HB 2029 -- Legislative Budget Office

Sponsor:  Muschany

This bill establishes the Legislative Budget Office within the
Joint Committee on Legislative Research.  The budget office will
be responsible for preparing fiscal notes and for preparing and
presenting budgetary projections and budget alternatives to
members of the General Assembly.  The joint committee may
organize a subcommittee to supervise the budget office.  The
subcommittee will be composed of at least six members with half
of the members appointed by the chair of the joint committee and
the other half appointed by the vice-chair.  The budget office
director will be responsible for employing personnel to carry out
the duties of the budget office and will serve a four-year term
beginning on January 1 of the year following the election of the
Governor.  The individual serving on August 28, 2008, will serve
as director for the first term following the date and may be
removed by either chamber of the General Assembly by resolution.

The budget office will provide the General Assembly at least once
every year a cash basis financial projection similar in format to
the general revenue summary of the executive branch.

The responsibility of preparing fiscal notes is transferred from
the Oversight Division to the budget office.  The bill also
repeals the provisions that prohibit members of the General
Assembly, lobbyists, and other interested parties from
participating in the preparation of fiscal notes without a
written disclosure included with the fiscal note.

The bill changes the terms "management audit" and "program audit"
to "program evaluation" and changes the requirements for program
evaluations.  The Oversight Division retains the responsibility
of executing and preparing program evaluations.  Employees of the
Oversight Division will be bound by oath and subject to criminal
penalties of imprisonment of at least five years, a fine of at
least $100 or imprisonment in the county jail of at least 12
months, or both for any violation of his or her oath of office.

The provisions regarding the preparation of fiscal notes become
effective January 1, 2009.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:11 pm