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2009 SESSION

092370508
HOUSE BILL NO. 2207
Offered January 14, 2009
Prefiled January 14, 2009
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 30 a chapter numbered 47, consisting of sections numbered 30-309 through 30-313, relating to the establishment of the Virginia Budget Office.
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Patron-- Frederick
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Referred to Committee on Appropriations
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Title 30 a chapter numbered 47, consisting of sections numbered 30-309 through 30-313, as follows:

CHAPTER 47.
THE VIRGINIA BUDGET OFFICE.

§ 30-309. Virginia Budget Office; composition; terms; compensation and expenses; office space; quorum; voting on recommendations.

There is hereby created the Virginia Budget Office (the Office) in the legislative branch of state government. The Office shall consist of 15 members, as follows: nine members of the House of Delegates 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, of whom at least three shall be members of the House Committee on Appropriations; five members of the Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, of whom at least two shall be members of the Senate Committee on Finance; and the Auditor of Public Accounts, who shall serve as a nonvoting ex officio member. Members shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. Members may be reappointed for successive terms.

Members of the Office shall receive such compensation as provided in § 30-19.12 and shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Funding for the costs of compensation and expenses of the members shall be provided from existing appropriations to the Office. Adequate office space shall be provided by the Commonwealth. The Office shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum. Meetings shall be held upon the call of the chairman or whenever the majority of the members so request.

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

§ 30-310. Director, executive staff, and personnel.

The Office shall appoint, subject to confirmation by a majority of the members of the General Assembly, a Director and fix his duties and compensation. The Director may employ and fix the duties and compensation of an adequate executive staff as may be requisite to make the studies and research and budget analyses required by this chapter. The Director and executive staff shall be appointed for terms of two years and shall consist of professional persons having experience and training in legislative budgetary procedures, management analysis, and cost accounting. The Director and any executive staff member may be removed from office for cause by a majority vote of the Office. Such other professional personnel, consultants, and secretarial and clerical employees may be engaged upon such terms and conditions as set forth by the Office.

§ 30-311. Powers and duties of the Office.

The Office shall have the following powers and duties:

1.  Prepare fiscal impact statements on legislation introduced in the Virginia General Assembly;

2. Investigate the operating efficiencies of all state agencies to ensure that every taxpayer dollar is spent efficiently;

3. Explore opportunities to privatize, outsource, consolidate, and reorganize various governmental functions to operate more efficiently;

4. Examine policies and strategies that can be instituted to streamline government programs;

5. Undertake any research and analysis which would provide creditable, lower cost alternatives to existing or proposed budget programs;

6.  Provide revenue and growth forecasts to the House Appropriations Committee, the Senate Finance Committee and the General Assembly; and

7. Analyze policy proposals offered in other states or elsewhere that have been offered or implemented.

§ 30-312. State agencies to furnish information and assistance.

All agencies of the Commonwealth, their staffs and employees shall provide the Office with necessary information for the performance of its duties and afford the Office's staff ample opportunity to observe agency operations.

§ 30-313. Payment of expenses of the Office.

The salaries, per diems, and other expenses necessary to the functions of the Office shall be payable from funds appropriated to the Office.