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2001 SESSION


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 393
Continuing the Joint Subcommittee Studying Campaign Finance Reform Issues.

Agreed to by the Senate, February 22, 2001
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 21, 2001

WHEREAS, House Joint Resolution No. 213 (2000) and Senate Joint Resolution No. 80 (2000) established a joint subcommittee to study campaign finance; and

WHEREAS, the joint subcommittee held four meetings and recommended legislation to the 2001 Session to ensure fuller and more accurate campaign disclosure, provide review of statewide and General Assembly candidate campaign reports, and strengthen enforcement of violations of the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act; and

WHEREAS, due to the continuing complexity of the issues and time constraints, the joint subcommittee was not able to conduct statewide public hearings and complete its examination of all issues it was charged to study; and

WHEREAS, since 1996, significant reforms in campaign finance law have been underway, including the passage of "clean elections" acts in Maine, Vermont, Arizona, and Massachusetts; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth needs further investigation and discussion of these reforms and other ways to control the spiraling costs of campaigns and increase public confidence in the campaign finance system; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Joint Subcommittee Studying Campaign Finance Reform Issues be continued. The joint subcommittee shall consist of 10 legislative members and three nonlegislative citizen members as follows: six members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; four members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; one member of a local electoral board and one citizen to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and one citizen to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections.

In its continuing examination of Virginia's campaign finance laws, the joint subcommittee shall hold public hearings across the state to solicit comments on ways to control the spiraling cost of campaigns and promote public confidence in Virginia's campaign financing, including campaign contribution and voluntary spending limits.

Staffing shall continue to be provided by the Division of Legislative Services.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance as requested by the joint subcommittee.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $15,500.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its work in time to submit its written findings and recommendations by November 30, 2001, 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.