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2003 SESSION


CHAPTER 885
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-218, 2.2-220, 2.2-2424, 2.2-2503, 2.2-2506, 2.2-2628, 2.2-2666.1, 2.2-2705, 2.2-5601, 3.1-1108, 10.1-1018, 18.2-271.2, 20-108.2, 22.1-337, 22.1-354.1, 30-156, 30-173, 30-182, 32.1-73.7, 51.5-39.2, 56-579, 56-581.1, 56-585, 56-592, 56-592.1, 56-596, 62.1-69.34, 62.1-69.35, 62.1-69.38 and 62.1-69.43 of the Code of Virginia; to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 30 a chapter numbered 31, consisting of sections numbered 30-201 through 30-209, by adding in Title 30 a chapter numbered 32, consisting of sections numbered 30-210 through 30-217, and by adding in Chapter 5.4 of Title 62.1 sections numbered 62.1-69.35:1 and 62.1-69.35:2; and to repeal Article 3 (§§ 2.2-2709 and 2.2-2710) of Chapter 27 of Title 2.2 of the Code of Virginia and § 56-595 of the Code of Virginia; and to repeal Chapter 476 of the Acts of Assembly of 2002 and Chapter 657 of the Acts of Assembly of 2002, relating to certain requirements of collegial bodies; reports.
[S 1315]
Approved March 22, 2003

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 2.2-218, 2.2-220, 2.2-2424, 2.2-2503, 2.2-2506, 2.2-2628, 2.2-2666.1, 2.2-2705, 2.2-5601, 3.1-1108, 10.1-1018, 18.2-271.2, 20-108.2, 22.1-337, 22.1-354.1, 30-156, 30-173, 30-182, 32.1-73.7, 51.5-39.2, 56-579, 56-581.1, 56-585, 56-592, 56-592.1, 56-596, 62.1-69.34, 62.1-69.35, 62.1-69.38 and 62.1-69.43 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted, and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Title 30 a chapter numbered 31, consisting of sections numbered 30-201 through 30-209, by adding in Title 30 a chapter numbered 32, consisting of sections numbered 30-210 through 30-217, and by adding in Chapter 5.4 of Title 62.1 sections numbered 62.1-69.35:1 and 62.1-69.35:2 as follows:

§ 2.2-218. Development of strategies to restore the water quality and living resources of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

The Secretary shall coordinate the development of tributary plans designed to improve water quality and restore the living resources of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Each plan shall be tributary-specific in nature and prepared for the Potomac, Rappahannock, York, and James River Basins as well as the western coastal basins (comprising the small rivers on the western Virginia mainland that drain to the Chesapeake Bay, not including the Potomac, Rappahannock, York and James Rivers) and the eastern coastal basin (encompassing the creeks and rivers of the Eastern Shore of Virginia that are west of U.S. Route 13 and drain to the Chesapeake Bay). Each plan shall (i) address the reduction of nutrients and suspended solids, including sediments, entering the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and (ii) summarize other existing programs, strategies, goals and commitments for reducing toxics; the preservation and protection of living resources; and the enhancement of the amount of submerged aquatic vegetation, for each tributary basin and the Bay. The plans shall be developed in consultation with affected stakeholders, including, but not limited to, local government officials; wastewater treatment operators; seafood industry representatives; commercial and recreational fishing interests; developers; farmers; local, regional and statewide conservation and environmental interests; the Virginia Chesapeake Bay Partnership Council; and the Virginia delegation to the Chesapeake Bay Commission.

§ 2.2-220. Annual reporting.

The Secretary shall report by November 1 of each year to the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Its Tributaries Natural Resources, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources, the House Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Finance, and the Virginia delegation to the Chesapeake Bay Commission and the Virginia Chesapeake Bay Partnership Council on progress made in the development and implementation of each plan. The annual report shall include, but not be limited to:

1. An analysis of actions taken and proposed and their relation to the timetables and programmatic and environmental benchmarks and indicators.

2. The results and analyses of quantitative or qualitative tests or studies, including but not limited to water quality monitoring and submerged aquatic vegetation surveys, which relate to actual resource improvements in each tributary. The results and analyses are to be clearly related to designated portions of each tributary.

3. A complete summary of public comments received on each plan.

4. The current or revised cost estimates for implementation of the plans.

5. The status of Virginia's strategies as compared to the development, content and implementation of tributary strategies by the other jurisdictions that are signatories to the Chesapeake Bay Agreement.

§ 2.2-2424. Virginia-Israel Advisory Board; purpose; membership; terms; compensation and expenses; staff; chairman's executive summary.

A. The Virginia-Israel Advisory Board (the "Board") is established as an advisory board, within the meaning of § 2.2-2100, in the executive branch of state government. The purpose of the Board shall be to advise the Governor on ways to improve economic and cultural links between the Commonwealth and the State of Israel, with a focus on the areas of commerce and trade, art and education, and general government.

B. The Board shall consist of thirty-one 31 members to be appointed that include 29 citizen members and two ex officio members as follows: six citizen members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, who may be members of the House of Delegates or other state or local elected officials; six citizen members appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections, who may be members of the Senate or other state or local elected officials; and thirteen 13 members appointed by the Governor who represent business, industry, education, the arts, and government; and the president, or his designee, of each of the four Jewish Community Federations serving the Richmond, Northern Virginia, Tidewater and Peninsula regions.; and the Secretaries Secretary of Commerce and Trade, and the Secretary of Education, or their designees, who shall serve as ex officio voting members of the Board.

C. Nonlegislative citizen members shall serve for terms of four years. Legislative members and the Secretaries of Commerce and Trade, and Education, or their designees, shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. Vacancies occurring other than by expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. Any member may be reappointed for successive terms.

D. The members of the Board shall elect a chairman and vice chairman annually from among its membership. The Board shall meet at such times as it deems appropriate or on call of the chairman. A majority of the members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.

E. Members shall receive no compensation for their services. However, all members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. Funding for the costs of the expenses of the members shall be provided by the Office of the Governor.

F. The Office of the Governor shall serve as staff to the Board.

G. The chairman of the Board shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Board no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

§ 2.2-2503. Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits; membership; terms; meetings; compensation and expenses; staff; chairman's executive summary.

A. The Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits (the "Commission") is established as an advisory commission within the meaning of § 2.2-2100, in the executive branch of state government. The purpose of the Commission shall be to advise the Governor and the General Assembly on the social and financial impact of current and proposed mandated benefits and providers, in the manner set forth in this article.

B. The Commission shall consist of sixteen 18 members to be appointed that include six legislative members, 10 nonlegislative citizen members, and two ex officio members as follows: ten one member of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and one member of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; two members of the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions and two members of the House Committee on Commerce and Labor appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; 10 nonlegislative citizen members shall be appointed by the Governor including that include one physician, one chief executive officer of a general acute care hospital, one allied health professional, one representative of small business, one representative of a major industry, one expert in the field of medical ethics, two representatives of the accident and health insurance industry, and two nonlegislative citizen members; and the State Commissioner of Health and the State Commissioner of Insurance, or their designees, who shall serve as ex officio nonvoting members. The Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections shall appoint one member from the Senate Committee on Education and Health and one member from the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor, and the Speaker of the House of Delegates shall appoint one member from the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions and one member from the House Committee on Corporations, Insurance and Banking. The State Commissioner of Health and the State Commissioner of Insurance shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members.

C. All nonlegislative citizen members shall be appointed for terms of four years each, except that appointments to fill vacancies shall be made for the unexpired terms. No person shall be eligible to serve for or during more than two successive four-year terms; but after the expiration of a term of two years or less, or after the expiration of the remainder of a term to which appointed to fill a vacancy, two additional four-year terms may be served by such a member if so appointed. Legislative and ex officio members shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. All members may be reappointed. However, no House member shall serve more than four consecutive two-year terms, no Senate member shall serve more than two consecutive four-year terms, and no nonlegislative citizen member shall serve more than two consecutive four-year terms. Vacancies occurring other than by expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner as the original appointments. The remainder of any term to which a member is appointed to fill a vacancy shall not constitute a term in determining the member's eligibility for reappointment.

D. The Commission shall meet regularly and at the request of the chairman, the majority of the voting members or the Governor. The Commission shall select elect a chairman and a vice chairman, as determined by the membership. A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum.

E. Legislative members of the Commission shall receive reimbursement such compensation as provided in § 30-19.12, and nonlegislative citizen members shall receive such compensation for the performance of their duties as provided in § 2.2-2813. All members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. Funding for the compensation and costs of expenses of the members shall be provided by the State Corporation Commission.

F. The Bureau of Insurance, the State Health Department, and such other state agencies as may be considered appropriate by the Commission shall provide staff assistance to the Commission.

G. The chairman of the Commission shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Commission no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

§ 2.2-2506. Virginia Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations; membership; terms; compensation and expenses; reports to Governor and General Assembly; chairman's executive summary.

A. The Virginia Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (the "Commission") is established as an advisory commission within the meaning of § 2.2-2100, in the executive branch of state government.

B. The Commission shall consist of twenty 22 members that include eight legislative members, three members of the executive branch, and 11 nonlegislative citizen members to be appointed as follows: three five members shall be appointed from of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; three members shall of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee; and three members from of the executive branch of state government;, four elected local government officials upon the recommendation of the Virginia Association of Counties and, four elected municipal officers upon the recommendation of the Virginia Municipal League;, one representative of a planning district commission upon the recommendation of the Virginia Association of Planning Commissions;, and two citizen members who have no current government affiliation, all of whom shall be appointed by the Governor.

C. Members from the executive branch shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. All other nonlegislative members, except the three members of the executive branch, shall serve for a four-year term. No member shall serve more than eight consecutive years terms. Legislative members shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. Members from the executive branch shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor and shall serve no more than eight consecutive years. All members may be reappointed. However, no Senate member shall serve more than two consecutive four-year terms, no House member shall serve more than four consecutive two-year terms and no nonlegislative citizen member appointed to a term shall serve more than two consecutive four-year terms. The remainder of any term to which a member is appointed to fill a vacancy shall not constitute a term in determining the member's eligibility for reappointment. Vacancies shall be filled by the appointing authority to fill for the unexpired term. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner as the original appointments.

D. A chairman and vice chairman shall be elected annually from the membership. The Commission shall meet at least four times a year. A majority of members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum.

E. The members of the Commission shall be paid their necessary expenses incident to their work on the Commission as provided in § 2.2-2823. Legislative members of the Commission shall receive such compensation as is set forth in § 30-19.12, and nonlegislative members shall receive such compensation for the performance of their duties as provided in § 2.2-2813. All members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. Funding for the costs of compensation and expenses shall be provided by the Commission on Local Government.

F. The Commission shall report its findings as it deems proper and shall submit a biennial report to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before October 1 of each even-numbered odd-numbered year as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports. The biennial report shall be distributed in accordance with the provisions of § 2.2-1127.

G. The chairman of the Commission shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a biennial executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Commission no later than the first day of each even-numbered year session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

§ 2.2-2628. Council on Indians; membership; terms; chairman; compensation and expenses; chairman's executive summary.

A. The Council on Indians (the Council) is established as an advisory council, within the meaning of § 2.2-2100, in the executive branch of state government. The Council shall be composed of thirteen 16 members to be appointed that include four legislative members, 11 nonlegislative citizen members, and one ex officio member as follows: (i) the eight Virginia tribes officially recognized by the Commonwealth shall be entitled but not required to be represented by one member from each tribe, (ii) two members at-large at large from the Indian population residing in Virginia, and (iii) one member from the Commonwealth at large, all of whom shall be appointed by the Governor; and (iv) one member from three members of the House of Delegates appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, and in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; (v) one member from of the Senate of Virginia appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; and (vi) the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, or his designee, shall be an ex officio voting member. If a recognized tribe elects not to be represented, then that seat on the Council shall be filled by appointment of an additional member from the at-large Indian population of Virginia. The Secretary of Health and Human Resources shall be an ex officio member of the Council.

B. After the original appointments, all nonlegislative citizen appointments shall be for terms of three years except appointments to fill vacancies, which shall be for the unexpired terms. Legislative and ex officio members shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. All members may be reappointed. However, no nonlegislative citizen member shall be eligible to serve more than two three successive three-year terms in succession, no member of the Senate shall be eligible to serve more that two successive four-year terms, and no member of the House of Delegates shall be eligible to serve more than four successive two-year terms, provided that no appointments to terms commencing prior to July 1, 1988, shall not be considered in determining such limit, nor shall appointments to fill vacancies for an unexpired term shall be included in determining the term limit.

C. The Governor shall appoint one of the members appointed pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) of subsection A as chairman, who shall serve in such position at the pleasure of the Governor. The Council shall elect a vice chairman from among its membership. The meetings of the Council shall be held at the call of the chairman or whenever the majority of the voting members so request. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum.

