FIRST REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 401
91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR SINGLETON.
Read 1st time February 1, 2001, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
1660S.01I
AN ACT
To amend chapter 26, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to a multicultural program and committee within the office of the lieutenant governor, with an emergency clause.
Section A. Chapter 26, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 26.730, to read as follows:
26.730. 1. There is hereby established within the office of the lieutenant governor a "Missouri Multicultural Center and Program", which shall serve as an all-purpose all-encompassing resource for local political subdivisions and government agencies, including but not limited to counties, municipalities, judicial circuits, law enforcement agencies, school districts, public health agencies or any other political subdivisions or local government agencies, state governmental agencies, nongovernmental community agencies, businesses, advocacy groups, immigrants and refugees in this state. The center and program, as directed by the multicultural citizens' advisory committee, may develop outreach materials, in various formats, and shall serve as a communicating link to direct persons to where materials are available, which describe the resources, opportunities, informational sites or other informational sources that the committee determines would be of assistance to the entities listed in this subsection. The materials and links described in this subsection shall, at minimum, be made available in electronic format, or in any other form the committee deems appropriate. The center and program may contract for the provisions of the information and services described in this subsection with any outside source it deems capable of adequately providing such services and information.
2. There is hereby established within the office of the lieutenant governor, a "Multicultural Citizens' Advisory Committee", which shall develop and implement, or facilitate the development and implementation of, the program authorized pursuant to subsection 1 of this section. The committee shall consist of twenty-five members, to be appointed as follows:
(1) Five persons employed by state executive departments, one from each of the following five departments, to be designated by the director of the appropriate department: elementary and secondary education, social services, health, economic development and public safety;
(2) Four members of the general assembly, as follows:
(a) Two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, one from each major political party; and
(b) Two members of the senate appointed by the president pro tem of the senate, one from each major political party;
(3) Fifteen citizens of this state who work directly with the multicultural population of this state, appointed by the governor and with the advice and consent of the senate; and
(4) The lieutenant governor, who shall serve as an ex officio member of the committee.
3. The initial members of the committee shall be appointed between September 1, 2001, and December 31, 2001. Beginning January 1, 2002, all appointees shall become members of the committee, and the lieutenant governor shall cause the committee to meet no later than sixty days after that date. Upon the first meeting constituting a quorum of the committee, the committee shall select one of its members as chair. The chair shall serve as chair for two years, and the committee may re-elect the chair for an additional term or select a new chair at the expiration of such term. The committee shall meet on a regular basis until the program described in this section has been developed, and then the committee shall meet only as needed. The members of the committee shall serve four-year terms, except that the first term of the following members shall be for two years:
(1) The members appointed by the department of economic development and the department of public safety;
(2) One member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one member appointed by the president pro tem of the senate, as selected by the speaker and the president pro tem prior to the appointment of the committee member;
(3) Eight members appointed by the governor, as selected by the governor prior to the appointment of the committee member.
4. Vacancies on the committee shall be filled as soon as is practicable by the person charged with the appointment of the person who vacated the position. Members of the committee shall not be compensated for their duties as members, but shall receive reimbursement for all actual and necessary expenses incurred in the course of performing such duties, provided that the lieutenant governor shall not receive such expenses.
5. The committee shall submit to the lieutenant governor a list of three names, one of which the lieutenant governor shall employ as an executive director, who shall serve as the executive officer of the committee. As a priority, the director shall have a background and knowledge of the transition faced by individuals with multicultural backgrounds moving to Missouri. The salary and office space for the executive director, as well as the expenses for committee hearings, shall be provided by the office of lieutenant governor.
Section B. Because immediate action is necessary to provide full, meaningful and expedited access for immigrants and refugees to the public services of this state, section 26.730 of this act is deemed necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, welfare, peace and safety, and is hereby declared to be an emergency act within the meaning of the constitution, and section 26.730 of this act shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and approval.