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The Silver Haired Legislature Lillian
Metzger, Chair Northeast Missouri Area Agency on Aging Delegation |
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the Silver Haired Legislature?
The Silver Haired Legislature (SHL) is a formally elected body of citizens 60 years of age and older that promotes conscientious legislative advocacy for Missouri's older adults. All members are volunteers who serve without pay.
Elections are held every May at the local Area Agencies on Aging nutrition or senior centers. Senior citizens elect three senators and 12 representatives. Following elections, the legislators meet to elect officers and begin to determine the needs of seniors in their districts. They then draw up and prepare bills and resolutions for presentation at the statewide conference in the fall.
How Does the Silver Haired Legislature Work?
The SHL meets for three days in autumn to conduct a model legislative session. At that time, members present, debate and vote on a pre-prepared docket of bills and resolutions that concern legislation which affects the lives of not only the elderly, but all Missouri citizens.
From the docket, five bills having the highest priority are selected as the main focus in the Missouri General Assembly for the upcoming year.
After the session, SHL delegates return to their respective areas and begin to talk to their legislators about the recent session and about possibly becoming a sponsor for the priority bills as well as other bills that passed.
They also give presentations to their local senior center groups and other organizations interested in senior issues. Many also go to Jefferson City to testify before legislative committees when a particular bill is being considered.
The Mid-East Area Agency on Aging is one of the 10 Area Agencies on Aging in Missouri, each of which is a sponsor of the Silver Haired Legislature. Funding is provided by the Missouri Division of Senior Services through the Older Americans Act. Silver Haired Legislators from NEAAA represent the counties of Adair, Clark, Knox, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Ralls, Randolph, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby and Warren.
Which of the Silver Haired Legislature Priorities Have Become Law?
Over the past several years, the Silver Haired Legislature has grown in visibility and esteem. Many priority bills have passed in the years since SHL was established in 1972. Some of those include:
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*passed by the Legislature, but rejected by voters |
For more information about the Silver Haired Legislature and its priorities, contact any NEMOAAA Silver Haired Legislator or the Northeast Area Agency on Aging, 660-665-4682 or 1-800-644-6338 or mail us.
NEMO AAA
815 N. Osteopathy
Kirksville, MO. 63501
1-800-664-6338
1-660-665-4682
