.

Committee Substitutes

Rule 30. No bill or substitute may be taken up for consideration by a committee unless said bill or substitute shall have been distributed to the members of the committee at least one legislative day in advance of said consideration. This rule may be waived by unanimous consent of all members of the committee, whether in attendance or not. Failure to take the bill up for consideration at the designated time requires that the one legislative day notice be given again before it is taken up for consideration.

Other Duties

Rule 31. Each committee, in addition to the duty above prescribed, shall perform such other duties as may be required by the House. If it shall become necessary to compel the presence of any person before a committee or to receive sworn testimony before a committee, a subpoena may be issued under the hand of the Speaker as provided by law and an oath or affirmation may be administered by the chair of the committee as provided by law.

Attendance

Rule 32. The secretary of each committee shall keep a record of the attendance of each committee meeting in the minute book of the committee, which shall be available to any person on request. Any member of a committee absent, without good cause, from three consecutive meetings of the committee, as shown by the records of the committee, may be dropped therefrom by a statement to that effect entered into the House Journal by the Speaker. The roll shall be called by the chair or secretary of a committee at each meeting.

Minority Views

Rule 33. The minority of a committee may not make a report or present to the House an alternative report, but has the right to file views to accompany the report.

Committee Relieved of Bill - When

Rule 34. No bill shall be taken away from any standing committee of the House, as provided by the Constitution, until after ten legislative days have expired after referral to the committee by the Speaker. Pursuant to the Constitution, one-third of the members of the House shall have the power to relieve a committee of any bill. Such power may be exercised by filing a petition to that effect with the Chief Clerk of the House. Upon receipt of said petition containing the signatures of at least 55 members, the Chief Clerk shall publish said petition in the Journal

and place the discharged bill upon the regular calendar of House Bills taken from Committee, as provided by the Constitution.

Election Contest

Rule 35. Whenever there shall be filed with the Speaker a notice of contest of the election of a member of the House, he/she shall refer the same, without discussion, either to the standing Committee on Elections or a special committee appointed to hear the matter. Said committee shall examine the timeliness and sufficiency of the notice, the depositions and other documents submitted and report to the House its recommendations, whereupon the House shall act by resolution to sustain or reject the committee recommendations.

Ethics Committee

Complaints of Ethical Misconduct

Rule 36. (a) The Speaker shall appoint a Committee on Ethics and name the committee's chair. The Minority Floor Leader shall name the committee's vice-chair. The committee shall have an equal number of members of the majority and minority party.

(b) The committee may consider and report upon complaints referred to it relating to a member of the House involving the commission of a crime, misconduct, willful neglect of duty, corruption in office or other complaints relating to the ethical conduct of a member. The committee is authorized to sit and act at any time or place within the State of Missouri during the recess and adjournment periods of the House, administer oaths, and take testimony, either orally or by sworn written statement.

(c) Within 20 calendar days of the commencement of the first regular session of each general assembly, the Committee on Ethics shall adopt Rules of Procedure for the investigation of complaints of ethical misconduct referred to it involving a member of the House. The proposed Rules of Procedure shall be filed by the committee in the form of a House Resolution with the Clerk of the House, reported in the Journal, and placed on the House Resolutions Calendar.

(d) Upon receipt of a complaint, in writing and under oath, of ethical misconduct by a member of the House made by another member, the Speaker shall refer the same, within 10 days, without discussion, to the Committee on Ethics. The complaint shall be confidential. The Committee shall examine the sufficiency of the complaint, and proceed to conduct an investigation as provided in the Committee's Rules of Procedure, if a majority of the Committee appointed so votes upon a roll call.

(e) At the conclusion of the investigation, the Committee shall report its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the House, whereupon the House shall act by resolution to sustain or reject the Committee recommendations. The Committee may recommend that the House expel the member as provided in Article III, Section 18 of the Missouri Constitution, or that the House punish the member as provided in Article III, Section 18 of the Missouri Constitution, by reprimand on the adoption of the resolution or by censure by the Speaker in open session.

