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2003 SESSION

038080660
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 516
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee on Rules
on January 28, 2003)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Callahan)
Continuing the Virginia-Maryland-District of Columbia Joint Legislative Commission on Interstate Transportation. Report.

WHEREAS, House Joint Resolution No. 154 of the 2000 Session of the General Assembly established a joint legislative commission on interstate transportation to meet with legislators from the State of Maryland and representatives of the District of Columbia to advise the General Assembly and the Governor on efforts to address interstate transportation issues in the Metropolitan Washington region; and

WHEREAS, the considerable size of this panel, the unprecedented nature of its mandate, the sensitivity and complexity of the many challenges involved, and the very considerable cost associated with virtually every attempt to meet those challenges have all combined to make the work of the Commission very time-consuming; and

WHEREAS, the Commission was continued for an additional 2 years by House Joint Resolution No. 526 (2001); and

WHEREAS, the Commission has not yet arrived at a sufficient consensus to permit it to make final recommendations to the Virginia and Maryland state legislatures and the Washington, D.C., city council; and

WHEREAS, however cumbersome and time-consuming this process may be, the need for interjurisdictional dialogue aimed at comprehensive, creative, region-wide solutions to the area's many and vexing transportation difficulties is so urgent, and the possible benefits from such interjurisdictional cooperation are so valuable that a long-term commitment by the Commonwealth to the process is amply justified; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Virginia-Maryland-District of Columbia Joint Legislative Commission on Interstate Transportation be continued. The Commission shall be composed of 11 legislative members, including 6 members of the House of Delegates and 5 members of the Senate. Members shall be appointed as follows: 6 members of the House of Delegates, of whom 2 shall be members of the House Committee on Transportation, 2 shall be members of the House Committee on Appropriations, and 2 shall be members of the House Committee on Finance, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates. Current members appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections shall continue to serve. Vacancies shall be filled by the original appointing authority.

The President of the Maryland State Senate and the Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates are requested to reappoint an equal number of representatives from their respective chambers, in accordance with the appointment procedures of the respective chambers of the General Assembly of Maryland, to serve on the Commission. The Mayor of the District of Columbia is requested to redesignate 1 appropriate cabinet- or department-level official to represent the Mayor's office to serve on the Commission. The Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia is requested to redesignate 2 members of the Council to serve on the Commission.

The Commission shall elect 2 co-chairmen from among its members, 1 each from the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of Maryland.

The Virginia delegation to the Commission shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among its membership, who shall be members of the Virginia General Assembly, to provide leadership for the delegation.

In conducting its study, the Commission shall continue to work cooperatively to identify barriers to and opportunities for improved transportation links between Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, including, but not limited to, new or expanded bridge crossings and transit services. The Commission shall avoid duplication of effort with existing public bodies, such as the Transportation Planning Board for the National Capital Area. In addition, the Commission may continue to seek the assistance of the citizen advisory committee, consisting of representatives of area local governments, local chambers of commerce and related business groups, AAA Potomac, citizens associations, and environmental organizations, which was appointed by the co-chairmen of the Commission.

Administrative staff support shall continue to be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the House of Delegates. Legal, research, policy analysis, and other services as requested by the Commission shall continue to be provided by the Division of Legislative Services. Technical assistance shall continue to be provided by the Virginia Department of Transportation. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission for this study, upon request. The Maryland Department of Transportation is requested to continue to work cooperatively with the Division of Legislative Services and the Virginia Department of Transportation to provide staff support for the Commission's work.

The Commission shall be limited to 4 meetings in each year of the 2003, 2004, and 2005 interims, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $37,500 for the 3-year study period without approval as set out in this resolution. Approval for unbudgeted nonmember-related expenses shall require the written authorization of the chairman of the Commission and the respective Clerk. If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required.

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

The Commission shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2005, and the chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2006 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the Commission intends to submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a document. The executive summary and report 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.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may approve or disapprove expenditures for this study, extend or delay the period for the conduct of the study, or authorize additional meetings during the 2003, 2004, and 2005 interims.