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2002 SESSION

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SB 460 Roanoke River Basin Bi-State Commission; created.

Introduced by: Charles R. Hawkins | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS ENACTED WITH GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION: (all summaries)

Virginia Roanoke River Basin Advisory Committee and the Roanoke River Basin Bi-State Commission. Establishes the Virginia Roanoke River Basin Advisory Committee and the Roanoke River Basin Bi-State Commission. The Virginia Roanoke River Basin Advisory Committee will advise and assist the Virginia delegation to the Roanoke River Basin Bi-State Commission in the performance of its duties. The advisory committee is composed of two members of the Senate and four members of the House of Delegates, whose districts include a part of the Virginia portion of the Roanoke River Basin; the Virginia member of the U.S. House of Representatives, whose district includes the largest portion of the Basin or his designee, if he elects to serve on the advisory committee; 11 members selected by the legislative members of the advisory committee such that two are chosen from recommendations of each of the following: the Central Virginia Planning District Commission, the West Piedmont Planning District Commission, the Southside Planning District Commission, the Piedmont Planning District Commission, and the Roanoke Valley Alleghany Planning District Commission; and one member selected by the legislative members of the advisory committee from among recommendations submitted by the New River Valley Planning District Commission. All persons recommended by the planning district commissions to serve as members of the advisory committee must reside within the Basin's watershed, represent the diversity of interests in the jurisdictions comprising the respective planning district commissions, and demonstrate interest, experience, or expertise in water-related Basin issues. In addition, persons appointed to the advisory committee to represent the interests of the State of North Carolina will serve as non-voting ex officio members.

The Roanoke River Basin Bi-State Commission is composed of 18 members, with nine members representing Virginia and nine members representing North Carolina. The Virginia delegation to the Bi-State Commission includes the six legislative members of the advisory committee and three nonlegislative members of the advisory committee appointed by the Governor. State and federal legislators from both states, whose districts include a portion of the Roanoke River Basin who are not appointed to the Commission, may serve as nonvoting, ex-officio members of the Commission. All persons appointed to the Commission must live within the Basin's watershed. The Commission has no regulatory authority. Its purposes include: (i) providing guidance and making recommendations to local, state and federal legislative and administrative bodies on the use, stewardship, and enhancement of the water and other natural resources within the Basin; (ii) providing a forum for discussion of issues affecting the Basin's water quality, water quantity, and natural resources; (iii) promoting communication, coordination, and education among stakeholders; (iv) identifying Basin-related problems and recommending solutions; and (v) undertake studies and prepare, publish, and disseminate information through reports, and other communications, related to water quantity, water quality and other natural resources of the Basin.

This bill also provides that (i) provisions pertaining to the State of North Carolina will become effective upon the enactment of comparable legislation by the North Carolina General Assembly; (ii) the Virginia Roanoke River Basin Advisory Committee may organize and commence its work, upon the effective date of this act; and (iii) the Virginia Roanoke River Basin Advisory Committee will assume the powers and duties of the Bi-State Commission, if the General Assembly of North Carolina fails to enact or repeals legislation creating the Roanoke River Basin Bi-State Commission.

This bill is almost identical to HB 1279 except that the membership of the advisory committee is established first and compensation is provided for the legislative members of the advisory committee.


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