(f) All rules that pertain to standing committees shall apply to the Committee on Ethics to the extent consistent with this rule and any rules of procedure adopted pursuant to this rule.

BILLS

Introduced - Manner of Setting Forth

New and Old Material

Rule 37. (a) When. Bills may be introduced only on the report of a committee or by any member of the House, in the regular order of business. No member shall file a bill after the constitutional deadline for filing bills.

(b) Manner of Printing. Any bill shall have the matter which is being repealed from current law enclosed in bold-faced brackets and the matter which is being added to the law underscored when typewritten and in bold-faced type when printed. A footnote shall be annexed to the first page of each bill which contains material enclosed in bold-faced brackets to the following effect:

"Explanation - Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language." Where a section is completely rewritten, the existing section shall be set forth in small type in bold-faced brackets in a note following the new section but the changes need not be distinguished. Any bill or substitute thereof which does not comply with this rule shall not be placed upon the calendar.

Number Of Copies Printed

Rule 38. The Chief Clerk shall print such number of copies of all House Bills and House Joint Resolutions as he/she shall deem appropriate; provided however, it shall never be less than 500.

Timing for Placement on Calendar

Federal Mandate Calendar

Rule 39. (a) When a federal mandate bill is reported from the committee with recommendation that it "do pass" or "without recommendation", it shall go upon the calendar of the House. No bill shall be taken up for consideration by the House unless it has been upon the calendar for at least one legislative day.

(b) No bill shall be placed on the Federal Mandate Calendars unless it is federally mandated, immediate in nature and reduces revenues or savings if not enacted. A federal mandate bill may only contain subject matter concerning the federal mandate. A member wishing for his or her bill to be considered for placement on the Federal Mandate Calendar shall request in writing to the chair of the committee where such bill has been referred. The written request shall state the deadline with which the State must comply with the federal mandate and what will happen if the State fails to take action by such date. A copy for each committee member of the federal statute(s) or regulation(s) mandating such action shall accompany the request. After the committee has voted "do pass" on a bill with such a request, it shall take a second recorded vote on whether or not to recommend that it be placed on the Federal Mandate Calendar. If said bill is reported do pass by the committee with a recommendation that same be placed on the Federal Mandate Calendar, the chair shall submit to the Speaker a copy of the original written request, along with a copy of the federal statute(s) or regulation(s) mandating State action. If the Speaker concurs with the committee that the bill complies with the requirements of this rule, he/she shall advise the Chief Clerk to place same on the Federal Mandate Calendar. If the Speaker does not concur, he/she may place the bill on the Perfection Calendar. Each bill placed upon the Federal Mandate Calendars shall have attached thereto a copy of the federal statute(s) or regulation(s) that mandates the bill, along with a copy of the request to place the bill on the Federal Mandate Calendar and shall be distributed to all members at least twenty-four hours prior to consideration by the entire House.

Motion To Place On Calendar

Rule 40. If any bill is reported from committee with the recommendation that it "do not pass" it shall not go on the calendar of the House unless ordered by a constitutional majority. At the same time the bill is reported to the House, the committee chair shall notify the author of the bill that such report is being made. A motion to have a bill placed upon the calendar must be made within three legislative days after the bill is reported and when the sponsor of the bill is present or the motion is made by a member upon the sponsor's written request. If no such action is taken within said time, the bill shall lie on the table.

Bills Laid Over Informally

Rule 41. When a bill is reached, in its order, to be perfected and printed, or to be agreed to and read a third time and placed upon its final passage, it may upon the request of the Majority Floor Leader, or the sponsor or handler thereof, if a House Bill, (or upon the request of its handler in the House, if a Senate Bill) hold its place on the calendar, or be laid over informally, and thereafter be called up at any time when otherwise in order.

To Appear In Order

Rule 42. All bills laid over informally and not taken up and disposed of the same day, shall appear in order upon the calendar for the next legislative day following.

Ten Day Rule

Rule 43. If a bill laid over informally is not taken up for further consideration within ten legislative days after being laid over, it shall lie on the table and be dropped from the calendar of the House without further action of the House.

