Mo. Rev. Stat. § 21.771 — MO Code / Chapter 21 / Section 21.771
21.771 Joint committee established, members, duties, meetings — expiration date.
Status: in_force

21.771. Joint committee established, members, duties, meetings — expiration date. — 1. There is established a joint committee of the general assembly to be known as the "Joint Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect" 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. The appointment of each member shall continue during the member's term of office as a member of the general assembly or until a successor has been appointed to fill the member's place. 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 the state child abuse and neglect reporting and investigation system;

(2) Devise a plan for improving the structured decision making regarding the removal of a child from a home;

(3) Determine the additional personnel and resources necessary to adequately protect the children of this state and improve their welfare and the welfare of families;

(4) Address the need for additional foster care homes and to improve the quality of care provided to abused and neglected children in the custody of the state;

(5) Determine from its study and analysis the need for changes in statutory law;

(6) Make any other recommendation to the general assembly necessary to provide adequate protections for the children of our state; and

(7) Make recommendations on how to improve abuse and neglect proceedings including examining the role of the judge, children's division, the juvenile officer, the guardian ad litem, and the foster parents.

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 quarterly. 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 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 or local 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.

8. The provisions of this section shall expire on January 15, 2023.

(L. 2012 S.B. 628 merged with S.B. 636, A.L. 2014 H.B. 1092 merged with S.B. 869, A.L. 2017 S.B. 160) Expires 1-15-23