HCS HB 231 -- MISSOURI SENIOR ADVOCACY AND EFFICIENCY COMMISSION

SPONSOR:  Bruns (Portwood)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Senior
Citizen Advocacy by a vote of 10 to 0.

This substitute establishes within the Department of Health and
Senior Services the Missouri Senior Advocacy and Efficiency
Commission.  The substitute:

(1)  Specifies the membership of the commission and their terms
of service;

(2)  Allows for reasonable reimbursement for expenses incurred by
commission members for the performance of their official duties;

(3)  Requires the department to provide necessary staff for
administrative support of the commission;

(4)  Requires the commission to meet at least every 90 days;

(5)  Charges the commission to gather information pertaining to
the quality and efficiency of senior services offered by the
state, analyze statutes and administrative rules as to the
efficiency or lack thereof of certain programs, utilize staff of
the General Assembly to assist seniors in making application for
federal prescription drug assistance, serve as a resource for
state and federal pharmaceutical benefits, and maintain a web
site and toll-free senior advocacy support telephone number;

(6)  Requires the commission to submit a report to the Governor,
General Assembly, and the department by February 1, 2007, and
every February 1 thereafter; and

(7)  Allows the department to accept federal moneys, gifts, and
donations on behalf of the commission.

The provisions of the substitute will terminate on December 31,
2007, unless reauthorized.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of Less than
$157,397 in FY 2006, Less than $162,742 in FY 2007, and Less than
$164,417 in FY 2008.  No impact on Other State Funds in FY 2006,
FY 2007, and FY 2008.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the Missouri Senior Advocacy and
Efficiency Commission will consolidate eight different
commissions relating to seniors within the Department of Health
and Senior Services.  Programs will operate more efficiently
because the commission will be able to design ways to utilize
staff, streamline the application process, and be more informed
on the issues.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Portwood; and
Independent Living Center Southeast Missouri.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Dominic Lackey, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 25, 2005 at 1:18 pm