Relating to the compensation of elected officials, with a contingent effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, AS FOLLOWS:

     Section 1. 1. The Missouri Citizens' Commission on the Compensation for Elected Officials, established pursuant to article XIII, section 3 of the Missouri Constitution, shall be selected in the following manner:

     (1) Two members shall be legislative members of the general assembly, appointed jointly by the speaker of the house and president pro tem of the senate;

     (2) Two members shall be locally elected officials of political subdivisions, to be appointed by the governor. Such members must be selected in such a manner that no more than two of the legislative and locally elected officials are of the same political party;

     (3) Five members appointed by the governor with advice and consent of the senate. When appointing such members, the governor shall strive to choose members who are from diverse geographic, partisan and demographic backgrounds. Such members shall have experience relevant to the function of the commission.

     2. Members of the commission shall hold office for a term of two years and a new commission shall be appointed to a term of five years thereafter. No person may be appointed to the commission more than once. No member of the commission may be removed from office during the term for which appointed except for incapacity, incompetence, neglect of duty, malfeasance in office, or for a disqualifying change of residence. Any action for removal shall be brought by the attorney general at the request of the governor and shall be heard in the circuit court for the county in which the accused commission member resides.

     3. The first commission appointments shall be made by April 30, 2000.

     4. Upon a vacancy on the commission, a successor shall be selected and appointed to fill the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment was made. The appointment to fill a vacancy shall be made within thirty days of the date the position becomes vacant.

     5. Members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties from appropriations made for that purpose.

     6. Recommendations of the commissions pursuant to article XIII, section 3 of the Missouri Constitution shall be made by December 1, 2001. The general assembly may accept, modify or reject the recommendations by concurrent resolution, signed by the governor. The general assembly shall not approve salary or compensation greater than that recommended by the commission. The commission's recommendations shall become effective on July 1, 2002, and every five years thereafter, unless otherwise modified or rejected by the general assembly with the signature of the governor.

     7. Members of the commission may testify before legislative and other committees, but shall not lobby or take any position for or against the recommendations or any proposed modification thereof.

     8. The commission shall be assigned to the office of administration. The commission shall terminate on January 1, 2001.

     Section B. The provisions of section 1 of this act shall become effective upon the passage of the constitutional amendment creating the Missouri Citizens' Commission on the Compensation for Elected Officials.