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2007 SESSION

070730766
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 418
Offered January 15, 2007
Establishing a joint committee of the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice and the House Committee for Courts of Justice to study redistricting the judicial circuits. Report.
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Patron-- McDougle
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Unanimous consent to introduce
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the current boundaries of the several judicial circuits were established over 30 years ago; and

WHEREAS, these boundaries were established based on assumptions of caseload and population movement and trends that now, more than a generation later, have either come to pass or have changed or even reversed course; and

WHEREAS, other factors influencing caseloads in some circuits include the successful use of mediation, and other docket control measures, the aging of the population in certain areas of the Commonwealth, the imbalance of caseloads between localities within circuits, and the explosive population growth in other circuits that not so long ago were considered rural areas; and

WHEREAS, there is a need to reconfigure the circuit boundaries to better reflect the changing population in the 21st century as well as changes in the workings of the judicial system; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That a joint committee of the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice and the House Committee for Courts of Justice be established to study redistricting the judicial circuits. The joint committee shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among its membership.

In conducting its study, the joint committee shall consider a plan for redistricting the current boundaries of the several judicial circuits.

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 committee shall be provided by the Division of Legislative Services. Technical assistance shall be provided by the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court, upon request of the joint committee. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint committee for this study, upon request.

The joint committee shall be limited to four meetings for the 2007 interim and four meetings for the 2008 interim. Approval for unbudgeted nonmember-related expenses shall require the written authorization of the chairman of the joint committee 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 committee shall be adopted if a majority of the Senate members or a majority of the House members of the joint committee (i) vote against the recommendation and (ii) vote for the recommendation to fail notwithstanding the majority vote of the joint committee.

The joint committee shall complete its meetings for the first year by November 30, 2007, and for the second year by November 30, 2008, 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 next Regular Session of the General Assembly for each year. Each executive summary shall state whether the joint committee 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 summaries and reports 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 or 2008 interim.