D. Members of the Council shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. Funding for the costs of expenses of the members shall be provided by the Office of the Governor.

E. The chairman of the Council shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Council no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

§ 2.2-2666.1. Council created; composition; compensation and expenses; meetings; chairman's executive summary.

A. The Virginia Military Advisory Council (the "Council") is hereby created as an advisory council, within the meaning of § 2.2-2100, in the executive branch of state government, to maintain a cooperative and constructive relationship between the Commonwealth and the leadership of the several Armed Forces of the United States and the military commanders of such Armed Forces stationed in the Commonwealth, and to encourage regular communication on continued military facility viability, the exploration of privatization opportunities and issues affecting preparedness, public safety and security.

B. The Council shall be composed of not more than twenty-five 25 members and shall include the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General, the Adjutant General, the Chairman of the House Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on General Laws, or their designees; four members, one of whom shall be a representative of the Virginia Defense Force, to be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor; and not more than sixteen 16 members, including representatives of major military commands and installations located in the Commonwealth or in jurisdictions adjacent thereto, who shall be appointed by the Governor from persons nominated by the Secretaries of the Armed Forces of the United States and who shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The provisions of § 49-1 shall not apply to federal civilian officials and military personnel appointed to the Council.

C. Legislative members of the Council shall receive such compensation as is set forth in § 30-19.12, and nonlegislative members shall receive such compensation for the performance of their duties as provided in § 2.2-2813. All members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. Funding for the costs of compensation and expenses of the members shall be provided by the Department of Military Affairs.

D. The Council shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among its membership. The meetings of the Council shall be held at the call of the chairman or whenever the majority of members so request. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum.

E. The chairman of the Council shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Council no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

§ 2.2-2705. Virginia War Memorial Foundation; purpose; membership; terms; compensation and expenses; staff; chairman's executive summary.

A. The Virginia War Memorial Foundation (the Foundation) is established to serve as a policy foundation, within the meaning of § 2.2-2100, in the executive branch of state government. The Foundation shall be governed and administered by a board of trustees for the purpose of honoring patriotic Virginians who rendered faithful service and sacrifice in the cause of freedom and liberty for the Commonwealth and the nation in time of war.

B. The Foundation board of trustees shall consist of the Secretary of Administration, who shall serve ex officio, and seventeen other persons as follows: four 19 members that include eight legislative members, 10 nonlegislative citizen members, and one ex officio member as follows: five members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of House of Delegates; three members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections of the Senate; and ten other persons 10 nonlegislative citizen members appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly; and the Secretary of Administration who shall serve ex officio with voting privileges. A majority of the trustees shall be members or veterans of the armed forces of the United States or the Virginia National Guard. Members appointed should include representatives of some or all of the various veterans organizations active in Virginia, as the Governor deems appropriate.

C. Except for initial appointments, all nonlegislative citizen member appointments shall be for a term terms of three years. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be made for the unexpired term. Legislative members and the Secretary of Administration shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. All members may be reappointed. However, no person nonlegislative citizen member shall be eligible to serve for more than three four successive full three-year terms. However, any person appointed to an initial term of less than three years or to a vacancy shall be eligible to serve three additional successive full three-year terms thereafter. No Senate member shall be eligible to serve more than three successive four-year terms and no member of the House of Delegates shall be eligible to serve more than six successive two-year terms. The remainder of any term to which a member is appointed to fill a vacancy shall not constitute a term in determining the member's eligibility for reappointment. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be made for the unexpired terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. Trustees may be removed appointed by the Governor shall serve at his pleasure.

D. Trustees shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred while attending meetings of the trustees or performing other duties. However, such reimbursement shall not exceed the per diem rate established for members of the General Assembly pursuant to § 30-19.12. Legislative members of the Foundation shall receive such compensation as is set forth in § 30-19.12. All members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. Funding for the costs of compensation of legislative members shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the Senate or the Office of the Clerk of the House of Delegates, as appropriate. Funding for the costs of expenses of all members shall be provided by the Foundation.

E. Secretary of Administration shall designate a state agency to The Department of General Services shall provide the Foundation with administrative and other services.

F. The trustees shall adopt bylaws governing their organization and procedures and may amend the same. The trustees shall elect from their number a chairman, vice chairman, and such other officers as their bylaws may provide. They shall also appoint an executive committee, composed of not less than five trustees, which committee shall exercise the powers and duties imposed on the Foundation by this section to the extent permitted by the trustees in their bylaws. Meetings of the board of trustees shall be held at the call of the chairman or whenever a majority of the members so request. A majority of members shall constitute a quorum.

G. The chairman of the board of trustees shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the board no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

§ 2.2-5601. Appointment and term of members of Southern States Energy Board; compensation and expenses.

The Governor, the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections, and the Speaker of the House of Delegates shall each appoint one member of the Southern States Energy Board as established by Article II of the compact, to serve at the pleasure of their appointive authority for a term of four years. Legislative members shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. The gubernatorial appointee shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. If any member appointed is the head of a department or agency of the Commonwealth, he may designate a subordinate officer or employee of his department or agency to serve in his stead as permitted by Article II A. of the compact and in conformity with any applicable bylaws of the Board.

Legislative members of the Board shall receive such compensation as is set forth in § 30-19.12 and shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. The costs of compensation and expenses of the legislative members shall be paid from appropriations to the Virginia Commission on Intergovernmental Cooperation for the attendance of conferences.

§ 3.1-1108. Membership; terms; vacancies; compensation and expenses; chairman; chairman's executive summary.

A. The Commission shall be composed of thirty-one 31 members as follows:

1. Six members shall be of the House of Delegates appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates from the membership thereof in accordance with the principles of Rule 16 of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates adopted at the 1998 Regular Session of the General Assembly;

2. Four members shall be of the Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections Committee of the Senate from the membership of the Senate;

3. The Secretary of Commerce and Trade or his designee;

4. The Secretary of Finance or his designee;

5. The Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Services or his designee;

6. Three nonlegislative citizen members who shall be active flue-cured tobacco producers appointed by the Governor. Of the active flue-cured tobacco producers, two shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of six persons provided by the members of the General Assembly appointed to the Commission;

7. Three nonlegislative citizen members who shall be active burley tobacco producers appointed by the Governor. Of the active burley tobacco producers, one member shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of three persons provided by the members of the General Assembly appointed to the Commission;

8. One nonlegislative citizen member who shall be a representative of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation appointed by the Governor from a list of at least three persons provided by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation; and

9. Eleven members shall be nonlegislative citizen citizens appointed by the Governor. Of the eleven 11 nonlegislative citizen members, three shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of nine provided by the members of the General Assembly appointed to the Commission.

With the exception of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade or his designee, the Secretary of Finance or his designee and the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Services or his designee, all members of the Commission shall reside in the Southside and Southwest regions of the Commonwealth and shall be subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. To the extent feasible, appointments representing the Southside and Southwest regions shall be proportional to the tobacco quota production of each region.

Except as otherwise provided herein, all appointments shall be for terms of four years each. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired terms. Legislative members, the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, the Secretary of Finance, and the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. No nonlegislative citizen member shall be eligible to serve more than two successive four-year terms; however, after expiration of a term of three years or less, or after the expiration of the remainder of a term to which he was appointed to fill a vacancy, two additional four-year terms may be served by such member if appointed thereto. Whenever any legislative member fails to retain his membership in the house from which he was appointed, he shall relinquish his membership on the Commission and the appointing authority who appointed such member shall make an appointment from his respective house to complete the term. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be made for the unexpired terms. Any appointment to fill a vacancy shall be made in the same manner as the original appointment. The remainder of any term to which a member is appointed to fill a vacancy shall not constitute a term in determining the member's eligibility for reappointment.

The initial appointments of the active flue-cured tobacco producers, the active burley tobacco producers, and the other nonlegislative citizen members shall be as follows: one active flue-cured tobacco producer, one active burley tobacco producer and four nonlegislative citizen members shall be appointed for terms of two years; one active flue-cured tobacco producer, one active burley tobacco producer and four nonlegislative citizen members shall be appointed for terms of three years; and one active flue-cured tobacco producer, one active burley tobacco producer and three nonlegislative citizen members shall be appointed for terms of four years. Thereafter all appointments shall be for terms of four years.

B. The Commission shall appoint from its membership a chairman and a vice chairman, both of whom shall serve in such capacities at the pleasure of the Commission. The chairman, or in his absence, the vice chairman, shall preside at all meetings of the Commission. The meetings of the Commission shall be held on the call of the chairman or whenever the majority of the members so request. A majority of members of the Commission serving at any one time shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

C. Members of the Commission shall receive compensation for their services at the rate provided in the appropriation act and reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties on behalf of the Commission Legislative members of the Commission shall receive such compensation as is set forth in § 30-19.12, and nonlegislative members shall receive such compensation for the performance of their duties as provided in § 2.2-2813. All members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. Such compensation and expenses shall be paid from the Fund.

D. Members and employees of the Commission shall be subject to the standards of conduct set forth in the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act (§ 2.2-3100 et seq.) and may be removed from office for misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance, neglect of duty, or misconduct in the manner set forth therein.

E. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, members and employees of the Commission shall be subject to the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.).

F. The chairman of the Board shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Board no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

§ 10.1-1018. Virginia Land Conservation Board of Trustees; membership; terms; vacancies; compensation and expenses; chairman's executive summary.

A. The Foundation shall be governed and administered by a Board of Trustees. The Board shall include one member from each congressional district, appointed by the Governor, and six members appointed from the Commonwealth at large, four by the Speaker of the House of Delegates and two by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections consist of 18 members that include 17 citizen members and one ex officio voting member as follows: four citizen members, who may be members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates and, if such members are members of the House of Delegates, in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; two citizen members, who may be members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; 11 nonlegislative citizen members, one from each congressional district, to be appointed by the Governor; and the Secretary of Natural Resources, or his designee, to serve ex officio with voting privileges. Such Nonlegislative citizen members shall be appointed for four-year terms, except that initial appointments shall be made for terms of one to four years in a manner whereby no more than six members shall have terms which that expire in the same year. Such Legislative members and the ex officio member shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be made for the unexpired terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. All members may be reappointed. However, no Senate member shall serve more than two consecutive four-year terms, no House member shall serve more than four consecutive two-year terms and no nonlegislative citizen member shall serve more than two consecutive four-year terms. The remainder of any term to which a member is appointed to fill a vacancy shall not constitute a term in determining the member's eligibility for reappointment. Nonlegislative citizen members shall have experience or expertise, professional or personal, in one or more of the following areas: natural resource protection and conservation, construction and real estate development, natural habitat protection, environmental resource inventory and identification, forestry management, farming, farmland preservation, fish and wildlife management, historic preservation, and outdoor recreation. At least one of the nonlegislative citizen members shall be a farmer. No such member shall be eligible to serve more than two consecutive four-year terms. Such Members of the Board shall post bond in the penalty of $5,000 with the State Comptroller prior to entering upon the functions of office. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be made for the unexpired term.

B. The Secretary of Natural Resources or his designee shall also serve on the Board of Trustees. The term of the Secretary of Natural Resources or his designee shall be coincident with that of the Governor. The Secretary of Natural Resources shall serve as the chairman of the Board of Trustees. The chairman shall serve until his successor is appointed. The members appointed as provided in subsection A shall elect a vice chairman annually from among the members of the Board. A majority of the members of the Board serving at any one time shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The board shall meet at the call of the chairman or whenever a majority of the members so request.

C. Trustees of the Foundation shall receive no compensation for their services but shall receive reimbursement for actual. All members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties on behalf of the Foundation as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. Funding for the costs of expenses of the members shall be provided by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

D. The chairman of the Board and any other person designated by the Board to handle the funds of the Foundation shall give bond, with corporate surety, in such penalty as is fixed by the Governor, conditioned upon the faithful discharge of his duties. The premium on the bonds shall be paid from funds available to the Foundation for such purpose.

E. The Board shall seek assistance in developing grant criteria and advice on grant priorities and any other appropriate issues from a task force consisting of the following agency heads or their designees: the Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the State Forester, the Director of the Department of Historic Resources, the Director of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Executive Director of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation. The Board may request any other agency head to serve on or appoint a designee to serve on the task force.

F. The chairman of the Board shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a biennial executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Board no later than the first day of each even-numbered year regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

§ 18.2-271.2. Commission on VASAP; purpose; membership; terms; meetings; staffing; compensation and expenses; chairman's executive summary.

