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2006 SESSION

063712784
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 47
Offered January 11, 2006
Prefiled January 10, 2006
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the impact of implementation of the federal "Real ID Act of 2005" on the Commonwealth of Virginia. Report.
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Patron-- O'Brien
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the fiscal impact of implementation of the federal "Real ID Act of 2005" is estimated to be considerable because of the need for additional employees, equipment, security, computer systems, and space; and

WHEREAS, no dedicated funding sources have been identified to date; and

WHEREAS, the cost of a new or renewed driver's license is likely to increase; and

WHEREAS, the necessity for each resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia to verify documents of legal presence even when renewing a driver's license will cause greater wait times and inconvenience for both the citizens and the Department of Motor Vehicles; and

WHEREAS, the ability of residents to renew driver's licenses by alternative means will be eliminated also increasing wait times and inconvenience; and

WHEREAS, the implementation deadline of 2008 is unrealistic because of staggered renewal dates of Virginia driver's licenses; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study the impact of implementation of the federal "Real ID Act of 2005" on the Commonwealth of Virginia. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of 10 members that shall consist of four members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules 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. The joint subcommittee shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among its membership, who shall be members of the General Assembly.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall consider the impact that the federal "Real ID Act of 2005" will have on the Department of Motor Vehicles and its customers, the fiscal burden that will be placed on the Commonwealth and its citizens, and other inconveniences due to the implementation of the federal "Real ID Act of 2005."

Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the Senate. Legal, research, policy analysis, and other services as requested by the joint subcommittee shall be provided by the Division of Legislative Services. Technical assistance shall be provided by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems. 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 for the 2006 interim, 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 joint subcommittee and the respective Clerk.  If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required.

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

The joint subcommittee shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2006, 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 2007 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the joint subcommittee intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate 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 2006 interim.