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2006 SESSION

063456816
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 86
Offered January 11, 2006
Prefiled January 11, 2006
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the desirability and feasibility of selling or leasing the Dulles Toll Road (Omer L. Hirst-Adelard L. Brault Expressway) to a private operator. Report.
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Patron-- Saslaw
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, Virginia's transportation program could substantially benefit from an infusion of additional financial resources; and

WHEREAS, it is highly desirable that any such infusion be accomplished without an increase in taxes; and

WHEREAS, the Dulles Toll Road (Omer L. Hirst-Adelard L. Brault Expressway) is an asset of the Commonwealth the sale or lease of which to a private operator could make badly needed financial resources available for use to support the Commonwealth's transportation program without a tax increase; and

WHEREAS, the lease of the Chicago Skyway, a 7.8-mile toll bridge system connecting Interstate Route 94 in Illinois with Interstate Route 90 in Indiana to a private operator for a period of 99 years recently resulted in a financial windfall for the City of Chicago; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study the desirability and feasibility of selling or leasing the Dulles Toll Road (Omer L. Hirst-Adelard L. Brault Expressway) to a private operator. 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.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall consider the impact that the sale or lease of the Dulles Toll Road (Omer L. Hirst-Adelard L. Brault Expressway) might have on its users and on the overall transportation system of the Commonwealth, the amount of money potentially generated by such sale or lease, and the transportation projects, facilities, and programs whose construction, reconstruction, improvement, expansion or undertaking might be financed by proceeds of such sale or lease.

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.

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