A. There is hereby established a in the legislative branch of state government the Commission on the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP) which. The Commission shall administer and supervise the state system of local alcohol and safety action programs, develop and maintain operation and performance standards for local alcohol and safety action programs, and allocate funding to such programs. The Commission shall be composed consist of three 15 members that include six legislative members and nine nonlegislative citizen members. Members shall be appointed as follows: four current or former members from of the House Committee for Courts of Justice, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates and two in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; two members from of the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice, to be appointed by the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee; three sitting or retired judges, one each from the circuit, general district and juvenile and domestic relations district courts, who regularly hear or heard cases involving driving under the influence and are familiar with their local alcohol safety action programs, to be appointed by the Chairman of the Committee on District Courts; two directors of local alcohol safety action programs, to be appointed by the legislative members of the Commission; one representative from the law-enforcement profession, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House and one nonlegislative citizen at large, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; one representative from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles whose duties are substantially related to matters to be addressed by the Commission to be appointed by the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles, and one representative from the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services whose duties also substantially involve such matters, to be appointed by the Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services. All Commission members, other than those members appointed from the House or Senate Committee for Courts of Justice, Legislative members shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. In accordance with the staggered terms previously established, nonlegislative citizen members shall serve two-year terms. However, one-half of such members initially appointed to the Commission shall serve one-year terms and the other one-half shall serve two-year terms. Thereafter, all such appointments shall be for two years. All members may be reappointed. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be made for the unexpired terms. Any appointment to fill a vacancy shall be made in the same manner as the original appointment.

B. The Commission shall meet quarterly at least four times each year at such places as it may from time to time designate. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum. The Commission shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among its membership.

The Commission shall be empowered to establish and assure ensure the maintenance of minimum standards and criteria for program operations and performance, accounting, auditing, public information and administrative procedures for the various local alcohol safety action programs and shall be responsible for overseeing the administration of the statewide VASAP system. Such programs shall be certified by the Commission in accordance with procedures set forth in the Commission on VASAP Certification Manual. The Commission shall also oversee program plans, operations and performance and a system for allocating funds to cover deficits which that may occur in the budgets of local programs.

C. The Commission shall appoint and employ and, at its pleasure, remove an executive director and such other persons as it may deem necessary, and determine their duties and fix their salaries or compensation.

D. The Commission shall appoint a Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program Advisory Board to make recommendations to the Commission regarding its duties and administrative functions. The membership of such Board shall be appointed in the discretion of the Commission and include personnel from (i) local safety action programs, (ii) state or local boards of mental health and mental retardation and (iii) other community mental health services organizations. An assistant attorney general who provides counsel in matters relating to driving under the influence shall also be appointed to the Board.

E. For the performance of their duties, Legislative members of the Commission shall receive compensation as provided in § 30-19.12. Funding for the costs of compensation of legislative members shall be provided by the Commission. All members shall be reimbursed for their actual all reasonable and necessary expenses as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825 to be paid out of that portion of moneys paid in VASAP defendant entry fees which is forwarded to the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program. In addition, per diem compensation shall be allowed for current members of the General Assembly for each day spent in performing their duties.

F. The chairman of the Commission shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Commission no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

§ 20-108.2. Guideline for determination of child support.

A. There shall be a rebuttable presumption in any judicial or administrative proceeding for child support under this title or Title 16.1 or 63.2, including cases involving split custody or shared custody, that the amount of the award which would result from the application of the guidelines set forth in this section is the correct amount of child support to be awarded. In order to rebut the presumption, the court shall make written findings in the order as set out in § 20-108.1, which findings may be incorporated by reference, that the application of the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate in a particular case as determined by relevant evidence pertaining to the factors set out in §§ 20-107.2 and 20-108.1. The Department of Social Services shall set child support at the amount resulting from computations using the guidelines set out in this section pursuant to the authority granted to it in Chapter 19 (§ 63.2-1900 et seq.) of Title 63.2 and subject to the provisions of § 63.2-1918.

B. For purposes of application of the guideline, a basic child support obligation shall be computed using the schedule set out below. For combined monthly gross income amounts falling between amounts shown in the schedule, basic child support obligation amounts shall be extrapolated. However, unless one of the following exemptions applies where the sole custody child support obligation as computed pursuant to subdivision G. 1. is less than $65 per month, there shall be a presumptive minimum child support obligation of $65 per month payable by the payor parent. Exemptions from this presumptive minimum monthly child support obligation shall include: parents unable to pay child support because they lack sufficient assets from which to pay child support and who, in addition, are institutionalized in a psychiatric facility; are imprisoned with no chance of parole; are medically verified to be totally and permanently disabled with no evidence of potential for paying child support, including recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI); or are otherwise involuntarily unable to produce income. "Number of children" means the number of children for whom the parents share joint legal responsibility and for whom support is being sought.

SCHEDULE OF MONTHLY BASIC CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATIONS

COMBINED
 MONTHLY
  GROSS      ONE        TWO       THREE      FOUR       FIVE        SIX
 INCOME     CHILD    CHILDREN   CHILDREN   CHILDREN   CHILDREN   CHILDREN
  0-599       65         65         65         65         65         65
    600      110        111        113        114        115        116
    650      138        140        142        143        145        146
    700      153        169        170        172        174        176
    750      160        197        199        202        204        206
    800      168        226        228        231        233        236
    850      175        254        257        260        263        266
    900      182        281        286        289        292        295
    950      189        292        315        318        322        325
   1000      196        304        344        348        351        355
   1050      203        315        373        377        381        385
   1100      210        326        402        406        410        415
   1150      217        337        422        435        440        445
   1200      225        348        436        465        470        475
   1250      232        360        451        497        502        507
   1300      241        373        467        526        536        542
   1350      249        386        483        545        570        576
   1400      257        398        499        563        605        611
   1450      265        411        515        581        633        645
   1500      274        426        533        602        656        680
   1550      282        436        547        617        672        714
   1600      289        447        560        632        689        737
   1650      295        458        573        647        705        754
   1700      302        468        587        662        721        772
   1750      309        479        600        676        738        789
   1800      315        488        612        690        752        805
   1850      321        497        623        702        766        819
   1900      326        506        634        714        779        834
   1950      332        514        645        727        793        848
   2000      338        523        655        739        806        862
   2050      343        532        666        751        819        877
   2100      349        540        677        763        833        891
   2150      355        549        688        776        846        905
   2200      360        558        699        788        860        920
   2250      366        567        710        800        873        934
   2300      371        575        721        812        886        948
   2350      377        584        732        825        900        963
   2400      383        593        743        837        913        977
   2450      388        601        754        849        927        991
   2500      394        610        765        862        940       1006
   2550      399        619        776        874        954       1020
   2600      405        627        787        886        967       1034
   2650      410        635        797        897        979       1048
   2700      415        643        806        908        991       1060
   2750      420        651        816        919       1003       1073
   2800      425        658        826        930       1015       1085
   2850      430        667        836        941       1027       1098
   2900      435        675        846        953       1039       1112
   2950      440        683        856        964       1052       1125
   3000      445        691        866        975       1064       1138
   3050      450        699        876        987       1076       1152
   3100      456        707        886        998       1089       1165
   3150      461        715        896       1010       1101       1178
   3200      466        723        906       1021       1114       1191
   3250      471        732        917       1032       1126       1205
   3300      476        740        927       1044       1139       1218
   3350      481        748        937       1055       1151       1231
   3400      486        756        947       1067       1164       1245
   3450      492        764        957       1078       1176       1258
   3500      497        772        967       1089       1189       1271
   3550      502        780        977       1101       1201       1285
   3600      507        788        987       1112       1213       1298
   3650      512        797        997       1124       1226       1311
   3700      518        806       1009       1137       1240       1326
   3750      524        815       1020       1150       1254       1342
   3800      530        824       1032       1163       1268       1357
   3850      536        834       1043       1176       1283       1372
   3900      542        843       1055       1189       1297       1387
   3950      547        852       1066       1202       1311       1402
   4000      553        861       1078       1214       1325       1417
   4050      559        871       1089       1227       1339       1432
   4100      565        880       1101       1240       1353       1448
   4150      571        889       1112       1253       1367       1463
   4200      577        898       1124       1266       1382       1478
   4250      583        907       1135       1279       1396       1493
   4300      589        917       1147       1292       1410       1508
   4350      594        926       1158       1305       1424       1523
   4400      600        935       1170       1318       1438       1538
   4450      606        944       1181       1331       1452       1553
   4500      612        954       1193       1344       1467       1569
   4550      618        963       1204       1357       1481       1584
   4600      624        972       1216       1370       1495       1599
   4650      630        981       1227       1383       1509       1614
   4700      635        989       1237       1395       1522       1627
   4750      641        997       1247       1406       1534       1641
   4800      646       1005       1257       1417       1546       1654
   4850      651       1013       1267       1428       1558       1667
   4900      656       1021       1277       1439       1570       1679
   4950      661       1028       1286       1450       1582       1692
   5000      666       1036       1295       1460       1593       1704
   5050      671       1043       1305       1471       1605       1716
   5100      675       1051       1314       1481       1616       1728
   5150      680       1058       1323       1492       1628       1741
   5200      685       1066       1333       1502       1640       1753
   5250      690       1073       1342       1513       1651       1765
   5300      695       1081       1351       1524       1663       1778
   5350      700       1088       1361       1534       1674       1790
   5400      705       1096       1370       1545       1686       1802
   5450      710       1103       1379       1555       1697       1815
   5500      714       1111       1389       1566       1709       1827
   5550      719       1118       1398       1576       1720       1839
   5600      724       1126       1407       1587       1732       1851
   5650      729       1133       1417       1598       1743       1864
   5700      734       1141       1426       1608       1755       1876
   5750      739       1148       1435       1619       1766       1888
   5800      744       1156       1445       1629       1778       1901
   5850      749       1163       1454       1640       1790       1913
   5900      753       1171       1463       1650       1801       1925
   5950      758       1178       1473       1661       1813       1937
   6000      763       1186       1482       1672       1824       1950
   6050      768       1193       1491       1682       1836       1962
   6100      773       1201       1501       1693       1847       1974
   6150      778       1208       1510       1703       1859       1987
   6200      783       1216       1519       1714       1870       1999
   6250      788       1223       1529       1724       1882       2011
   6300      792       1231       1538       1735       1893       2023
   6350      797       1238       1547       1745       1905       2036
   6400      802       1246       1557       1756       1916       2048
   6450      807       1253       1566       1767       1928       2060
   6500      812       1261       1575       1777       1940       2073
   6550      816       1267       1583       1786       1949       2083
   6600      820       1272       1590       1794       1957       2092
   6650      823       1277       1597       1801       1965       2100
   6700      827       1283       1604       1809       1974       2109
   6750      830       1288       1610       1817       1982       2118
   6800      834       1293       1617       1824       1990       2127
   6850      837       1299       1624       1832       1999       2136
   6900      841       1304       1631       1839       2007       2145
   6950      845       1309       1637       1847       2016       2154
   7000      848       1315       1644       1855       2024       2163
   7050      852       1320       1651       1862       2032       2172
   7100      855       1325       1658       1870       2041       2181
   7150      859       1331       1665       1878       2049       2190
   7200      862       1336       1671       1885       2057       2199
   7250      866       1341       1678       1893       2066       2207
   7300      870       1347       1685       1900       2074       2216
   7350      873       1352       1692       1908       2082       2225
   7400      877       1358       1698       1916       2091       2234
   7450      880       1363       1705       1923       2099       2243
   7500      884       1368       1712       1931       2108       2252
   7550      887       1374       1719       1938       2116       2261
   7600      891       1379       1725       1946       2124       2270
   7650      895       1384       1732       1954       2133       2279
   7700      898       1390       1739       1961       2141       2288
   7750      902       1395       1746       1969       2149       2297
   7800      905       1400       1753       1977       2158       2305
   7850      908       1405       1758       1983       2164       2313
   7900      910       1409       1764       1989       2171       2320
   7950      913       1414       1770       1995       2178       2328
   8000      916       1418       1776       2001       2185       2335
   8050      918       1423       1781       2007       2192       2343
   8100      921       1428       1787       2014       2198       2350
   8150      924       1432       1793       2020       2205       2357
   8200      927       1437       1799       2026       2212       2365
   8250      929       1441       1804       2032       2219       2372
   8300      932       1446       1810       2038       2226       2380
   8350      935       1450       1816       2045       2232       2387
   8400      937       1455       1822       2051       2239       2395
   8450      940       1459       1827       2057       2246       2402
   8500      943       1464       1833       2063       2253       2410
   8550      945       1468       1839       2069       2260       2417
   8600      948       1473       1845       2076       2266       2425
   8650      951       1478       1850       2082       2273       2432
   8700      954       1482       1856       2088       2280       2440
   8750      956       1487       1862       2094       2287       2447
   8800      959       1491       1868       2100       2294       2455
   8850      962       1496       1873       2107       2300       2462
   8900      964       1500       1879       2113       2307       2470
   8950      967       1505       1885       2119       2314       2477
   9000      970       1509       1891       2125       2321       2484
   9050      973       1514       1896       2131       2328       2492
   9100      975       1517       1901       2137       2334       2498
   9150      977       1521       1905       2141       2339       2503
   9200      979       1524       1909       2146       2344       2509
   9250      982       1527       1914       2151       2349       2514
   9300      984       1531       1918       2156       2354       2520
   9350      986       1534       1922       2160       2359       2525
   9400      988       1537       1926       2165       2365       2531
   9450      990       1541       1930       2170       2370       2536
   9500      993       1544       1935       2175       2375       2541
   9550      995       1547       1939       2179       2380       2547
   9600      997       1551       1943       2184       2385       2552
   9650      999       1554       1947       2189       2390       2558
   9700     1001       1557       1951       2194       2396       2563
   9750     1003       1561       1956       2198       2401       2569
   9800     1006       1564       1960       2203       2406       2574
   9850     1008       1567       1964       2208       2411       2580
   9900     1010       1571       1968       2213       2416       2585
   9950     1012       1574       1972       2218       2421       2590
  10000     1014       1577       1977       2222       2427       2596

