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2007 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 611
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study science and technology education in business, law, and policy graduate programs at the Commonwealth's institutions of higher education. Report.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 2, 2007
Agreed to by the Senate, February 21, 2007

 

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has a tradition of leadership in information technology, nanotechnology, modeling and simulation, biotechnology, and other innovative science and technology fields; and

WHEREAS, as the Virginia Research and Technology Advisory Commission noted in its March 2005 report, a constant influx of science and engineering graduates into the workforce is necessary for continued economic growth in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, representatives from both the business and education communities have indicated to the Joint Commission on Technology and Science that increased emphasis on science and technology education is necessary at the graduate level in the fields of business, law, and policy in order to provide the services necessary to incubate, support, and promote the Commonwealth's technology industry; and

WHEREAS, innovative financing and legal arrangements are necessary to operate any successful entrepreneurial venture, especially in the area of science and technology; and

WHEREAS, it is important to ensure that the curricula of the Commonwealth's business, law, and policy graduate programs provide an adequate foundation in science and technology so that students may pursue and continue successful careers in business, law, and policy while assisting the development of the Commonwealth's technology industry; and

WHEREAS, increased emphasis and access to science and technology education in business, law and policy graduate programs will ensure that Virginia continues to be a leader in the science and technology sectors; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study science and technology education in business, law, and policy graduate programs at the Commonwealth's institutions of higher education. The joint subcommittee shall also study ways to provide incentives for students to pursue careers in these sectors. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of 15 that shall consist of eight legislative members, four nonlegislative citizen members, and three ex officio members. Members shall be appointed as follows: 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; three members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; one nonlegislative citizen member who shall be a representative of the private business, law, or policy community and one nonlegislative citizen member who shall be a professor of science, math, or technology in a graduate program at a state institution of higher education to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one nonlegislative citizen member who shall be a representative of the private science or technology community and one nonlegislative citizen member who shall be a professor of business, law, or policy in a graduate program at a state institution of higher education to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. The Secretary of Finance, the Executive Director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, and the President of the Center for Innovative Technology, or their designees, shall serve ex officio with voting privileges. Nonlegislative citizen members of the joint subcommittee shall be citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the chairman of the joint subcommittee 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.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall (i) review the curricula of existing graduate programs in business, law, and policy at the Commonwealth's institutions of higher education; (ii) review and recommend innovative ways to encourage students to specialize in science and technology in their respective business, law, or policy graduate program; (iii) examine ways to encourage partnerships between the business, law, and policy graduate programs and the math, science, engineering, and technology graduate programs at the Commonwealth's institutions of higher education; and (iv) examine ways to encourage partnerships between the business, law, and policy graduate programs at the Commonwealth's institutions of higher education and science and technology based businesses in the Commonwealth.

Administrative staff support shall 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 be provided by the Division of Legislative Services. 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 2007 interim and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $8,800 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 House members or a majority of the Senate 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, 2007, 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 2008 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 2007 interim.