Section 21.820

Title III LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

Chapter 21

Effective - 28 Aug 2004   

  21.820.  Joint committee on government accountability established, members, duties, meetings, staff, report. — 1.  There is established a joint committee of the general assembly to be known as the "Joint Committee on Government Accountability" to be composed of seven members of the senate and seven members of the house of representatives.  The senate members of the joint committee shall be appointed by the president pro tem and minority floor leader of the senate and the house members shall be appointed by the speaker and minority floor leader of the house of representatives.  Each member shall be appointed for a term of two years or until a successor has been appointed to fill the member's place when his or her term has expired.  Members may be reappointed to the joint committee.  No party shall be represented by more than four members from the house of representatives nor more than four members from the senate.  A majority of the committee shall constitute a quorum, but the concurrence of a majority of the members shall be required for the determination of any matter within the committee's duties.

  2.  The joint committee shall:

  (1)  Make a continuing study and analysis of inefficiencies, fraud and misconduct in state government;

  (2)  Determine the appropriate method of obtaining data on each entity of state government that will provide relevant information at least biennially for the identification of potential and actual inefficiencies in each state entity's function, duties, and performance;

  (3)  Determine from its study and analysis the need for changes in statutory law, rules, or policies; and

  (4)  Make any other recommendation to the general assembly necessary to reduce inefficiencies in state government;

  (5)  Identify and acknowledge government agencies and officials who perform functions in an efficient and effective manner.

  3.  The joint committee shall meet within thirty days after its creation and organize by selecting a chairperson and a vice chairperson, one of whom shall be a member of the senate and the other a member of the house of representatives.  The chairperson shall alternate between members of the house and senate every two years after the committee's organization.

  4.  The committee shall meet at least four times a year. The committee may meet at locations other than Jefferson City when the committee deems it necessary.

  5.  The committee shall be staffed by legislative personnel as is deemed necessary to assist the committee in the performance of its duties.

  6.  The members of the committee shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement from the joint contingent fund for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.

  7.  It shall be the duty of the committee to compile a full report of its activities for submission to the general assembly.  The report shall be submitted not later than the fifteenth of January of each year in which the general assembly convenes in regular session and shall include any recommendations which the committee may have for legislative action as well as any recommendations for administrative or procedural changes in the internal management or organization of state government agencies and departments.  Copies of the report containing such recommendations shall be sent to the appropriate directors of state or local government agencies or departments included in the report.

­­--------

(L. 2004 H.B. 1599)