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WHEREAS, at the general election of 1992, seventy-five percent of MIssouri voters adopted a measure to limit the terms of members of the Missouri General Assembly; and
WHEREAS, all legislators elected after 1992 are limited to a maximum of eight years, or four terms, in the Missouri House of Representatives, and eight years, or two terms, in the Missouri Senate; and
WHEREAS, while the merits of legislative term limits can and will be debated by numerous citizens and interested parties, there is no question: that term limits are part of the Missouri Constitution; that this law has already shortened the terms of some MIssouri legislators; and that these limits will produce substantial repercussions on state government in the foreseeable future; and
WHEREAS, it would be a responsible and prudent action to prepare for the impending impact of legislative term limits; and
WHEREAS, it should be determined whether term limits will affect the balance of power between the legislative, executive and judicial branches, and if so, what measures should be taken to preserve the strength of the legislative branch; and
WHEREAS, it should also be determined whether term limits are likely to lead to an increased influence for state government employees and governmental consultants, or lobbyists, and, if so, if any preparations should be made to counteract this increased influence; and
WHEREAS, because of term limits, the citizen-members of the Missouri General Assembly will be expected to assume leadership positions and committee chairmanships at a faster rate than is currently expected even though they will have less time to study issues or learn the legislative process; and
WHEREAS, the potential impact on urban, suburban and rural issues and representation should be studied; and
WHEREAS, it could be of great assistance in preparing for the impact of term limits if ideas recommendations and information could be garnered from present and former legislators, political scientists, interested citizens and scholars who have previously studied this issue and are familiar with term limit ramifications in other states:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Missouri House of Representatives of the Ninetieth General Assembly, First Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, that a Joint Committee on Legislative Term Limits be created to study the likely effects of term limits and to make recommendations on how best to prepare for the impact of term limits; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee be comprised of ten members, five members to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and five members to be appointed by the President Pro Tem of the Senate, with no more than three House members or three Senate members being from the same political party and with at least two House members and two Senate members first being elected in or prior to November 1994 and at least one House member and one Senate member first being elected after November 1994; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee be authorized to hold hearings and investigations as it deems advisable, and that the staffs of House Research, Senate Research and the Committee on Legislative Research provide any technical or clerical assistance requested by the committee and the members of the committee shall receive reimbursement for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties for the committee; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee report its recommendations and findings to the Missouri General Assembly by January 1, 2000, and that the authority of such committee shall terminate on December 31, 2000; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives be instructed to prepare properly inscribed copies of this resolution for the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tem of the Senate.