SB 50 -- GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SPONSOR:  Childers (Holand)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Fiscal
Review and Government Reform by a vote of 7 to 0.

This bill creates the Legislative Academy within the Division of
Legislative Research.  The academy is to educate newly-elected
members of the General Assembly about the organization and
operation of state government, appropriations, aspects of the
legislative and executive branches of state government, and the
Missouri Constitution.  The academy is to be held during the
interim of each biennium following the first regular session of
each General Assembly.  Participants are eligible for per diem
and expense allowances comparable to session rates.  The
Legislative Academy expires December 31, 2005.

The academy is to assume responsibility for coordination of the
new member tour of state facilities during the first two weeks
of December after a general election.

The bill also establishes a Legislative Academy Advisory
Committee comprised of 9 former legislators chosen by the
Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tem of the Senate.
The committee is to establish the academy curriculum.

The Legislative Academy Advisory Committee provisions of the
bill are to terminate on December 31, 2005.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Cost to General Revenue Fund of $0
in FY 2002, $0 to $159,373 in FY 2003, and $0 to $318,747 in FY
2004.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the Legislative Academy is
optional and with term limits taking effect provides new members
of the General Assembly with a head start.

Testifying for the bill was Senator Childers.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Roland Tackett, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated November 26, 2001 at 11:47 am