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2001 SESSION

017118760
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 543
Offered January 10, 2001
Prefiled January 2, 2001
Directing the Legislative Support Commission and other members from certain standing committees of the General Assembly to examine the educational activities, including Capitol tours, that take place in and around the Capitol for school groups, individual students, seniors, and other visitors.
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Patron-- Hamilton
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the Legislative Support Commission is charged with the statutory responsibility of supervising the operation of the General Assembly Building, the Capitol Hostesses, the Capitol Police Force and entering into certain contracts and agreements; and

WHEREAS, Virginia's Capitol and its related activities and buildings offer a prime opportunity to teach Virginians and other visitors about the history and significance of the oldest continuous sitting legislative body in the New World; and

WHEREAS, the Capitol Building is the City of Richmond's number one tourist attraction with over 200,000 persons attending Capitol tours annually; and

WHEREAS, a more structured, educational approach for school groups and other visitors may benefit members of the General Assembly, legislative staff, the Capitol Police, and the citizens of Virginia; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Legislative Support Commission, two members from the Education Committee of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; and one member of the Senate Committee on Education and Health, appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections, are requested to examine the educational activities, including Capitol tours, that take place in and around the Capitol for school groups, individual students, seniors, and other visitors.

In conducting its examination, the group shall determine the problems existing in the current processes for conducting tours and in dealing with the large numbers of students and visitors that come to the Capitol each year, particularly during the legislative sessions when space and member and staff time is limited, and investigate and develop alternatives to the present process for dealing with these large crowds. The examination shall approach the Capitol complex as an educational opportunity to present its history to visitors and students by providing a quality-controlled, standardized tour so as to enhance the working of the General Assembly by controlling noise, congestion and security during the sessions and interims.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $7,500, such costs to be proportionately divided between the Clerk's office of the House of Delegates and the Senate.

The Division of Legislative Services shall provide staff support for the study. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance upon request.

The Commission's work shall be completed by November 1, 2001 and written findings and recommendations presented to the Governor and the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.