SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2007 SESSION

076112832
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 385
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Rules
on February 2, 2007)
(Patron Prior to Substitute—Senator Wagner)
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study fuel-efficient vehicles and transportation funding. Report.

WHEREAS, an increased use of hybrid vehicles results in lower consumption of gasoline and reduces revenues generated by the state motor vehicle fuels tax; and

WHEREAS, European automakers have developed and introduced several fuel-efficient vehicles; and

WHEREAS, Saturn and Toyota, two popular automakers, are developing rechargeable hybrid motor vehicles that will increase fuel economy by up to 45 percent over existing hybrid motor vehicles; and

WHEREAS, several other renewable energy sources are being developed that have possible applications in motor vehicles; and

WHEREAS, the use and development of alternative energy and fuel sources are important for the Commonwealth's economic development and the environment; and

WHEREAS, current methods of transportation funding in the Commonwealth will not keep pace with new energy technologies being used for motor vehicles, and the Commonwealth will see a decrease in motor vehicle fuels tax revenues; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study fuel-efficient vehicles and transportation funding. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of 12 members and shall consist of eight legislative members, two nonlegislative citizen members, and two ex officio 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; one nonlegislative citizen member with expertise in transportation to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; and one nonlegislative citizen member with expertise or background in the research and development of alternative fuels to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates. The Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Finance 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 study long-term solutions for transportation funding that are not dependent upon revenue generated from a motor vehicle fuels tax. In addition, the joint subcommittee shall consider ways to promote the use of hybrid and fuel-efficient vehicles, which might include the development of tax incentives for the use of such vehicles.

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. 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 the 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.