SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

1996 SESSION

960853152
HOUSE BILL NO. 348
Offered January 15, 1996
A BILL to continue the A. L. Philpott Southside Economic Development Commission.
----------

Patrons-- Clement, Abbitt, Armstrong, Bennett, Councill, Crouch, Dudley, Reynolds and Ruff; Senators: Goode, Hawkins, Holland and Lucas
----------
Referred to Committee on Rules
----------

Whereas, the General Assembly, pursuant to House Joint Resolution No. 106 (1990), established a commission to propose recommendations to improve and enhance the economic development of Southside Virginia (the "A. L. Philpott Southside Economic Development Commission" or the "Commission"); and

Whereas, pursuant to House Joint Resolution No. 300 (1991), House Joint Resolution No. 71 (1992), House Joint Resolution No. 412 (1993), House Joint Resolution No. 353 (1994), and House Joint Resolution No. 451 (1995), the General Assembly subsequently authorized the Commission to continue its examination of economic, educational, financial, infrastructural, and industrial challenges facing the region; and

Whereas, over the past six years, the Commission's study has yielded numerous recommendations for the revitalization of the Southside region, such as the establishment of the Southside Business and Education Commission, the Southside Virginia Marketing Council, and the Southside Virginia Development Authority, and the support of the new Governor's School for Global Economics and Technology in Southside Virginia and the A. L. Philpott Manufacturing Research Center at Patrick Henry Community College; and

Whereas, the 1994 Appropriation Act allocated $675,000 to the Philpott Commission for grants for economic development projects in the 20-county, five-city region of Southside Virginia; and

Whereas, addressing Southside Virginia's immediate and long-term development needs requires not only the enduring commitment and entrepreneurial spirit of its leaders, citizens, and industries, but also continued support and review of the implementation of the Commission's recommendations and grants initiative; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. That the A.L. Philpott Southside Economic Development Commission is hereby continued for two years. The Commission shall monitor the implementation of its previous recommendations, its grants initiative, the activities of the Southside Business and Education Commission, the Southside Virginia Marketing Council, and the Southside Virginia Development Authority, and relevant regional economic development issues as it deems appropriate. The Commission shall consist of twenty-three members as follows: seven members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; four members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; and twelve members of the Southside region of the Commonwealth, including six members, comprised of two representatives each from local governments and the business and industrial communities and two local economic development officials, one each to be appointed by the Speaker and the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; and six citizen members, three of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker and shall include a representative of a major utility and of a four-year institution of higher education; and three of whom shall be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections and shall include one representative of a community college and of the banking community. Any vacancies shall be filled by the Speaker of the House, and the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections, as appropriate. The legislative members of the Commission shall be compensated as specified in § 14.1-18 of the Code of Virginia, and all members of the Commission shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in the performance of the work of the Commission. The Commission may accept and expend gifts, grants, or donations from public or private sources that will enable it to meet its objectives. The University of Virginia Center for Public Service shall provide staff support for the Commission.