For gross monthly income between $10,000 and $20,000, add the amount of child support for $10,000 to the following percentages of gross income above $10,000:

 ONE      TWO        THREE       FOUR        FIVE         SIX
CHILD   CHILDREN   CHILDREN    CHILDREN    CHILDREN    CHILDREN
3.1%      5.1%       6.8%        7.8%        8.8%        9.5%

For gross monthly income between $20,000 and $50,000, add the amount of child support for $20,000 to the following percentages of gross income above $20,000:

 ONE      TWO        THREE       FOUR        FIVE         SIX
CHILD   CHILDREN   CHILDREN    CHILDREN    CHILDREN    CHILDREN
 2%       3.5%        5%          6%         6.9%        7.8%

For gross monthly income over $50,000, add the amount of child support for $50,000 to the following percentages of gross income above $50,000:

 ONE      TWO        THREE       FOUR        FIVE         SIX
CHILD   CHILDREN   CHILDREN    CHILDREN    CHILDREN    CHILDREN
 1%        2%         3%          4%          5%          6%

C. For purposes of this section, "gross income" means all income from all sources, and shall include, but not be limited to, income from salaries, wages, commissions, royalties, bonuses, dividends, severance pay, pensions, interest, trust income, annuities, capital gains, social security benefits except as listed below, workers' compensation benefits, unemployment insurance benefits, disability insurance benefits, veterans' benefits, spousal support, rental income, gifts, prizes or awards.

If a parent's gross income includes disability insurance benefits, it shall also include any amounts paid to or for the child who is the subject of the order and derived by the child from the parent's entitlement to disability insurance benefits. To the extent that such derivative benefits are included in a parent's gross income, that parent shall be entitled to a credit against his or her ongoing basic child support obligation for any such amounts, and, if the amount of the credit exceeds the parent's basic child support obligations, the credit may be used to reduce arrearages.

Gross income shall be subject to deduction of reasonable business expenses for persons with income from self-employment, a partnership, or a closely held business. "Gross income" shall not include benefits from public assistance and social services programs as defined in § 63.2-100, federal supplemental security income benefits, or child support received. For purposes of this subsection: (i) spousal support received shall be included in gross income and spousal support paid shall be deducted from gross income when paid pursuant to an order or written agreement and (ii) one-half of any self-employment tax paid shall be deducted from gross income.

Where there is an existing court or administrative order or written agreement relating to the child or children of a party to the proceeding, who are not the child or children who are the subject of the present proceeding, then there is a presumption that there shall be deducted from the gross income of the party subject to such order or written agreement, the amount that the party is actually paying for the support of a child or children pursuant to such order or agreement.

Where a party to the proceeding has a natural or adopted child or children in the party's household or primary physical custody, and the child or children are not the subject of the present proceeding, there is a presumption that there shall be deducted from the gross income of that party the amount as shown on the Schedule of Monthly Basic Child Support Obligations contained in subsection B that represents that party's support obligation based solely on that party's income as being the total income available for the natural or adopted child or children in the party's household or primary physical custody, who are not the subject of the present proceeding. Provided, however, that the existence of a party's financial responsibility for such a child or children shall not of itself constitute a material change in circumstances for modifying a previous order of child support in any modification proceeding. Any adjustment to gross income under this subsection shall not create or reduce a support obligation to an amount which seriously impairs the custodial parent's ability to maintain minimal adequate housing and provide other basic necessities for the child, as determined by the court.

In cases in which retroactive liability for support is being determined, the court or administrative agency may use the gross monthly income of the parties averaged over the period of retroactivity.

D. Any extraordinary medical and dental expenses for treatment of the child or children shall be added to the basic child support obligation. For purposes of this section, extraordinary medical and dental expenses are uninsured expenses in excess of $100 for a single illness or condition and shall include but not be limited to eyeglasses, prescription medication, prostheses, and mental health services whether provided by a social worker, psychologist, psychiatrist, or counselor.

E. Any costs for health care coverage as defined in § 63.2-1900 and dental care coverage, when actually being paid by a parent, to the extent such costs are directly allocable to the child or children, and which are the extra costs of covering the child or children beyond whatever coverage the parent providing the coverage would otherwise have, shall be added to the basic child support obligation.

F. Any child-care costs incurred on behalf of the child or children due to employment of the custodial parent shall be added to the basic child support obligation. Child-care costs shall not exceed the amount required to provide quality care from a licensed source. When requested by the noncustodial parent, the court may require the custodial parent to present documentation to verify the costs incurred for child care under this subsection. Where appropriate, the court shall consider the willingness and availability of the noncustodial parent to provide child care personally in determining whether child-care costs are necessary or excessive.

G. 1. Sole custody support. The sole custody total monthly child support obligation shall be established by adding (i) the monthly basic child support obligation, as determined from the schedule contained in subsection B, (ii) all extraordinary medical expenses, (iii) costs for health care coverage to the extent allowable by subsection E, and (iv) work-related child-care costs and taking into consideration all the factors set forth in subsection B of § 20-108.1. The total monthly child support obligation shall be divided between the parents in the same proportion as their monthly gross incomes bear to their monthly combined gross income. The monthly obligation of each parent shall be computed by multiplying each parent's percentage of the parents' monthly combined gross income by the total monthly child support obligation.

However, the monthly obligation of the noncustodial parent shall be reduced by the cost for health care coverage to the extent allowable by subsection E when paid directly by the noncustodial parent.

2. Split custody support. In cases involving split custody, the amount of child support to be paid shall be the difference between the amounts owed by each parent as a noncustodial parent, computed in accordance with subdivision 1, with the noncustodial parent owing the larger amount paying the difference to the other parent.

For the purpose of this section and § 20-108.1, split custody shall be limited to those situations where each parent has physical custody of a child or children born of the parents, born of either parent and adopted by the other parent or adopted by both parents. For the purposes of calculating a child support obligation where split custody exists, a separate family unit exists for each parent, and child support for that family unit shall be calculated upon the number of children in that family unit who are born of the parents, born of either parent and adopted by the other parent or adopted by both parents. Where split custody exists, a parent is a custodial parent to the children in that parent's family unit and is a noncustodial parent to the children in the other parent's family unit.

3. Shared custody support.

(a) Where a party has custody or visitation of a child or children for more than ninety 90 days of the year, as such days are defined in subdivision G 3 (c), a shared custody child support amount based on the ratio in which the parents share the custody and visitation of any child or children shall be calculated in accordance with this subdivision. The presumptive support to be paid shall be the shared custody support amount, unless a party affirmatively shows that the sole custody support amount calculated as provided in subdivision G 1 is less than the shared custody support amount. If so, the lesser amount shall be the support to be paid. For the purposes of this subsection, the following shall apply:

(i) Income share. "Income share" means a parent's percentage of the combined monthly gross income of both parents. The income share of a parent is that parent's gross income divided by the combined gross incomes of the parties.

(ii) Custody share. "Custody share" means the number of days that a parent has physical custody, whether by sole custody, joint legal or joint residential custody, or visitation, of a shared child per year divided by the number of days in the year. The actual or anticipated "custody share" of the parent who has or will have fewer days of physical custody shall be calculated for a one-year period. The "custody share" of the other parent shall be presumed to be the number of days in the year less the number of days calculated as the first parent's "custody share." For purposes of this calculation, the year may begin on such date as is determined in the discretion of the court, and the day may begin at such time as is determined in the discretion of the court. For purposes of this calculation, a day shall be as defined in subdivision G 3 (c).

(iii) Shared support need. "Shared support need" means the presumptive guideline amount of needed support for the shared child or children calculated pursuant to subsection B of this section, for the combined gross income of the parties and the number of shared children, multiplied by 1.4.

(iv) Sole custody support. "Sole custody support" means the support amount determined in accordance with subdivision G 1.

(b) Support to be paid. The shared support need of the shared child or children shall be calculated pursuant to subdivision G 3 (a) (iii). This amount shall then be multiplied by the other parent's custody share. To that sum for each parent shall be added the other parent's cost of health care coverage to the extent allowable by subsection E, plus the other parent's work-related child-care costs to the extent allowable by subsection F. This total for each parent shall be multiplied by that parent's income share. The support amounts thereby calculated that each parent owes the other shall be subtracted one from the other and the difference shall be the shared custody support one parent owes to the other, with the payor parent being the one whose shared support is the larger. Any extraordinary medical and dental expenses, to the extent allowable by subsection D, shall be shared directly by the parents in accordance with their income shares, and shall not be adjusted by the custody share. The parents shall pay their respective shares of these extraordinary medical expenses as they are incurred, and they are not added to each party's shared custody support owed to the other party. The method of payment of said allowable expenses shall be contained in the support order. When the shared support is compared to the sole custody support to determine which is the lesser support, pursuant to subdivision G 3 (a), the extraordinary medical expenses shall not enter into either calculation.

(c) Definition of a day. For the purposes of this section, "day" means a period of twenty-four 24 hours; however, where the parent who has the fewer number of overnight periods during the year has an overnight period with a child, but has physical custody of the shared child for less than twenty-four 24 hours during such overnight period, there is a presumption that each parent shall be allocated one-half of a day of custody for that period.

(d) Minimum standards. Any calculation under this subdivision shall not create or reduce a support obligation to an amount which seriously impairs the custodial parent's ability to maintain minimal adequate housing and provide other basic necessities for the child. If the gross income of either party is equal to or less than 150 percent of the federal poverty level promulgated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from time to time, then the shared custody support calculated pursuant to this subsection shall not be the presumptively correct support and the court may consider whether the sole custody support or the shared custody support is more just and appropriate.

(e) Support modification. When there has been an award of child support based on the shared custody formula and one parent consistently fails to exercise custody or visitation in accordance with the parent's custody share upon which the award was based, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the support award should be modified.

(f) In the event that the shared custody support calculation indicates that the net support is to be paid to the parent who would not be the parent receiving support pursuant to the sole custody calculation, then the shared support shall be deemed to be the lesser support.

H. The Secretary of Health and Human Resources shall ensure that the guideline set out in this section is reviewed by October 31, 2001, and every three years thereafter, by a panel the Child Support Guidelines Review Panel, consisting of 15 members that includes a include four legislative members and 11 nonlegislative citizen members. Members shall be appointed as follows: three members of the House Committee for Courts of Justice, upon the recommendation of the chairman of such committee, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; one member of the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice, upon the recommendation of the chairman of such committee, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; and one representative of a juvenile and domestic relations district court and a, one representative of a circuit court, a one representative of the executive branch, a member of the House of Delegates, a member of the Senate to be appointed by the chairmen of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice, Department of Social Services' Division of Child Support Enforcement, three members of the bar Virginia State Bar, two custodial and two parents, two noncustodial parents, and a one child advocate, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, to be appointed by the Governor. The Panel shall determine the adequacy of the guideline for the determination of appropriate awards for the support of children by considering current research and data on the cost of and expenditures necessary for rearing children, and any other resources it deems relevant to such review. The Panel shall report its findings to the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports before it the General Assembly next convenes following such review.

Legislative members shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. Nonlegislative citizen members shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. All members may be reappointed. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be made for the unexpired terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.

Legislative members shall receive such compensation as provided in § 30-19.12, and nonlegislative citizen members shall receive such compensation for the performance of their duties as provided in § 2.2-2813. All members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. Funding for the costs of compensation and expenses of the members shall be provided by the Department of Social Services.

The Department of Social Services shall provide staff support to the Panel. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Panel, upon request.

The chairman of the Panel shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a triennial executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Panel no later than the first day of 2005 regular session of the General Assembly and every three years thereafter. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

§ 22.1-337. Virginia representatives on Education Commission of the States; membership; terms; compensation and expenses; chairman's executive summary.

