Legislative Hearing Alert:

What: SJR 19 Modifies the membership composition and terms of service of the commissioners on the Conservation Commission.
Date: Wednesday, January 13
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: SCR 1

A hearing is being held tomorrow, Wednesday, January 13 at 1:00 p.m. in room SCR 1, on Senate Joint Resolution 19. This resolution would increase the membership of the conservation commission from four members to eight, and requires members to be appointed from each of the eight conservation regions.

The Conservation Federation of Missouri believes it would be a mistake to change the current composition of the Conservation Commission by increasing the membership to eight and requiring members to be appointed from each of the eight conservation regions. The current structure has served our state well for 80 and is not in need of being altered. A regionalized commission of eight would essentially politicize the commission by creating constituencies based on regional representation for each commissioner, causing infighting over resource allocations, as has been documented in states with similar regional commissions.

Further, this proposed constitutional amendment limits the number of members that are independent of any political party to the number of independents elected as part of Missouri’s congressional delegation in the most recent presidential election. This proposed constitutional amendment also limits the time a member may serve on the Commission to the earlier of either two terms or twelve years.

This resolution is substantially similar to SJR 1 (2015), SJR 29 (2014), and SJR 27 (2012).

Please consider attending the hearing to testify. In addition, please login to the Legislative Action Center to cast your vote for this bill and to leave a comment.

To read the full text of the bill, click here.