EXECUTIVE ORDER

18-12

WHEREAS, the United States Constitution mandates that the nation undertake a census of population every ten years; and

WHEREAS, the Census requires years of planning and requires more than 500,000 temporary workers; and

WHEREAS, it is vitally important that every household completes a Census form; and

WHEREAS, the Census is used to apportion seats in the United States House of Representatives; and

WHEREAS, one percent of Missouri's population equates to one billion dollars of federal funding per decade; and

WHEREAS, the State of Missouri faces the possible loss of a seat in the United States House of Representatives and loss of federal funding based on Missouri's population counts relative to those of all other states; and

WHEREAS, federal funds are vital to Missourians and distributed based on population counts collected during the Census; and

WHEREAS, the United States Census Bureau encourages all states to form a Complete Count Committee with the goals of heightening awareness about the 2020 Census and encouraging the populace to participate in the United States Census of Population; and

WHEREAS, the State of Missouri is committed to ensuring Missouri has an accurate count of its citizens during the 2020 Census.

NOW, THEREFORE, I MICHAEL L. PARSON, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the state of Missouri, do hereby order the establishment of the Missouri 2020 Complete Count Committee.

I hereby charge the Committee with heightening Missouri's awareness of the 2020 Census, encouraging participation in the process, developing targeted community outreach, and working to ensure that every resident is counted:

  1. The Governor shall designate a chairperson of the committee.
  2. No more than 30 additional members will be appointed by the Governor. Additional appointments will represent Missouri's diverse population. Membership on the committee will be bipartisan and representative of the State. The State Demographer will be one of the members.
  3. The Committee shall begin work on an action plan soon after its formation that will identify specific areas or groups within Missouri, which are isolated geographically, linguistically, racially, culturally, or otherwise, that may be hard to enumerate. The plan also should identify strategies to overcome recognized barriers; develop campaigns targeted toward the identified areas or groups, which will build awareness of Census 2020, and encourage cooperation with enumerators.
  4. The chair, in consultation with the Governor, will decide if the committee will have subcommittees. The purpose of such subcommittees will be to help the committee better achieve its mission on a particular geographic region or group of citizens within the State of Missouri.
  5. The Chair, in consultation with the committee, shall establish a set of by-laws and rules that govern the committee.
  6. The Committee members shall not be compensated for their services other than reimbursement of costs directly associated with the execution of their duties, subject to appropriations.
  7. The Committee is authorized to submit requests for appropriations through the Commissioner of Administration necessary to carry out its charge.
  8. The Committee should fulfill this charge in the most cost-effective manner possible.
  9. Staff support will be provided by the Office of Administration.
  10. The Committee shall meet at least once quarterly until December 15, 2019, and as often as is required thereafter to complete this charge.
  11. The Committee shall provide quarterly reports to the Governor on its activities beginning in 2019.
  12. Whenever possible, the Committee should coordinate its efforts with those of the United States Bureau of Census and Complete Count Committees established at the local or sub-state level.
  13. The Committee shall submit a final report to the Governor summarizing its activities and suggesting improvements to Missouri's Complete Count Committee for Census 2030.
  14. The Committee will complete its work and submit its final report by August 1, 2020.
  15. Executive Order 09-05 is hereby superseded and replaced by this Executive Order.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Missouri, in the City of Jefferson on this 18th day of December, 2018.

[Michael L. Parson's signature]
Michael L. Parson
Governor

ATTEST:

[Jay Ashcroft's signature]
John R. Ashcroft
Secretary of State

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