In accordance with the Compact for Education of 1968, which established the Education Commission of the States, there shall be seven member commissioners representing Virginia on the Education Commission of the States. These The Virginia commissioners shall consist of the Governor, one member selected from the body of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker thereof, one of the House of Delegates; one member selected from the body of the Senate of Virginia, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections of the Senate, and; four nonlegislative citizen members, of whom one shall be the Superintendent of Public Instruction, to be appointed by the Governor. The term of the member from the House shall be two years; the term of the member from the Senate shall terminate at the end of his current term as Senator. The terms of the members appointed by the Governor ; and the Governor. The commissioners representing Virginia shall by virtue of their training, experience, knowledge, or affiliations, collectively reflect the broad interests of state government, the state's system of education, public and higher education, nonprofessional and professional public and nonpublic educational leadership.

Legislative members shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. Nonlegislative citizen members shall be for four years each except that appointments serve at the pleasure of the Governor. All members may be reappointed. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be made for the unexpired terms. The Governor, the Committee on Privileges and Elections of the Senate and the Speaker shall have the authority to fill all vacancies in the manner of the original appointment. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.

The Governor shall designate one member commissioner to serve as chairman of the group Virginia commissioners for a two-year term. The commissioners shall meet on the call of the chairman or at the request of a majority of the members. A majority of the member commissioners shall constitute a quorum for any meeting. The commissioners may consider any and all matters related to recommendations of the Education Commission of the States or the general activities and business of the organization and shall have the authority to represent the Commonwealth in all actions of the Commission.

The commissioners shall serve without compensation but shall be paid their actual and. All members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, such expenses to be paid from funds appropriated to the General Assembly as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. The costs of expenses of the legislative commissioners incurred in the performance of their duties shall be paid from appropriations to the Virginia Commission on Intergovernmental Cooperation for the attendance of conferences. The costs of expenses of nonlegislative citizen commissioners incurred in the performance of their duties shall be paid from such funds as may be provided for this purpose in the appropriations act.

The chairman of the Commissioners shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Commissioners no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

§ 22.1-354.1. Western Virginia Public Education Consortium and board created; region defined; governing board; chairman's executive summary.

A. The Western Virginia Public Education Consortium is hereby established and shall be referred to in this chapter as the Consortium. For the purposes of this chapter and the work of the Consortium, "Western Virginia" shall include the Counties of Alleghany, Bath, Bland, Botetourt, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Henry, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski, Roanoke, and Wythe, and the Cities of Covington, Clifton Forge, Martinsville, Radford, Roanoke, and Salem. The governing board of the Consortium shall consist of 34 members that include 15 legislative members and the 19 school superintendents of the named localities. The region's legislators shall serve as nonvoting, advisory members of the board as follows: 11 members of the House of Delegates representing the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth, and Nineteenth House Districts; four members of the Senate representing the Twentieth, Twenty-first, Twenty-second, and Twenty-fifth Senatorial Districts, all serving as ex officio nonvoting members; and the school superintendents of Alleghany and Clifton Forge, Bath, Bland, Botetourt, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Henry, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski, Roanoke County, Wythe, Covington, Martinsville, Radford, Roanoke City, and Salem.

B. Legislative members and school superintendents shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. The board shall elect a chairman and a vice chairman from among its members.

C. Members of the board shall serve without compensation. All members shall be reimbursed for their actual all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in the work of the Consortium. The board shall elect a chairman and a vice-chairman from among its members. as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. All such expenses shall be paid from existing appropriations to or received by the Consortium or, if unfunded, shall be approved by the Joint Rules Committee.

D. A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum. The board shall meet at the call of the chairman or whenever a majority of the members so request.

E. The chairman of the board shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the board no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

§ 30-156. Virginia State Crime Commission; purpose; membership; terms; compensation and expenses; voting on recommendations; chairman's executive summary.

A. The Virginia State Crime Commission (the "Commission") is established in the legislative branch of state government. The purpose of the Commission shall be to study, report and make recommendations on all areas of public safety and protection. In so doing it shall endeavor to ascertain the causes of crime and recommend ways to reduce and prevent it, explore and recommend methods of rehabilitation of convicted criminals, study compensation of persons in law enforcement and related fields and study other related matters including apprehension, trial and punishment of criminal offenders. The Commission shall make such recommendations as it deems appropriate with respect to the foregoing matters, and shall coordinate the proposals and recommendations of all commissions and agencies as to legislation affecting crimes, crime control and criminal procedure. The Commission shall cooperate with the executive branch of state government, the Attorney General's office and the judiciary who are in turn encouraged to cooperate with the Commission. The Commission will cooperate with governments and governmental agencies of other states and the United States.

B. The Commission shall consist of thirteen 13 members to be appointed that include nine legislative members, three nonlegislative citizen members, and one state official as follows: six members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; three members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; three nonlegislative citizen members to be appointed by the Governor; and the Attorney General or his designee. Nonlegislative citizen members shall be citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unless otherwise approved by the chairman of the Commission, nonlegislative citizen members shall only be reimbursed for travel originating and ending within the Commonwealth of Virginia for the purpose of attending meetings.

C. The term of each appointee shall be for four two years, except that the Attorney General and legislative members shall serve a term terms coincident with his term their terms of office. Whenever any legislative member fails to retain his membership in the house from which he was appointed, his membership on the Commission shall become vacated and the appointing authority who appointed such vacating member shall make an appointment from his respective house to fulfill the vacated term. All members may be reappointed. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be made for the unexpired terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.

D. The Commission shall elect its own a chairman and vice chairman annually, who shall be members of the General Assembly.

E. Members of the Commission shall receive compensation as provided in § 30-19.12 and shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. All such expense payments, however, shall come from existing appropriations to the Virginia Crime Commission.

F. At the option of a majority of Senate members appointed to the Commission or a majority of the members of the House of Delegates appointed to the Commission, no recommendation of the Commission shall be adopted without the approval of a majority of such members of the Senate and a majority of such members of the House of Delegates. For the purpose of this provision, a "majority" constitutes a majority of members present and voting at the meeting of the Commission.

G. The chairman of the Commission shall submit to the General Assembly and the Governor an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Commission no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

§ 30-173. Commission of Senate and Commission of House of Delegates on Interstate Cooperation; membership; compensation and expenses.

A. There is established a Commission on Interstate Cooperation of the Senate, to consist of six senators. The members shall be appointed and the chairman of this the Commission shall be designated from among the membership of the Commission by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections.

B. There is established a Commission on Interstate Cooperation of the House of Delegates, also to consist of six members; and the members shall be appointed and the chairman of this the Commission shall be designated in the same manner as is customary in the case of the members and chairmen of standing committees of the House of Delegates from among the membership of the Commission by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation as contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates.

C. Such bodies of the Senate and of the House of Delegates shall function during the regular sessions of the General Assembly and also during the interim periods between such sessions. Their members shall serve until their successors are designated Members appointed and designated shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office.

D. Members of the commissions shall receive such compensation as provided in § 30-19.12 and shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to § 30-171 and this section as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825.

§ 30-182. Small Business Commission; purpose; membership; terms; compensation and expenses; staff; voting on recommendations; chairman's executive summary.

A. The Small Business Commission (the "Commission") is established in the legislative branch of state government. The purpose of the Commission shall be to study, report and make recommendations on issues of concern to small businesses in the Commonwealth.

B. The Commission shall consist of fourteen 14 members to that include 10 legislative members and four nonlegislative citizen members. Members shall be appointed as follows: six members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates 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; and four nonlegislative citizen members, each of whom shall have previously demonstrated small business experience or expertise, to be appointed by the Governor. Nonlegislative citizen members shall be citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the chairman of the Commission and the respective Clerk, nonlegislative citizen members shall only be reimbursed for travel originating and ending within the Commonwealth of Virginia for the purpose of attending meetings.

All gubernatorial appointments to the Commission shall be for terms of four two years. Vacancies occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled for the unexpired term. Whenever any legislative member fails to retain his membership in the house from which he was appointed, he shall relinquish his membership on the Commission and the appointing authority who appointed such member shall make an appointment from his respective house to complete the term. Any member may be reappointed for successive terms. Legislative members shall serve terms coincident to their terms of office. All members may be reappointed. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be made for the unexpired terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.

C. The members of the Commission shall elect a chairman and a vice chairman annually, who shall be members of the General Assembly. A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. The Commission shall meet at the call of the chairman or whenever a majority of the members so request.

D. Legislative members of the Commission shall receive such compensation as is set forth in § 30-19.12, and nonlegislative citizen members shall receive such compensation for the performance of their duties as provided in § 2.2-2813. All members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. However, all such compensation and expenses shall be paid from existing appropriations to the Commission and, if unfunded, shall be approved by the Joint Rules Committee.

E. The Division of Legislative Services shall serve as staff to the Commission. Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the Senate or the Office of Clerk of the House of Delegates as may be appropriate for the house in which the chairman of the Commission serves. The Division of Legislative Services shall provide legal, research, policy analysis and other services as requested by the Commission. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall assist the Commission, upon request.

F. At the option of a majority of Senate members appointed to the Commission or a majority of the members of the House of Delegates appointed to the Commission, no recommendation of the Commission shall be adopted without the approval of a majority of such members of the Senate and a majority of such members of the House of Delegates. For the purpose of this provision, a "majority" constitutes a majority of members present and voting at the meeting of the Commission.

G. The chairman of the Commission shall submit to the General Assembly and the Governor an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Commission no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

CHAPTER 31 .
COMMISSION ON ELECTRIC UTILITY RESTRUCTURING.

§ 30-201. Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring; purpose.

The Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring (the Commission) is established in the legislative branch of state government. The purpose of the Commission is to work collaboratively with the State Corporation Commission in conjunction with the phase-in of retail competition within the Commonwealth.

§ 30-202. Membership; terms; vacancies; chairman and vice chairman.

The Commission shall consist of 10 legislative members. Members shall be appointed as follows: four members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections and six members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates.

Members of the Commission shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. All members may be reappointed. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be made for the unexpired terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.

The Commission shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among its membership. The chairman of the Commission shall be authorized to designate one or more members of the Commission to observe and participate in the discussions of any work group convened by the State Corporation Commission in furtherance of its duties under the Virginia Electric Utility Restructuring Act (§ 56-576 et seq.) and this chapter. Members participating in such discussions shall be entitled to compensation and reimbursement provided in § 30-204, if approved by the Joint Rules Committee or its Budget Oversight Subcommittee.

§ 30-203. Quorum; meetings; voting on recommendations.

A majority of the voting members shall constitute a quorum. The meetings of the Commission shall be held at the call of the chairman or whenever the majority of the voting members so request.

At the option of a majority of the Senate members appointed to the Commission or a majority of the members of the House of Delegates appointed to the Commission, no recommendation of the Commission shall be adopted without the approval of a majority of such members of the Senate and a majority of such members of the House of Delegates. For the purpose of this provision, a "majority" constitutes a majority of members present and voting at the meeting of the Commission.

§ 30-204. Compensation; expenses.

Members of the Commission shall receive such compensation as provided in § 30-19.12 and shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. However, all such compensation and expenses shall be paid from existing appropriations to the Commission or, if unfunded, shall be approved by the Joint Rules Committee.

§ 30-205. Powers and duties of the Commission.

The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

1. Monitor the work of the State Corporation Commission in implementing Chapter 23 (§ 56-576 et seq.) of Title 56, receiving such reports as the Commission may be required to make pursuant thereto, including reviews, analyses, and impact on consumers of electric utility restructuring programs in other states;

2. Determine whether, and on what basis, incumbent electric utilities should be permitted to discount capped generation rates established pursuant to § 56-582;

3. Monitor, after the commencement of customer choice and with the assistance of the State Corporation Commission and the Office of Attorney General, the incumbent electric utilities, suppliers, and retail customers, whether the recovery of stranded costs, as provided in § 56-584, has resulted or is likely to result in the overrecovery or underrecovery of just and reasonable net stranded costs;

4. Examine (i) utility worker protection during the transition to retail competition, (ii) generation, transmission and distribution systems reliability concerns, and (iii) energy assistance programs for low-income households;

5. Establish one or more subcommittees of its membership, to meet at the direction of the chairman of the Commission, for any purpose within the scope of the duties prescribed to the Commission by this section; and

6. Report annually to the General Assembly and the Governor on the progress of each stage of the phase-in of retail competition and offer such recommendations as may be appropriate for legislative and administrative consideration in order to maintain the Commonwealth's position as a low-cost electricity market and ensure that residential customers and small business customers benefit from competition.

§ 30-206. Staffing.

Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the Senate or the Office of Clerk of the House of Delegates as may be appropriate for the house in which the chairman of the Commission serves. The Division of Legislative Services shall provide legal, research, policy analysis and other services as requested by the Commission. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission, upon request.

§ 30-207. Chairman's executive summary of activity and work of the Commission.

The chairman of the Commission shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Commission no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

§ 30-208. Consumer Advisory Board; purpose; membership; compensation and expenses; staffing.

