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2002 SESSION

020523836
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 159
Offered January 9, 2002
Prefiled January 9, 2002
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the operations, practices, duties, and funding of the Commonwealth’s boards, commissions, councils and other governmental entities in the legislative and executive branches.
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Patron-- McDonnell
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the best method for instilling confidence in the government of the Commonwealth is to ensure that the government is accountable to its citizenry; and

WHEREAS, all operations of state government must demonstrate this accountability by showing its citizens what they are receiving from the use of public funds, how these expenditures benefit their lives or the lives of those they care about, and how efficiently and effectively the funds are used; and

WHEREAS, it is important to ensure that boards, commissions, councils and other governmental entities in the executive and legislative branches of government are accountable and operating as statutorily authorized; and

WHEREAS, some governmental entities have never been reviewed during their existence and others have not been reviewed for a long time; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study the operations, practices, duties, and funding of the Commonwealth's boards, commissions, councils and other governmental entities in the legislative and executive branches. The joint subcommittee shall be composed of 10 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; 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 (i) examine the history, budget, and current activities of each governmental entity, (ii) determine whether duplicative functions and activities exist, (iii) determine whether the entity is funded at appropriate levels, (iv) compare and evaluate the entity's work and results with its stated statutory mission, and (v) make recommendations for consolidation, elimination, reduction, or increase of activities and funding of each entity based upon the review.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $25,000.

The Division of Legislative Services and the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall provide staff support for the study. Technical assistance shall be provided by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its work by November 30, 2003, and shall submit its written findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2004 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.