Section 21.801

Title III LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

Chapter 21

Effective - 11 Jul 2011, 3 histories, see footnote   (history) 

  21.801.  Committee created, members, meetings — report, content — subcommittee created — expiration. — 1. There is hereby established a joint committee of the general assembly, which shall be known as the "Joint Committee on Urban Agriculture".

  2. The joint committee shall be composed of ten members. Five members shall be from the senate, with three members appointed by the president pro tem of the senate and two members appointed by the minority leader of the senate. Five members shall be from the house of representatives, with three members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and two members appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives. All members of the Missouri general assembly not appointed in this subsection may be nonvoting, ex officio members of the joint committee. A majority of the appointed members of the joint committee shall constitute a quorum.

  3. The joint committee shall meet within thirty days after it becomes effective 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 joint committee may meet at locations other than Jefferson City when the committee deems it necessary.

  4. The committee shall prepare a final report together with its recommendations for any legislative action deemed necessary for submission to the speaker of the house of representatives, president pro tem of the senate, and the governor by December 31, 2012. The report shall study and make recommendations regarding the impact of urban farm cooperatives, vertical farming, and sustainable living communities in this state and shall examine the following:

  (1) Trends in urban farming, including vertical farming, urban farm cooperatives, and sustainable living communities;

  (2) Existing services, resources, and capacity for such urban farming;

  (3) The impact on communities and populations affected; and

  (4) Any needed state legislation, policies, or regulations.

  5. The committee shall hold a minimum of one meeting at three urban regions in the state of Missouri to seek public input. The committee may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the committee considers advisable to carry out the provisions of this section.

  6. The joint committee may solicit input and information necessary to fulfill its obligations from the general public, any state department, state agency, political subdivision of this state, or anyone else it deems advisable.

  7. (1) The joint committee shall establish a subcommittee to be known as the "Urban Farming Advisory Subcommittee" to study, analyze, and provide background information, recommendations, and findings in preparation of each of the public hearings called by the joint committee. The subcommittee may also review draft recommendations of the joint committee, if requested. The subcommittee will meet as often as necessary to fulfill the requirements and time frames set by the joint committee.

  (2) The subcommittee shall consist of twelve members, as follows:

  (a) Four members shall include the directors of the following departments, or their designees:

  a. Agriculture, who shall serve as chair of the subcommittee;

  b. Economic development;

  c. Health and senior services; and

  d. Natural resources; and

  (b) The chair shall select eight additional members, subject to approval by a majority of the joint committee, who shall have experience in or represent organizations associated with at least one of the following areas:

  a. Sustainable energy;

  b. Farm policy;

  c. Urban botanical gardening;

  d. Sustainable agriculture;

  e. Urban farming or community gardening;

  f. Vertical farming;

  g. Agriculture policy or advocacy; and

  h. Urban development.

  8. Members of the committee and subcommittee shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses pertaining to the duties of the committee.

  9. The staffs of senate research, the joint committee on legislative research, and house research may provide such legal, research, clerical, technical, and bill drafting services as the joint committee may require in the performance of its duties.

  10. Any actual and necessary expenses of the joint committee, its members, and any staff assigned to the joint committee incurred by the joint committee shall be paid by the joint contingent fund.

  11. The provisions of this section shall expire on January 1, 2013.

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(L. 2010 H.B. 1848, A.L. 2011 S.B. 356)

Effective 7-11-11

Expires 1-01-13