Read 1st time February 3, 2000, and 1000 copies ordered printed.
ANNE C. WALKER, Chief Clerk
JOINT RESOLUTION
Submitting to the qualified voters of Missouri, an amendment repealing section 29 of article IV of the Constitution of Missouri, relating to the highways and transportation commission and adopting one new section in lieu thereof relating to the same subject.
That at the next general election to be held in the state of Missouri, on Tuesday next following the first Monday in November, 2000, or at a special election to be called by the governor for that purpose, there is hereby submitted to the qualified voters of this state, for adoption or rejection, the following amendment to article IV of the Constitution of the state of Missouri:
Section A. Section 29, article IV, Constitution of Missouri, is repealed and one new section adopted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 29, to read as follows:
Section 29. The department of highways and transportation shall be in charge of a highways and transportation
commission. [The number, qualifications, compensation and terms of the members of the highways and transportation
commission shall be fixed by law, and not more than one-half of its members shall be of the same political party.] The
state highways and transportation commission shall consist of one commissioner per congressional district in this
state. No two commissioners shall reside in the same congressional district. Each commissioner shall be
appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, not more than one-half of such
commissioners shall be affiliated with the same political party where there is an even number of commissioners,
and not more than one-half of such commissioners shall be affiliated with the same political party where there is
an odd number of commissioners. Each commissioner shall be a taxpayer and resident of state for at least five
years prior to his or her appointment. Any commissioner may be removed by the governor if fully satisfied of his
or her inefficiency, neglect of duty, or misconduct in office. The selection and removal of all [employees]
commissioners shall be without regard to political affiliation. All commissioners appointed prior to a decrease in the
number of congressional districts in this state, shall serve the term for which they were appointed and any
additional commissioner appointed to increase the number of commissioners to equal the number of
congressional districts or appointed as a successor to an existing commissioner shall be appointed pursuant to this
section. Commissioners shall be appointed for terms of six years. Upon the expiration of each of the foregoing
terms of these commissioners a successor shall be appointed for a term of six years or until his or her successor is
appointed and qualified, except that such position shall not be filled if the appointment would cause the number
of commissioners to exceed the number of congressional districts in this state on the date of appointment. The
compensation of the commissioners of the highways and transportation commission shall be fixed by law. The
highways and transportation commission shall have authority over all state transportation programs and facilities as
provided by law, including, but not limited to, bridges, highways, aviation, railroads, mass transportation, ports, and
waterborne commerce, and shall have authority to limit access to, from and across state highways where the public
interest and safety may require. The present [members of the highway commission] commissioners shall serve [as
members of the highways and transportation commission] for the remainder of the terms for which they were appointed.
All references to the highway commission and the department of highways in this constitution and in the statutes shall
mean the highways and transportation commission and the department of highways and transportation.
Return to the Missouri House of
Representatives