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2017 SESSION

17102757D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 673
Offered January 11, 2017
Prefiled January 10, 2017
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study how best to implement the recommendations of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission concerning the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority. Report.
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Patron-- Massie
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority (VEDP) was created in 1995 by the General Assembly to encourage, stimulate, and support the development and expansion of the economy of the Commonwealth through economic development; and

WHEREAS, the creation of the VEDP to oversee economic development for the Commonwealth versus having this function exercised by the existing Department of Economic Development was widely believed to be necessary to give certain autonomy to the Commonwealth's efforts to support the development and expansion of its economy and enhance overall economic development activities in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, in 2016, the General Assembly passed House Joint Resolution 7, which directed the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to review various aspects of the VEDP, including its operational efficiency, performance, and accountability structure; the joint resolution also directed JLARC to review the level of coordination of economic development programs in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, in its report on the first year of its review of the VEDP, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission found that "VEDP lacks many of the fundamental components of organizational management needed to operate efficiently and effectively and to coordinate well with external entities. Key elements missing from VEDP's operations include a deliberate strategy to meet its statutory responsibilities, adequate operational guidance for staff to carry out their job responsibilities, effective accountability mechanisms, useful performance measures, reliable data upon which to evaluate performance, and effective coordination with external partners. Without these elements, VEDP risks wasting limited resources and failing to meet its statutory requirements"; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study how best to implement the recommendations of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission concerning the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of seven members that shall consist of five legislative members, one nonlegislative citizen member, and one ex officio member. Members shall be appointed as follows: three 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; two members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; one nonlegislative citizen member who shall be a director of a regional or local economic development organization to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; and the Secretary of Commerce and Trade or his designee, who shall serve ex officio with voting privileges. The nonlegislative citizen member of the joint subcommittee shall be a citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the chairman of the joint subcommittee and the respective Clerk, the nonlegislative citizen member 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 review the recommendations of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission pursuant to House Joint Resolution 7 (2016) and suggest legislative changes that, at a minimum, rectify the organizational and management problems at VEDP, improve accountability of both VEDP and businesses receiving incentive grants, and improve the coordination of activities among VEDP and regional and local economic development entities and organizations.

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 2017 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $13,000 without approval as set out in this resolution. Of this amount, $400 is allocated for speakers, materials, or resources. 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, 2017, 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 2018 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 2017 interim.