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2001 SESSION

013056824
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 616
Offered January 10, 2001
Prefiled January 10, 2001
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study control of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority police force.
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Patrons-- Marshall and Moran
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority (MWAA) was established by interstate compact to acquire, by lease or otherwise, the two airports known as Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport, and to operate those airports in the public interest; and

WHEREAS, along with other powers and responsibilities associated with this mission, MWAA is authorized "to establish and maintain a regular police force and to confer police powers to be exercised with respect to offenses occurring on the Authority Facilities upon its employees meeting the minimum requirements of the Department of Criminal Justice Services"; and

WHEREAS, development and implementation of policies regarding and day to day operations and control of the MWAA police force reside with MWAA's chief executive officer, and not with the Virginia Superintendent of State Police or the chief of any local police force in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, it may be both desirable, feasible, and in the public interest that such responsibilities be vested with the Superintendent of State Police, and not with an airport administrator; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study control of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority police force. The joint subcommittee shall be composed of 10 members as follows: six members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker, and four members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall consider whether the public health, safety, and welfare are best served by the present vesting of control of the MWAA police force in MWAA's Chief executive officer, or whether the public interest might better be served by vesting such control in the Superintendent of State Police.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $ 12,500.

The Division of Legislative Services shall provide staff support for the study. Technical assistance shall be provided by Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Department of State Police. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2002 Session of 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.