GOVERNOR'S VETO (May 19, 2000)

Pursuant to Section 6 of Article V of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 419.

This legislation provides express authority for only one locality, James City County, to appoint members of its local wetlands board to its Chesapeake Bay Act appeals board. However, under existing law, several localities have appointed members of their local wetlands boards to serve on their Chesapeake Bay Act appeals boards. This legislation would call into question the authority of localities other than James City County to make such appointments.

In an effort to provide equal authority to all localities impacted by this legislation, I proposed an amendment to provide express authority for any locality to allow dual membership on its local wetlands board and its Chesapeake Bay Act appeals board. This amendment was rejected by the House of Delegates during the reconvened session. Therefore, I return this legislation without my approval.

GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION

1. Page 1, enrolled, line 21, after seq.)

strike

in a county with a population between 34,500 and 35,000

2. Page 1, enrolled, line 22, after board.

insert

However, members of the wetlands board may not constitute a majority of the members of any local board created to implement the provisions of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act (§ 10.1-2100 et seq.).