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1995 SESSION

LD4892408
HOUSE BILL NO. 2093
Offered January 23, 1995
A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-749.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to establishment of a committee to advise on use of proceeds of “Friend of the Chesapeake” license plates.
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Patrons--Plum, Abbitt, Almand, Ball, Behm, Bloxom, Christian, Clement, Connally, Crittenden, Cunningham, Darner, Deeds, Dillard, Fisher, Grayson, Hall, Hamilton, Keating, Morgan, Murphy, Phillips, Puller, Rollison, Scott, Thomas, Van Landingham, Van Yahres, Watkins and Woodrum; Senators: Calhoun, Cross, Earley, Gartlan, Houck, Howell, Lambert, Lucas, Saslaw and Woods
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Referred to Committee on Roads and Internal Navigation
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 46.2-749.2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 46.2-749.2. Special Chesapeake Bay preservation plates.

A. On receipt of an application and payment of the fee prescribed by this section, the Commissioner shall issue special license plates bearing the following legend: FRIEND OF THE CHESAPEAKE.

B. The annual fee for plates issued pursuant to this section shall be twenty-five dollars in addition to the prescribed fee for state license plates. For each such twenty-five dollar fee collected in excess of 1,000 sets issued pursuant to this section, fifteen dollars shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the special fund known as the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund, established within the Department of Accounts, for use by the Council on the Environment or its successor agency Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund Advisory Committee for environmental education and restoration projects relating to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. No funds collected under this section shall be used for administrative expenses or to supplant general fund revenues. The funds may be used to match federal funds.

C. There is hereby established the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund Committee, hereinafter referred to as “the Committee.” The Committee shall advise the General Assembly on the expenditure of moneys received in the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund, hereinafter referred to as “the Fund.” The Committee shall develop goals and guidelines for the use of the Fund; solicit project grant applications from citizens, organizations, local governments, soil and water conservation districts, state agencies, and others; present an annual plan for expenditures from the Fund to the chairmen of the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee no later than December 1 of each year; and publicize the use of the funds. No funds shall be released until the plan is completed and submitted to the chairmen of the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. The Committee shall consist of eight voting members selected as follows: two members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; one member of the Senate, appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; and five members appointed by the Governor, including one representative from a list of nominations submitted by the Chesapeake Bay Commission, one representative from a list of nominations submitted by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, one representative from a list of nominations submitted by the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and two citizens from the Commonwealth at large. The Secretary of Natural Resources or his designee shall serve as a nonvoting member of the Committee. The members of the Committee shall serve for terms of four years. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be for the unexpired term and shall be made in the same manner as the original appointment. Legislators’ terms shall be concurrent with their elected terms of office. The members of the Committee shall elect a chairman and vice- chairman from the membership of the Committee. Members shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for their necessary and actual expenses incurred in connection with their duties as Committee members. The Committee shall meet at least three times each year and additional meetings may be held at the call of the chairman. Staffing for the Committee shall be provided by the Division of Legislative Services.