A. There shall be established a Consumer Advisory Board to assist the Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring in its work as prescribed in § 30-205 and on other issues as may be directed by the Commission. The Board shall consist of eight members as follows: three nonlegislative citizen members appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; four nonlegislative citizen members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates and one member of the Commission designated by the chairman to serve as a nonvoting liaison member. Appointed members shall be from all classes of consumers and with geographical representation of the regions of the Commonwealth and shall be citizens of the Commonwealth. The chairman of the Commission shall select the chairman of the Board.

B. The Board shall be limited to meeting on the call of the chairman of the Commission.

C. The legislative member of the Board shall receive compensation as provided in § 30-19.12, and nonlegislative citizen members shall receive such compensation for the performance of their duties as provided in § 2.2-2813. All members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. However, all such compensation shall be paid from existing appropriations to the Commission or, if unfunded, shall be approved by the Joint Rules Committee. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the chairman of the Commission, nonlegislative citizen members shall only be reimbursed for travel originating and ending within the Commonwealth of Virginia for the purpose of attending meetings.

D. Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the Senate or the Office of Clerk of the House of Delegates as may be appropriate for the house in which the chairman of the Commission serves. The Division of Legislative Services shall provide legal, research, policy analysis, and other services as requested by the Board. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Board, upon request.

§ 30-209. Sunset.

This chapter shall expire on July 1, 2008.

CHAPTER 32.
VIRGINIA DELEGATION TO MULTISTATE TAX ADMINISTRATION DISCUSSIONS.

§ 30-210. Virginia Delegation to Multistate Tax Administration Discussions; purpose.

There is hereby created the Virginia Delegation to the Multistate Tax Administration Discussions, in the legislative branch of government, to consider whether the Commonwealth should enter into an agreement with one or more other states to simplify and modernize tax administration.

§ 30-211. Definitions.

"Agreement" means an interstate agreement for simplification and uniformity of taxation among member states in order to reduce the burden of tax compliance for sellers and for all types of commerce.

"Seller" means an individual, trust, estate, fiduciary, partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, corporation or any other similar legal entity that sells, leases or rents tangible personal property or services.

"State" means a state of the United States and the District of Columbia.

"Tax" or "taxes" means sales and use taxes imposed pursuant to Title 58.1, or a similar tax imposed by a political subdivision of the Commonwealth.

§ 30-212. Membership; terms; vacancies; chairman and vice chairman; quorum; meetings.

The Virginia delegation shall consist of five legislative members. Members shall be appointed as follows: two members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; and three members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates. Members shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. All members may be reappointed. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be made for the unexpired terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.

The Delegation shall elect a chairman and a vice chairman from among its membership. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum. The Delegation shall meet at least four times each year. The meetings of the Delegation shall be held at the call of the chairman or whenever the majority of the members so request.

§ 30-213. Powers and duties of the Delegation.

A. The Virginia Delegation to the Multistate Tax Administration Discussions regarding the simplification and modernization of tax administration shall consider whether to enter into agreement with one or more states to:

1. Simplify and modernize tax administration in order to substantially reduce the burden of tax compliance for sellers and for all types of commerce;

2. Establish standards for tax compliance software and service providers; and

3. Establish performance standards for multistate sellers.

B. After meeting with similar delegations from other states, the delegates shall make recommendations, including but not limited to proposed legislation, to the 2004 and 2005 Sessions of the General Assembly regarding the issues the delegates are required to consider pursuant to this section and any other related issues the delegates deem advisable.

§ 30-214. Compensation and expenses.

Members shall receive such compensation as provided in § 30-19.12 and shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. All such compensation and expenses shall be paid from existing appropriations to the Delegation or, if unfunded, shall be approved by the Joint Rules Committee.

§ 30-215. Staff Support.

Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the Senate or the Office of Clerk of the House of Delegates as may be appropriate for the house in which the chairman of the Delegation serves. The Division of Legislative Services shall provide legal, research, policy analysis and other services as requested by the Delegation. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Delegation, upon request.

§ 30-216. Chairman's executive summary of activity and work of the Delegation.

The chairman of the Delegation shall submit to the General Assembly and the Governor an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Delegation no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted to the General Assembly's website.

§ 30-217. Sunset.

This chapter shall expire on July 1, 2006.

§ 32.1-73.7. Department to be lead agency for youth suicide prevention.

With such funds as may be appropriated for this purpose, the Department, in consultation with the Department of Education, the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, the Virginia Council on Coordinating Prevention, community services boards, and local departments of health, shall have the lead responsibility for the youth suicide prevention program within the Commonwealth. This responsibility includes coordination of the activities of the agencies of the Commonwealth pertaining to youth suicide prevention in order to develop a comprehensive youth suicide prevention plan addressing the promotion of health development, early identification, crisis intervention, and support to survivors. The plan shall be targeted to the specific needs of children and adolescents. The Department shall cooperate with federal, state and local agencies, private and public agencies, survivor groups and other interested individuals in order to prevent youth suicide within the Commonwealth. The Department shall report annually by December 1 of each year to the Governor and the General Assembly on its youth suicide prevention activities.

The provisions of this section shall not limit the powers and duties of other state agencies.

§ 51.5-39.2. The Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy established; governing board; terms.

A. The Department for Rights of Virginians with Disabilities is hereby reestablished as an independent state agency, to be known as the Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy. The Office is designated as the agency to protect and advocate for the rights of persons with mental, cognitive, sensory, physical or other disabilities and to receive federal funds on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia to implement the federal Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Act, the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, the federal Rehabilitation Act, the Virginians with Disabilities Act and such other related programs as may be established by state and federal law. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Office shall be independent of the Office of the Attorney General and shall have the authority, pursuant to subdivision 5 of § 2.2-510, to employ and contract with legal counsel to carry out the purposes of this chapter and to employ and contract with legal counsel to advise and represent the Office, to initiate actions on behalf of the Office, and to defend the Office and its officers, agents and employees in the course and scope of their employment or authorization, in any matter, including state, federal and administrative proceedings. Compensation for legal counsel shall be paid out of the funds appropriated for the administration of the Office. However, in the event defense is provided under Article 5 (§ 2.2-1832 et seq.) of Chapter 18 of Title 2.2, counsel shall be appointed pursuant to subdivision 4 of § 2.2-510. The Office shall provide ombudsman, advocacy and legal services to persons with disabilities who may be represented by the Office. The Office is authorized to receive and act upon complaints concerning discrimination on the basis of disability, abuse and neglect or other denial of rights, and practices and conditions in institutions, hospitals, and programs for persons with disabilities, and to investigate complaints relating to abuse and neglect or other violation of the rights of persons with disabilities in proceedings under state or federal law, and to initiate any proceedings to secure the rights of such persons.

B. The Office shall be governed by an eleven 11-member board. The Board shall be composed of members who broadly represent or are knowledgeable about the needs of persons with disabilities served by the Office. Two or more members shall have experience in the fields of developmental disabilities and mental health. Persons with mental, cognitive, sensory or physical disabilities or family members, guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives of such persons shall be included. No elected official shall serve on the Board. No current employee of the Departments of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, Health, Rehabilitative Services or for the Blind and Vision Impaired or a community services board, behavioral health authority, or local government department with a policy-advisory community services board shall serve as a member. In appointing the members of the Board, consideration shall be given to persons nominated by statewide groups that advocate for the physically, developmentally and mentally disabled. The Governor and General Assembly shall not be limited in their appointments to persons so nominated; however, the Governor and General Assembly shall seriously consider the persons nominated and appoint such persons whenever feasible.

C. The Governor shall appoint three members of the Board who shall be confirmed by the affirmative vote of a majority of those voting in each house of the General Assembly. The Speaker of the House of Delegates shall appoint five members, and the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections shall appoint three members of the Board. No such appointments shall be members of the General Assembly. The Board appointments shall be made to give representation insofar as feasible to various geographic areas of the Commonwealth.

D. The terms of the initial members of the Board shall be as follows:

1. Two legislative appointees shall be appointed for a term of one year each;

2. One gubernatorial and two legislative appointees shall be appointed for a term of two years each;

3. One gubernatorial and two legislative appointees shall be appointed for a term of three years each; and

4. One gubernatorial and two legislative appointees shall be appointed for a term of four years each. consisting of 11 nonlegislative citizen members. The members shall be appointed as follows: five citizens at large, of whom one shall be a person with a developmental disability or the parent, family member, guardian, advocate, or authorized representative of such an individual, one shall be a person with a physical disability or the parent, family member, guardian, advocate, or authorized representative of such an individual, one shall be a person who represents persons with cognitive disabilities, one shall be a person who represents persons with developmental disabilities, and one shall be a person who represents persons with sensory or physical disabilities, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; three citizens at large, of whom one shall be a person with a cognitive disability or the parent, family member, guardian, advocate, or authorized representative of such an individual, one shall be a person who represents persons with mental illnesses, and one shall be a person who represents people with mental or neurological disabilities, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; and three citizens at large, of whom one shall be a person with a mental illness or the parent, family member, guardian, advocate, or authorized representative of such an individual, one shall be a person with a sensory disability or the parent, family member, guardian, advocate, or authorized representative of such an individual, and one shall be a person with a mental or neurological disability or the parent, family member, guardian, advocate, or authorized representative of such an individual, to be appointed by the Governor. Persons appointed to the board to represent individuals with a disability shall be knowledgeable of the broad range of needs of such persons served by the Office. Persons appointed to the board who have a disability shall be individuals who are eligible for, are receiving, or have received services through the state system that protects and advocates for the rights of individuals with disabilities. In appointing the members of the Board, consideration shall be given to persons nominated by statewide groups that advocate for the physically, developmentally, and mentally disabled. The Speaker of the House of Delegates, the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections and the Governor shall not be limited in their appointments to persons so nominated; however, such appointing authorities shall seriously consider the persons nominated and appoint such persons whenever feasible.

No member of the General Assembly, elected official, or current employee of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, State Health Department, Department of Rehabilitative Services, Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, a community services board, a behavioral health authority, or a local government department with a policy-advisory community services board shall be appointed to the Board.

C. Appointments of nonlegislative citizen members shall be staggered as follows: two members for a term of one year, one member for a term of two years, one member for a term of three years, and one member for a term of four years appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; one member for a term of two years, one member for a term of three years, and one member for a term of four years appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; and one member for a term of two years, one member for a term of three years, and one member for a term of four years appointed by the Governor. Thereafter, nonlegislative citizen members shall be appointed for four-year terms.E. a term of four years. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be for the unexpired terms. A vacancy of a legislatively appointed member shall be filled by either the Speaker of the House of Delegates or the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections, and any such appointee shall enter upon and continue in office, All members may be reappointed, except that any member appointed initially to a four-year term shall not be eligible for reappointment for two years after the expiration of his term. However, no nonlegislative citizen member shall serve more than two consecutive four-year terms. The remainder of any term to which a member is appointed to fill a vacancy shall not constitute a term in determining the member's eligibility for reappointment. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be made for the unexpired terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. All appointments and reappointments shall be subject to confirmation at the next session of the General Assembly. If the General Assembly fails to confirm his appointment, such person shall not be eligible for reappointment. Members shall continue to serve until such time as their successors have been appointed and duly qualified to serve.

F. A member who has been appointed to a four-year term shall not be eligible for reappointment during the two-year period beginning on the date on which such four-year term expired. However, upon the expiration of an appointment to an unexpired term, or an appointment described in subdivision D 1, D 2, or D 3, a member may be reappointed to a four-year term.

G. D. The Board shall elect a chairman and a vice chairman from among its members and appoint a secretary who may or may not be a member of the Board. A majority of the members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. The chairman shall preside over meetings of the Board and perform additional duties as may be set by resolution of the Board.

H. The Board shall meet at least four times each year. The meetings of the Board shall be held at the call of the chairman or whenever the majority of the voting members so request. The chairman shall perform such additional duties as may be established by resolution of the Board.

E. Members shall serve without compensation for their services; however, all members shall be reimbursed for their all reasonable and necessary and actual expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. Funding for the costs of expenses of the members shall be provided by the Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy.

I. F. Members of the Board shall be subject to removal from office only as set forth in Article 7 (§ 24.2-230 et seq.) of Chapter 2 of Title 24.2. The Circuit Court of the City of Richmond shall have exclusive jurisdiction over all proceedings for such removal.

G. The chairman of the Board shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Board no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted to the General Assembly's website.

§ 56-579. Regional transmission entities.

A. As set forth in § 56-577, on or before January 1, 2001, each incumbent electric utility owning, operating, controlling, or having an entitlement to transmission capacity shall join or establish a regional transmission entity (RTE) to which such utility shall transfer the management and control of its transmission assets, subject to the following:

1. No such incumbent electric utility shall transfer to any person any ownership or control of, or any responsibility to operate, any portion of any transmission system located in the Commonwealth without obtaining the prior approval of the Commission, as hereinafter provided.

