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2006 SESSION

062630832
SENATE BILL NO. 261
Offered January 11, 2006
Prefiled January 10, 2006
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 30 a chapter numbered 40, consisting of sections numbered 30-266 and 30-267, relating to the Manufacturing Development Commission.
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Patrons-- Wagner, Watkins and Williams; Delegates: Abbitt, Marshall, D.W., Nixon, Purkey and Saxman
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Title 30 a chapter numbered 40, consisting of sections numbered 30-266 and 30-267, as follows:

CHAPTER 40.
MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

§ 30-266. Manufacturing Development Commission; purpose; membership; terms; compensation and expenses; staff; voting on recommendations.

A. The Manufacturing Development Commission (the Commission) is established in the legislative branch of state government. The purpose of the Commission shall be to assess manufacturing needs and formulate legislative and regulatory remedies to ensure the future of the sector in Virginia.

B. The Commission shall consist of 13 members that include eight legislative members and five nonlegislative citizen members. Members shall be appointed as follows: three members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; 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 the House of Delegates; and five nonlegislative citizen members, to be appointed by the Governor. Nonlegislative citizen members shall be citizens of the Commonwealth.

The nonlegislative citizen members shall include (i) the president of the Virginia Manufacturers Association, (ii) the Secretary or Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade, (iii) a representative of a state-supported institution of higher education, (iv) a representative of an entity or organization active in economic development efforts in the Commonwealth, and (v) a representative of a Virginia manufacturer.

All gubernatorial appointments to the Commission shall be for terms of four years. Legislative members shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. All members may be reappointed for successive 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 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. Nonlegislative citizen members shall not receive compensation for the performance of their duties. 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 compensation and expenses of the members shall be provided from existing appropriations to the Commission.

E. 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. No recommendation of the Commission shall be adopted if a majority of the Senate members or a majority of the House members appointed to the Commission (i) votes against the recommendation and (ii) votes for the recommendation to fail notwithstanding the majority vote of the Commission.

§ 30-267. Powers and duties of the Commission.

The Commission shall have the power and duty to:

1. Assess the direct and indirect economic impact of the manufacturing sector of Virginia's economy.

2. Determine how the sector's needs may most speedily, efficiently, and cost-effectively be addressed.

3. Consider both local and state tax policies, regulatory compliance costs, research and development investment policies, energy policies and costs, transportation policies and costs, and workforce training policies and costs affecting the manufacturing sector.

4. Determine what role state and local governments should properly play in this endeavor.

5. Evaluate the effectiveness of state and local economic development programs and incentives as tools to encourage technology-intensive manufacturing.

6. Consult and coordinate with the Joint Commission on Technology and Science, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules, and other legislative commissions, committees, and councils to ensure that there is no overlap in work product.

7. Provide manufacturers and advocates with a forum to address their concerns.

8. Report annually its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor. 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.