SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 53
WHEREAS, the state's child abuse and neglect hotline and investigation system pursuant to chapter 210, RSMo, was established to promote the safety of children and the integrity and preservation of their families through the conducting of investigations or family assessments and by providing services in response to reports of child abuse or neglect; and
WHEREAS, while the child abuse and neglect hotline system has been in place for many years, the general assembly has not made a comprehensive analysis of the system since its inception; and
WHEREAS, to ensure that the child abuse and neglect hotline system is in actuality promoting the safety of children, preserving families, and providing adequate services in response to reports of child abuse or neglect, a comprehensive analysis of the system should be made:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Senate, Ninety-first General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that a Joint Committee of the General Assembly be created to be composed of five members of the House of Representatives, with three members to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and two members appointed by the Minority Floor Leader of the House of Representatives, and five members of the Senate, with three members appointed by the President Pro Tem of the Senate and two members appointed by the Minority Floor Leader of the Senate. Members of the committee shall be appointed within five legislative days of the enactment of this resolution and said committee shall be authorized to function immediately upon the formation of said committee; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that said committee make a comprehensive analysis of the child abuse and neglect hotline system established in chapter 210, RSMo, including the solicitation of information from appropriate state agencies, juvenile officers, law enforcement, and the public regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of the system, possible abuses in the system, complaints and grievances from persons affected by the system, and any recommendations for improvement of such system; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee be authorized to hold hearings as it deems advisable, and that the staffs of House Research, Senate Research, and the Committee on Legislative Research provide such legal, research, clerical, technical and bill drafting services 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 recommendations and findings to the Missouri General Assembly by January 1, 2003, and the authority of such committee shall terminate on December 31, 2002.