2. The Commission shall develop rules and regulations under which any such incumbent electric utility owning, operating, controlling, or having an entitlement to transmission capacity within the Commonwealth, may transfer all or part of such control, ownership or responsibility to an RTE, upon such terms and conditions that the Commission determines will:

a. Promote:

(1) Practices for the reliable planning, operating, maintaining, and upgrading of the transmission systems and any necessary additions thereto; and

(2) Policies for the pricing and access for service over such systems, which are safe, reliable, efficient, not unduly discriminatory and consistent with the orderly development of competition in the Commonwealth;

b. Be consistent with lawful requirements of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission;

c. Be effectuated on terms that fairly compensate the transferor;

d. Generally promote the public interest, and are consistent with (i) ensuring the successful development of interstate regional transmission entities and (ii) meeting the transmission needs of electric generation suppliers both within and without this Commonwealth.

B. The Commission shall also adopt rules and regulations, with appropriate public input, establishing elements of regional transmission entity structures essential to the public interest, which elements shall be applied by the Commission in determining whether to authorize transfer of ownership or control from an incumbent electric utility to a regional transmission entity.

C. The Commission shall, to the fullest extent permitted under federal law, participate in any and all proceedings concerning regional transmission entities furnishing transmission services within the Commonwealth, before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Such participation may include such intervention as is permitted state utility regulators under FERC rules and procedures.

D. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to abrogate or modify:

1. The Commission's authority over transmission line or facility construction, enlargement or acquisition within this Commonwealth, as set forth in Chapter 10.1 (§ 56-265.1 et seq.) of this title;

2. The laws of this Commonwealth concerning the exercise of the right of eminent domain by a public service corporation pursuant to the provisions of Article 5 (§ 56-257 et seq.) of Chapter 10 of this title; however, on and after January 1, 2002, a petition may not be filed to exercise the right of eminent domain in conjunction with the construction or enlargement of any utility facility whose purpose is the generation of electric energy; or

3. The Commission's authority over retail electric energy sold to retail customers within the Commonwealth by licensed suppliers of electric service, including necessary reserve requirements, all as specified in § 56-587.

E. For purposes of this section, transmission capacity shall not include capacity that is primarily operated in a distribution function, as determined by the Commission, taking into consideration any binding federal precedents.

F. On or after January 1, 2002, the Commission shall report to the Legislative Transition Task Force Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring its assessment of the success in the practices and policies of the RTE facilitating the orderly development of competition in the Commonwealth.

§ 56-581.1. Competitive retail electric billing and metering.

A. Effective January 1, 2002, (i) distributors shall offer consolidated billing services to licensed suppliers, aggregators, and retail customers, and (ii) licensed suppliers and aggregators shall be permitted to bill all retail customers separately for services rendered on and after the first regular meter reading date after January 1, 2002, subject to conditions, regulations, and licensing requirements established by the Commission.

B. Effective January 1, 2003, licensed suppliers and aggregators may offer consolidated billing service to distributors and retail customers for services rendered on and after the first regular meter reading date after January 1, 2003, subject to conditions, regulations, and licensing requirements established by the Commission.

C. Upon application by a distributor or upon its own motion, the Commission may delay any element of the competitive provision of billing services to retail customers for the period of time necessary, but no longer than one year, to resolve issues arising from considerations of billing accuracy, timeliness, quality, consumer readiness, or adverse effects upon development of competition in electric service. The Commission shall report any such delays and the underlying reasons therefor to the Legislative Transition Task Force Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring within a reasonable time.

D. The Commission shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this section in a manner that is consistent with its Recommendation and Draft Plan filed with the Legislative Transition Task Force, the predecessor of the Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring, on December 12, 2000, to facilitate the development of effective competition in electric service for all customer classes, and to ensure reasonable levels of billing accuracy, timeliness, and quality, and adequate consumer readiness and protection. Such rules and regulations shall include provisions regarding the licensing of persons seeking to sell, offering to sell, or selling competitive billing services, pursuant to the licensure requirements of § 56-587.

E. The Commission shall implement the provision of competitive metering services by licensed providers for large industrial and large commercial customers of investor-owned distributors on January 1, 2002, and may approve such services for residential and small business customers of investor-owned distributors on or after January 1, 2003, as determined to be in the public interest by the Commission. Such implementation and approvals shall:

1. Be consistent with the goal of facilitating the development of effective competition in electric service for all customer classes;

2. Take into account the readiness of customers and suppliers to buy and sell such services;

3. Take into account the technological feasibility of furnishing any such services on a competitive basis;

4. Take into account whether reasonable steps have been or will be taken to educate and prepare customers for the implementation of competition for any such services;

5. Not jeopardize the safety, reliability or quality of electric service;

6. Consider the degree of control exerted over utility operations by utility customers;

7. Not adversely affect the ability of an incumbent electric utility authorized or obligated to provide electric service to customers who do not buy such services from competitors to provide electric service to such customers at reasonable rates;

8. Give due consideration to the potential effects of such determinations on utility tax collection by state and local governments in the Commonwealth; and

9. Ensure the technical and administrative readiness of a distributor to coordinate and facilitate the provision of competitive metering services for its customers.

Upon the reasonable request of a distributor, the Commission shall delay the provision of competitive metering service in such distributor's service territory until January 1, 2003, for large industrial and large commercial customers, and after January 1, 2004, for residential and small business customers.

F. The Commission shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the authorization related to competitive metering services provided for in subsection E. Such rules and regulations shall include provisions regarding the licensing of persons seeking to sell, offering to sell, or selling competitive metering services, pursuant to the licensure requirements of § 56-587.

G. An incumbent electric utility shall coordinate with persons licensed to provide competitive metering service, billing services, or both, as the Commission deems reasonably necessary to the development of such competition. The foregoing shall apply to an affiliate of an incumbent electric utility if such affiliate controls a resource that is necessary to the coordination required of the incumbent electric utility by this subsection.

H. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 56-582, the Commission shall allow a distributor to recover its costs directly associated with the implementation of billing or metering competition through a tariff for all licensed suppliers, but not those that would be incurred by such utilities in any event as part of the restructuring under this Act. The Commission shall also determine the most appropriate method of recovering such costs through a tariff for such licensed suppliers; however, such method shall not unreasonably affect any customer for which the service is not made competitive.

I. The Commission shall adjust the rates for any noncompetitive services provided by a distributor so that such rates do not reflect costs associated with or properly allocable to the service made subject to competition. Such adjustment may be accomplished through unbundled rates, bill credits, the distributor's tariffs for licensed suppliers, or other methods as determined by the Commission.

J. Municipal electric utilities shall not be required to provide consolidated billing services to licensed suppliers, aggregators or retail customers. Municipal electric utilities and utility consumer services cooperatives shall not be required to undertake coordination of the provision of consolidated or direct billing services by suppliers and aggregators; however, the exemptions set forth in this subsection shall not apply if any such municipal electric utility or utility consumer services cooperative, or its affiliate, offers competitive electric energy supply to retail customers in the service territory of any other Virginia incumbent electric utility. The Commission may permit any municipal electric utility or utility consumer services cooperative that pursues such competitive activity to maintain such exemption upon application to the Commission demonstrating good cause for relief. In addition, upon petition by a utility consumer services cooperative, the Commission may approve the provision of competitive metering services by licensed providers for large industrial and large commercial customers of such cooperative on or after January 1, 2002, and for residential and small business customers of such cooperative on or after January 1, 2003, as determined to be in the public interest by the Commission consistent with the criteria set forth in subsection E.

§ 56-585. Default service.

A. The Commission shall, after notice and opportunity for hearing, (i) determine the components of default service and (ii) establish one or more programs making such services available to retail customers requiring them commencing with the availability throughout the Commonwealth of customer choice for all retail customers as established pursuant to § 56-577. For purposes of this chapter, "default service" means service made available under this section to retail customers who (i) do not affirmatively select a supplier, (ii) are unable to obtain service from an alternative supplier, or (iii) have contracted with an alternative supplier who fails to perform.

B. From time to time, the Commission shall designate one or more providers of default service. In doing so, the Commission:

1. Shall take into account the characteristics and qualifications of prospective providers, including proposed rates, experience, safety, reliability, corporate structure, access to electric energy resources necessary to serve customers requiring such services, and other factors deemed necessary to ensure the reliable provision of such services, to prevent the inefficient use of such services, and to protect the public interest;

2. May periodically, as necessary, conduct competitive bidding processes under procedures established by the Commission and, upon a finding that the public interest will be served, designate one or more willing and suitable providers to provide one or more components of such services, in one or more regions of the Commonwealth, to one or more classes of customers;

3. To the extent that default service is not provided pursuant to a designation under subdivision 2, may require a distributor to provide, in a safe and reliable manner, one or more components of such services, or to form an affiliate to do so, in one or more regions of the Commonwealth, at rates determined pursuant to subsection C and for periods specified by the Commission; however, the Commission may not require a distributor, or affiliate thereof, to provide any such services outside the territory in which such distributor provides service; and

4. Notwithstanding imposition on a distributor by the Commission of the requirement provided in subdivision 3, the Commission may thereafter, upon a finding that the public interest will be served, designate through the competitive bidding process established in subdivision 2 one or more willing and suitable providers to provide one or more components of such services, in one or more regions of the Commonwealth, to one or more classes of customers.

C. If a distributor is required to provide default services pursuant to subdivision B 3, after notice and opportunity for hearing, the Commission shall periodically, for each distributor, determine the rates, terms and conditions for default services, taking into account the characteristics and qualifications set forth in subdivision B 1, as follows:

1. Until the expiration or termination of capped rates, the rates for default service provided by a distributor shall equal the capped rates established pursuant to subdivision A 2 of § 56-582. After the expiration or termination of such capped rates, the rates for default services shall be based upon competitive market prices for electric generation services.

2. The Commission shall, after notice and opportunity for hearing, determine the rates, terms and conditions for default service by such distributor on the basis of the provisions of Chapter 10 (§ 56-232 et seq.) of this title, except that the generation-related components of such rates shall be (i) based upon a plan approved by the Commission as set forth in subdivision 3 or (ii) in the absence of an approved plan, based upon prices for generation capacity and energy in competitive regional electricity markets.

3. Prior to a distributor's provision of default service, and upon request of such distributor, the Commission shall review any plan filed by the distributor to procure electric generation services for default service. The Commission shall approve such plan if the Commission determines that the procurement of electric generation capacity and energy under such plan is adequately based upon prices of capacity and energy in competitive regional electricity markets. If the Commission determines that the plan does not adequately meet such criteria, then the Commission shall modify the plan, with the concurrence of the distributor, or reject the plan.

4. a. For purposes of this subsection, in determining whether regional electricity markets are competitive and rates for default service, the Commission shall consider (i) the liquidity and price transparency of such markets, (ii) whether competition is an effective regulator of prices in such markets, (iii) the wholesale or retail nature of such markets, as appropriate, (iv) the reasonable accessibility of such markets to the regional transmission entity to which the distributor belongs, and (v) such other factors it finds relevant. As used in this subsection, the term "competitive regional electricity market" means a market in which competition, and not statutory or regulatory price constraints, effectively regulates the price of electricity.

b. If, in establishing a distributor's default service generation rates, the Commission is unable to identify regional electricity markets where competition is an effective regulator of rates, then the Commission shall establish such distributor's default service generation rates by setting rates that would approximate those likely to be produced in a competitive regional electricity market. Such proxy generation rates shall take into account: (i) the factors set forth in subdivision C 4 a, and (ii) such additional factors as the Commission deems necessary to produce such proxy generation rates.

D. In implementing this section, the Commission shall take into consideration the need of default service customers for rate stability and for protection from unreasonable rate fluctuations.

E. On or before July 1, 2004, and annually thereafter, the Commission shall determine, after notice and opportunity for hearing, whether there is a sufficient degree of competition such that the elimination of default service for particular customers, particular classes of customers or particular geographic areas of the Commonwealth will not be contrary to the public interest. The Commission shall report its findings and recommendations concerning modification or termination of default service to the General Assembly and to the Legislative Transition Task Force Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring, not later than December 1, 2004, and annually thereafter.

F. A distribution electric cooperative, or one or more affiliates thereof, shall have the obligation and right to be the supplier of default services in its certificated service territory. A distribution electric cooperative's rates for such default services shall be the capped rate for the duration of the capped rate period and shall be based upon the distribution electric cooperative's prudently incurred cost thereafter. Subsections B and C shall not apply to a distribution electric cooperative or its rates. Such default services, for the purposes of this subsection, shall include the supply of electric energy and all services made competitive pursuant to § 56-581.1. If a distribution electric cooperative, or one or more affiliates thereof, elects or seeks to be a default supplier of another electric utility, then the Commission shall designate the default supplier for that distribution electric cooperative, or any affiliate thereof, pursuant to subsection B.

§ 56-592. Consumer education and protection; Commission report to Commission Electric Utility Restructuring.

