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2004 SESSION

042266404
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 185
Offered January 14, 2004
Prefiled January 14, 2004
Continuing the U.S. Route 460 Communications Committee. Report.
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Patron-- McDonnell
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, House Joint Resolution No. 684 of the 2001 Regular Session of the General Assembly established the U.S. Route 460 Communications Committee; and

WHEREAS, Senate Joint Resolution No. 324 of the 2003 Regular Session of the General Assembly amended House Joint Resolution No. 684 of 2001; and

WHEREAS, these 2003 amendments resulted in a degree of ambiguity as to the intended duration of the Committee's mandate from the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, the resolution by which the Committee was established clearly stated that the Committee's work was to continue until "commencement of construction of the U.S. 460 upgrade project"; and

WHEREAS, in the three years of the Committee's existence, much useful work has been done, in a time of uncertainty of highway construction funding and a general contraction of the Commonwealth's transportation improvement program, to maintain and increase the U.S. 460 upgrade project's momentum; and

WHEREAS, working cooperatively with representatives of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the Committee was able to ensure adequate funding to proceed with environmental and other studies required in order to gain federal approval and funding for the U.S. 460 upgrade project; and

WHEREAS, acting on the basis of information from the Virginia Secretary of Transportation's office and VDOT, the Committee has communicated with the Governor and the Virginia delegation to the Congress of the United States to request that federal funds for the U.S. 460 upgrade project be specifically provided and earmarked in federal highway program reauthorization legislation (SAFETEA) presently before Congress; and

WHEREAS, the Committee has been working with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation to make high-speed passenger rail service between Richmond and Hampton Roads through the U.S. Route 460 corridor; and

WHEREAS, much of what the Committee has achieved over the past three years may have been in vain, if the Committee's mandate should now expire; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the U.S. Route 460 Communications Committee be continued until commencement of construction of the U.S. 460 upgrade project. The joint subcommittee shall consist of 15 members that includes 10 legislative members and five ex officio members 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 the Commonwealth Transportation Commissioner or his designee; the Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority or his designee; the Director of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality of his designee; the Executive Director of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission or his designee; and the Executive Director of the Crater Planning District Commission or his designee. The ex officio members shall serve without voting privileges. Vacancies shall be filled by the original appointing authority. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the chairman of the Committee 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. If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required. The joint subcommittee shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among its membership, who shall be members of the General Assembly.

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 joint subcommittee shall continue to be provided by the Division of Legislative Services. Technical assistance shall continue to be provided by VDOT. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee for this study, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall be limited to four meetings per year, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $ 10,000 without approval as set out in this resolution. Approval for unbudgeted nonmember-related expenses shall require the written authorization of the chairman of the Committee and the respective Clerk. If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required.

Upon the election of a majority of the members of the House of Delegates appointed to the joint subcommittee or a majority of the Senate members appointed to the Committee, no recommendation of the Committee 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 the members present and voting at the meeting of the Committee.

The Committee shall complete its yearly meetings by November 30 of each year, 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 each year's Regular Session of the General Assembly. Upon commencement of construction of the U.S. 460 upgrade project, the Communications Committee shall submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.

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