1. There is established a permanent joint committee of the general assembly to be known as the “Joint Committee on Rural Economic Development” which shall be composed of five members of the senate, no more than three of which shall be from the majority party, appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate, and five members of the house of representatives, no more than three of which shall be from the majority party, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum. The members shall annually select one of the members to be the chair and one of the members to be the vice chair. The speaker of the house of representatives and the president pro tempore of the senate shall appoint the respective majority members. The minority leader of the house of representatives and the minority leader of the senate shall appoint the respective minority members. The members shall receive no additional compensation, but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties. No major party shall be represented on the committee by more than three members from the senate nor by more than three members from the house of representatives. The committee is authorized to meet and act year round and to employ the necessary personnel within the limits of appropriations. The staff of the committee on legislative research, house research, and senate research shall provide necessary clerical, research, fiscal, and legal services to the committee, as the committee may request.

2. It shall be the duty of the committee to:

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(1) Examine any trending population declines throughout rural counties in Missouri utilizing data from the last previous decennial census of the United States, including identifying any anomalous rural areas that saw population increases;

(2) Identify economic opportunities for third class counties, including identifying viable industries for rural areas of the state and businesses that are relocating from other states;

(3) Monitor the deployment and adoption of broadband internet in rural areas of the state;

(4) Examine the issue of restricted access to quality health care and insurance in rural areas of the state;

(5) Identify the need for and development of expanded learning opportunities in rural areas, including workforce development, skilled labor training, and online training;

(6) Examine infrastructure issues in rural areas in the state, including opportunities to mitigate geographical isolation and a review of transportation development plans to embolden economic vitality in rural areas of the state;

(7) Identify key contributors and solutions to poverty and unemployment trends in rural areas of the state;

(8) Develop policies to maximize existing state programs, including existing economic development tax credit programs and tourism programs; and

(9) Identify and examine any other issues that the committee determines to be affecting rural areas of the state.

3. The committee may compile a full report of its activities for submission to the general assembly, which shall include any recommendations which the committee may have for legislative action as well as any recommendations for administrative or procedural changes in the internal management or organization of state government agencies and departments. Copies of the report containing such recommendations shall be sent to the appropriate directors of state departments and agencies included in the report.

4. All state departments, commissions, and offices shall cooperate with and assist the committee in the performance of its duties and shall make available all books, records, and information requested.