0491S.06T
SENATE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 7
WHEREAS, the State of Missouri is currently facing a budget crisis and has limited resources for state spending; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly is a co-equal branch of state government and is responsible for the appropriation of state funds for various governmental entities; and
WHEREAS, the public expects and requires the General Assembly to ensure that state resources are being used as efficiently and effectively as possible; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly is responsible for the appropriation of funds to support the operation of the forty-five judicial circuits of this state; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly has a duty to ensure that funds appropriated to the forty-five judicial circuits are being used efficiently and effectively:
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the Missouri Senate, Ninety-Second General Assembly, First Regular Session, the House of Representatives concurring therein, hereby establish the Joint Interim Committee on Judicial Resources in Missouri; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Committee shall be composed of two majority members and one minority member of the Senate, to be appointed by the President Pro Tem of the Senate; two majority members and one minority member of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and one appellate judge, one circuit judge, and one associate circuit judge, to be appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Committee shall conduct a comprehensive analysis of the activities of the state's forty-five judicial circuits, including an examination of the caseload of each circuit judge, associate circuit judge, and any commissioner of the circuit, examine any other issues that the committee deems relevant, and make any recommendations for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the judicial circuits; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Committee be authorized to hold hearings as it deems advisable, and may solicit any input or information necessary to fulfill its obligations from the Office of State Courts Administrator, any judicial circuit within the state and the Missouri Bar; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the staffs of House Research, Senate Research and the Committee on Legislative Research shall provide such legal, research, clerical, technical and bill drafting services as the Committee may require in the performance of its duties; 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, 2004, and the authority of such Committee shall terminate on December 31, 2003; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Missouri Senate be instructed to prepare properly inscribed copies of this resolution for the President Pro Tem of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the office of the State Courts Administrator which office shall supply a copy to each judicial circuit in the state, and the Missouri Bar Association.