SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 36
WHEREAS, research indicates that youth who drink before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking at age 21; and
WHEREAS, research indicates the median age at which children begin drinking in Missouri is 12.7 years old; and
WHEREAS, research indicates the highest prevalence of both binge and heavy drinking in recent years was for young adults aged 18 to 25, with the peak rate occurring at age 21; and
WHEREAS, research indicates teenagers and their parents are not well informed about alcohol's effects; and
WHEREAS, research indicates underage drinking is strongly correlated with sexual violence, automobile crashes, truancy, academic failure, dysfunctional family relationships, subsequent use of controlled substances, suicide, and other adverse consequences which take a heavy toll on our society:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by members of the Missouri Senate, Ninety-second General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the House of Representatives concurring therein, hereby create a Joint Interim Committee on Underage Drinking; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the joint interim committee shall study the current public and private efforts to combat underage drinking, evaluate their effectiveness, and make recommendations to the General Assembly on actions needed to attack successfully this great danger to our children; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the joint interim committee be authorized to call upon any department, office, division, or agency of this state to assist in gathering information pursuant to its objective; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the joint interim committee herein established shall consist of sixteen members, of which four shall be members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tem of the Senate, of which at least two shall be members of the minority party; four shall be members of the House of Representatives, of which two shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and two of which shall be members of the minority party appointed by the Minority Floor Leader, with approval of the Speaker of the House of Representatives; two shall be representatives of the medical community who specialize in alcohol abuse and prevention, one which shall be appointed by the President Pro Tem of the Senate and one which shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House; two shall be representatives of the law enforcement community who work with schools in the prevention of alcohol abuse, one which shall be appointed by the President Pro Tem of the Senate and one which shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House; two community advocates, one which shall be appointed by the President Pro Tem of the Senate and one which shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and two high school students between the ages of 16 and 18 years, one which shall be appointed by the President Pro Tem of the Senate and one which shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the President Pro Tem of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall collaborate to ensure that the membership of the joint interim committee reflects adequate minority and gender representation; 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 members of the joint interim committee shall be appointed by June 1, 2004; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the joint interim committee shall expire on December 31, 2004, and on that same date deliver a report of findings and recommendations to the General Assembly; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for the President Pro Tem of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.