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2017 SESSION

17103631D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 690
Offered January 11, 2017
Prefiled January 10, 2017
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the feasibility and practicality of building a mega-region airport in Greater Hampton Roads. Report.
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Patron-- Villanueva
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, with its unique natural and historical setting, the Commonwealth is an extremely desirable vacation destination for more than half the year, with the shoulder season and off-season tourism industry expanding as convention and conference facilities continue to grow; and

WHEREAS, off-season growth is substantially limited to areas within an easy drive or a direct flight from a mega-region airport, and without such an airport Greater Hampton Roads is missing opportunities to host lucrative meetings and conventions that fill hotels and restaurants and provide high-value, low-impact tourism tax dollars; and

WHEREAS, in evaluating host sites, event planners look for ease of access and a location to which and from which the majority of attendees can fly directly, reducing both cost and inconvenience while increasing participation, and as factors in such evaluations, the limited number of flights currently serving local Hampton Roads airports weighs heavily against the area's attractions; and

WHEREAS, local Hampton Roads airports currently provide convenience in terms of proximity, yet such advantage ends at the terminal gate as the majority of small regional jets require at least one connection and have available very limited luggage space with increased fares; and

WHEREAS, failure to evaluate the long-term travel needs of the mega-region would irretrievably relegate Greater Hampton Roads and the future generations who live and work in the region to permanent status as a secondary market; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study the feasibility and practicality of building a mega-region airport in Greater Hampton Roads. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of 11 members that shall consist of 10 legislative members and one ex officio member. Members shall be appointed as follows: six 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 and four members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. The Secretary of Transportation or his designee shall serve ex officio with voting privileges. 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 evaluate the long-term air travel needs of Greater Hampton Roads and assess the utility and feasibility of a mega-region airport in the region.

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 $22,800 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, 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.