A. The Commission shall develop a consumer education program designed to provide the following information to retail customers during the period of transition to retail competition and thereafter:

1. Opportunities and options in choosing (i) suppliers and aggregators of electric energy and (ii) any other service made competitive pursuant to this chapter;

2. Marketing and billing information suppliers and aggregators of electric energy will be required to furnish retail customers;

3. Retail customers' rights and obligations concerning the purchase of electric energy and related services; and

4. Such other information as the Commission may deem necessary and appropriate in the public interest.

B. The Commission shall complete the development of the consumer education program described in subsection A, and report its findings and recommendations to the Legislative Transition Task Force Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring on or before December 1, 1999, and as frequently thereafter as may be required by the Task Force such Commission concerning:

1. The scope of such recommended program consistent with the requirements of subsection A;

2. Materials and media required to effectuate any such program;

3. State agency and nongovernmental entity participation;

4. Program duration;

5. Funding requirements and mechanisms for any such program; and

6. Such other findings and recommendations the Commission deems appropriate in the public interest.

C. The Commission shall develop regulations governing marketing practices by public service companies, licensed suppliers, aggregators or any other providers of services made competitive by this chapter, including regulations to prevent unauthorized switching of suppliers, unauthorized charges, and improper solicitation activities. The Commission shall also establish standards for marketing information to be furnished by licensed suppliers, aggregators or any other providers of services made competitive by this chapter during the period of transition to retail competition, and thereafter, which information shall include standards concerning:

1. Pricing and other key contract terms and conditions;

2. To the extent feasible, fuel mix and emissions data on at least an annualized basis;

3. Customer's rights of cancellation following execution of any contract;

4. Toll-free telephone number for customer assistance; and

5. Such other and further marketing information as the Commission may deem necessary and appropriate in the public interest.

D. The Commission shall also establish standards for billing information to be furnished by public service companies, suppliers, aggregators or any other providers of services made competitive by this chapter during the period of transition to retail competition, and thereafter. Such billing information standards shall require that billing formation:

1. Distinguishes between charges for regulated services and unregulated services;

2. Itemizes any and all nonbypassable wires charges;

3. Is presented in a format that complies with standards to be established by the Commission;

4. Discloses, to the extent feasible, fuel mix and emissions data on at least an annualized basis; and

5. Includes such other billing information as the Commission deems necessary and appropriate in the public interest.

E. The Commission shall establish or maintain a complaint bureau for the purpose of receiving, reviewing and investigating complaints by retail customers against public service companies, licensed suppliers, aggregators and other providers of any services made competitive under this chapter. Upon the request of any interested person or the Attorney General, or upon its own motion, the Commission shall be authorized to inquire into possible violations of this chapter and to enjoin or punish any violations thereof pursuant to its authority under this chapter, this title, and under Title 12.1. The Attorney General shall have a right to participate in such proceedings consistent with the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure.

F. The Commission shall establish reasonable limits on customer security deposits required by public service companies, suppliers, aggregators or any other persons providing competitive services pursuant to this chapter.

§ 56-592.1. Consumer education program; scope and funding.

A. The Commission shall establish and implement a consumer education program in conjunction with the implementation of this chapter. In establishing such a program, the Commission shall take into account findings and recommendations in the Commission's December 1, 1999, report to the Legislative Transition Task Force made pursuant to § 56-592, the predecessor of the Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring.

B. The program shall be designed to (i) enable consumers to make rational and informed choices about energy providers in a competitive retail market, (ii) help consumers reduce transaction costs in selecting energy suppliers, and (iii) foster compliance with the consumer protection provisions of this chapter, and those contained in other laws of this Commonwealth, by all participants in a competitive retail market.

C. The Commission shall regularly consult with representatives of consumer organizations, community-based groups, state agencies, incumbent utilities, competitive suppliers and other interested parties throughout the program's implementation and operation.

D. Pursuant to the provisions of § 56-595 30-205, the Commission shall provide periodic updates to the Legislative Transition Task Force Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring concerning the program's implementation and operation.

E. The Commission shall fund the establishment and operation of such consumer education program through the special regulatory revenue tax currently authorized by § 58.1-2660 and the special regulatory tax authorized by Chapter 29 (§ 58.1-2900 et seq.) of Title 58.1.

§ 56-596. Advancing competition.

A. In all relevant proceedings pursuant to this Act, the Commission shall take into consideration, among other things, the goals of advancement of competition and economic development in the Commonwealth.

B. By September 1 of each year, the Commission shall report to the Legislative Transition Task Force Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring and the Governor information on the status of competition in the Commonwealth, the status of the development of regional competitive markets, and its recommendations to facilitate effective competition in the Commonwealth as soon as practical. This report shall include any recommendations of actions to be taken by the General Assembly, the Commission, electric utilities, suppliers, generators, distributors and regional transmission entities it considers to be in the public interest. Such recommendations shall include actions regarding the supply and demand balance for generation services, new and existing generation capacity, transmission constraints, market power, suppliers licensed and operating in the Commonwealth, and the shared or joint use of generation sites.

§ 62.1-69.34. Virginia Roanoke River Basin Advisory Committee established; purpose; membership; terms; meetings.

A. The Virginia Roanoke River Basin Advisory Committee, hereinafter referred to as the "Committee," is hereby established in the executive branch of state government as an advisory committee to the Virginia delegation to the Roanoke River Basin Bi-State Commission, to . The Committee shall assist the delegation in fulfilling the its duties and carrying out the objectives of the Commission, pursuant to § 62.1-69.35 62.1-69.39. The advisory committee shall be composed of eighteen 21 members to that include six legislative members and 11 nonlegislative citizen members, and four ex officio members. Members shall be appointed as follows: two members of the Senate, whose districts include a part of the Virginia portion of the Roanoke River Basin, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; four members of the House of Delegates, whose districts include a part of the Virginia portion of the Roanoke River Basin, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; 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; ten 11 nonlegislative citizen members selected by the legislative members of the advisory committee such that two are chosen from recommendations of whom each of the following: the two each shall be members of the Central Virginia Planning District Commission, and the West Piedmont Planning District Commission, and one shall be a member of the New River Valley Planning District Commission, from among recommendations submitted by the respective planning district commissions, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; two each shall be members of 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, from among recommendations submitted by the respective planning district commissions, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; and the Virginia member of the United States House of Representatives, whose district includes the largest portion of the Basin, or his designee, and three representatives of the State of North Carolina appointed in a manner as the General Assembly of North Carolina may determine appropriate. Except for the representatives of North Carolina, all nonlegislative citizen members shall be citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Virginia member of the United States House of Representatives and the representatives of North Carolina shall serve ex officio without voting privileges. Of the recommendations submitted by planning district commissions authorized to recommend two members, one member shall be a nonlegislative citizen who resides within the respective planning district. However, the New River Valley Planning District Commission may recommend either a one nonlegislative citizen at-large at large who resides within the planning district or a one member, who at the time of the recommendation, is serving as an elected member or an employee of a local governing body, or a one member of the board of directors or an employee of the planning district commission. All persons recommended by the planning district commissions to serve as members of the advisory committee shall 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 representing the interests of the State of North Carolina who may be appointed to the advisory committee shall serve as non-voting ex officio members.

The advisory committee shall elect a chairman and a vice-chairman from among its members.

B. State and federal legislative members and local government officials appointed to the advisory committee shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. Members recommended by planning district commissions to serve on the advisory committee and ex officio members representing the State of North Carolina shall serve a term of two years. Initially, planning district commissions authorized to recommend two members to the advisory committee Initial appointments of nonlegislative citizen members shall recommend one member for a term of two years and one member for a term of one year. However, the member recommended to serve on the advisory committee by the New River Valley Planning District Commission shall serve a term of one year. be staggered as follows: two members for a term of two years and three members for a term of one year appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; and three members for a term of two years and three members for a term of one year appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates. Thereafter, the nonlegislative citizen members shall be appointed for a term of office of members recommended by planning district commissions shall be for two years. All members may be reappointed. Nonlegislative citizen members recommended by planning district commissions shall be eligible for reappointment, if such members shall have attended at least one-half of all meetings of the Commission during their current term of service. However, no member recommended by a planning district commission shall serve more than three consecutive two-year terms. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be made for the unexpired terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

The advisory committee shall elect a chairman and a vice chairman from among its voting members. A majority of the voting members shall constitute a quorum. The meetings of the advisory committee shall be held at the call of the chairman or whenever the majority of the voting members so request.

§ 62.1-69.35. Compensation and expenses.

Legislative members of the advisory committee shall receive such compensation as provided in § 30-19.12, and nonlegislative members shall receive such compensation for the performance of their duties as provided in § 2.2-2813. All members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. Funding for the costs of compensation and expenses of members shall be paid from such funds as may be provided to the Department of Environmental Quality in the appropriations act for this purpose.

§ 62.1-69.35:1. Staffing.

The Department of Environmental Quality shall provide staff support to the advisory committee. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the advisory committee, upon request.

§ 62.1-69.35:2. Chairman's executive summary of activity and work of the advisory committee.

The chairman of the advisory committee shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the advisory committee no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

§ 62.1-69.38. Membership; terms.

A. The Commission shall be composed of eighteen 18 voting members with each state appointing nine that include nine members representing the Commonwealth of Virginia and nine members representing the State of North Carolina. The Virginia delegation shall consist of the state six legislative members appointed to the Virginia Roanoke River Basin Advisory Committee, and three nonlegislative citizen members appointed to the Virginia Roanoke River Basin Advisory Committee by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections and the Speaker of the House of Delegates, and three nonlegislative members of the Virginia Roanoke River Basin Advisory Committee, who represent different geographical areas of the Virginia portion of the Roanoke River Basin, to be appointed by the Governor of Virginia. The North Carolina delegation to the Commission shall be appointed as determined by the State of North Carolina. All members appointed to the Commission by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of North Carolina shall reside within the Basin's watershed. Members of the Virginia House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia, the North Carolina House of Representatives and Senate, and federal legislators, who have not been appointed to the Commission and whose districts include any portion of the Basin, may shall serve as nonvoting ex officio members of the Commission.

B. The terms of office for appointed Legislative members of the Virginia delegation, federal legislators, and local government officials, whether appointed or ex officio, shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. Nonlegislative citizen members shall be two years appointed to serve two-year terms, unless the member is reappointed by the appointing authorities of each state. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be made for the unexpired terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. State and federal legislators and local government officials, whether appointed or ex officio, shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office.

C. Each state's delegation to the Commission may meet separately to discuss Basin-related issues affecting their state, and may report their findings independently of the Commission. A majority of the voting members shall constitute a quorum.

§ 62.1-69.43. Compensation and expenses.

A. Legislative members of the Virginia delegation to the Commission shall receive such compensation as provided in § 30-19.12, and nonlegislative members shall receive such compensation for the performance of their duties as provided in § 2.2-2813. All voting members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. However, all such expenses shall be paid from existing appropriations and funds provided to the Commission or, if unfunded, shall be approved by the Joint Rules Committee.

Members of the Virginia House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia, and members of the Virginia Congressional delegation, who have not been appointed to the Commission, whose districts include any portion of the Basin, and who serve as nonvoting ex officio members of the Commission shall serve without compensation and expenses.

Nonlegislative citizen members appointed to any standing committees or ad hoc committees shall serve without compensation and expenses.

B. The North Carolina members of the Commission shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel expenses as follows:

1. Ex officio legislative members who are members of the General Assembly at the rate established in North Carolina G.S. 138-6;

2. Commission members who are officials or employees of the State or of local government agencies at the rate established in North Carolina G.S. 138-6; and

3. All other members at the rate established in North Carolina G.S. 138-5.

2. That Article 3 (§§ 2.2-2709 and 2.2-2710) of Chapter 27 of Title 2.2 of the Code of Virginia and § 56-595 of the Code of Virginia are repealed.

3. That Chapter 476 of the Acts of Assembly of 2002 is repealed.

4. That Chapter 657 of the Acts of Assembly of 2002 is repealed.

5. That the current members of the Legislative Transition Task Force appointed pursuant to § 56-595 of the Code of Virginia and members appointed to fill vacancies may continue to serve as members of the Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring until July 1, 2008, if such members retain their legislative seats.

6. That whenever any reference is made in law or other provision approved by the General Assembly to the former Legislative Transition Task Force, such reference shall be construed to apply mutatis mutandis to the Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring.

7. That all current members of the collegial bodies whose terms have been modified by this act shall be eligible, if reappointed, to the full number of terms provided by this act regardless of prior service.

8. That notwithstanding the provisions of § 2.2-2424 of the Code of Virginia, beginning July 1, 2004, the Governor shall stagger the terms of his appointments to the Virginia-Israel Advisory Board as follows: three members shall serve initial terms of one year; three members shall serve initial terms of two years; three members shall serve initial terms of three years; and four members shall serve initial terms of four years. Thereafter, all members appointed by the Governor shall serve terms of four years.

9. That the current term of the members appointed to the governing board of the Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy prior to July 1, 2003, shall continue and not be affected by this act.