Consent Calendar

Rule 44. (a) Which Bills May Be Placed on the Consent Calendar. Each committee, after a favorable vote on a bill, may further determine by a second and affirmative vote of every member present whether or not such bill is of a noncontroversial nature. Any bill which increases net expenditures of the state, reduces net revenue of the state, or contains penalty provisions, shall not be considered by the committee for consent; provided however, any bill which specifically authorizes an easement or right-of-way involving state property may be considered by the committee for placement on the Consent Calendar.

(b) Procedure on House Bills. If the committee shall so determine, the committee report shall include a request that a bill be placed on the "House Consent Calendar for Perfection". Any bill so reported shall automatically be placed on that calendar and after said bill has remained on the "House Consent Calendar for Perfection" for five legislative days, it shall be ordered perfected and advanced to the "House Consent Calendar for Third Reading and Final Passage" without further action of the House, unless five members, with at least two from each political party, have filed written objection with the Chief Clerk. If such objections are filed, the bill shall be placed on the House Bills to be Perfected and Printed Calendar. An objection made by five members under this rule cannot be rescinded.

(c) Senate Bills - Consent. When the Senate passes a bill by its procedure for consent bills, such bill shall be considered for treatment as a consent bill by the House committee without further request; provided however, that the same committee procedures, votes and requirements for House Bills being considered for consent shall be applied to Senate Bills being considered for consent. A Senate Bill may be considered by the committee for Consent even if it was not a Consent Bill in the Senate.

(d) Procedure on Senate Bills. Senate Bills passed out of the House committee with the request that the bill be placed on the Senate Bills for Third Reading and Final Passage - Consent Calendar are subject to the five member objection provision of this rule.

(e) Deadline for Taking up Senate Consent Bills. No Senate consent bills may be taken up after 6:00 p.m. on the first Thursday following the third Monday in April.

(f) Amendments. House bills may be considered for consent after they are amended in committee but may not be amended on the floor of the House.

Senate consent bills may be amended in committee but not on the floor of the House unless the Senate Rules allow amendment of House consent bills on the floor of the Senate in which case Senate consent bills may be amended on the floor of the House.

AMENDMENTS AND SUBSTITUTES

Rule 45. (a) In Writing. Proposed amendments must be reduced to writing. Every amendment shall be read in its entirety by the clerk unless it has been distributed in advance, the amendment's sponsor requests waiver of the reading, and there is no objection to the request. An amendment shall be considered to have been distributed in advance if, before it is offered, it has been placed on the members' desks in paper form. Every amendment that exceeds two pages in length must be distributed in advance unless the amendment's sponsor requests waiver of the distribution, and there is no objection to the request. The sponsor of an amendment that has been distributed may make technical corrections at the time the amendment is offered or under consideration. Any technical corrections shall be read in full by the clerk. Technical corrections shall be subject to a point of order that they are not truly technical in nature.

(b) Distribution Required. All amendments which are in the first degree (and not substitute amendments) shall be submitted to the Chief Clerk's Office and distributed prior to the opening gavel of the day on which such amendment is offered.

(c) What Amendments and Substitute Amendments are in Order. When a bill, motion or proposition is under consideration, a motion to amend and a motion to amend that amendment shall be in order, and it shall also be in order to offer a further amendment by way of a substitute, to which one amendment may be offered. Any proposed amendment in the third degree shall be out of order. Any bill or amendment may be withdrawn by the sponsor before amendment or decision thereon. Once a bill has been amended, it shall be in the possession of the House.

(d) House Substitutes and Committee Substitutes Treated as Original. A House committee substitute and any House substitute shall be considered as an original bill for purposes of amendment.

(e) House Substitute. A House substitute must be distributed to the members at least one legislative day prior to its consideration by the House. A House amendment which, in the opinion of the Speaker, is in reality a House substitute, must be distributed in the same manner as a House substitute.

(f) One House Substitute at a Time. Only one House substitute shall be in order at one time; provided however, that if a