FIRST REGULAR SESSION

House Resolution No. 922

91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY



2277L.01I

Whereas, the budget of the Missouri Department of Social Services has reached over five billion dollars out of a nineteen billion dollar state budget which represents twenty-seven percent of that total; and



Whereas, the Department of Social Services provides funding for important programs for over one million Missourians, primarily children, people with disabilities and the elderly; and



Whereas, the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations for Social Services spends over two months every year evaluating the budget for the Department of Social Services but has no time to closely examine the core budget of the Department where the majority of the funding is located; and



Whereas, at a minimum seventy-six legislative districts will be represented by new legislators in 2003, greatly affecting the number of legislators with a working knowledge of the budget; and



Whereas, a detailed summary and analysis of the core of the budget of the Department of Social Services and a thorough evaluation of the effectiveness of the Department's programs in serving our young, disabled and elderly citizens and an appraisal of whether the Department uses the funds in a fiscally responsible manner would be a valuable guide to future legislators evaluating the budget for the Department of Social Services:



Now, therefore, be it resolved by the members of the Missouri House of Representatives of the Ninety-first General Assembly, First Regular Session, that a House Interim Committee of the General Assembly be created, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives by June 1, 2001 , and that said committee be authorized to function during the interim between the First Regular Session and the Second Regular Session of the Ninety-first General Assembly; and



Be it further resolved that said committee make an in-depth analysis of the budget of the Department of Social Services and evaluate the effectiveness of the Department's programs and appraise the Department's spending practices including the solicitation of information from appropriate state agencies and the public; and



Be it further resolved that the committee be authorized to hold hearings as it deems advisable, and that the staff of House Research provide such legal, research, clerical, technical services and staff of the Committee on Legislative Research provide such drafting services as requested by the committee; and



Be it further resolved that the committee, its members, and any staff personnel assigned to the committee shall receive reimbursement for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in attending meetings of the committee or any subcommittee thereof; and



Be it further resolved that the committee report its findings to the Missouri General Assembly by December 1, 2001, and the authority of such committee shall terminate on December 31, 2001.


Missouri House of Representatives