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1997 SESSION

973729316
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 563
Offered January 20, 1997
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the Commonwealth's enterprise zone program to determine if it can be improved in order to serve as an effective economic development tool.
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Patrons-- Katzen and Kilgore
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Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
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WHEREAS, the Commonwealth currently has an enterprise zone program which offers a variety of incentives to qualified businesses located in such zones; and

WHEREAS, economic development is essential to the continued growth and prosperity enjoyed by much of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, new ideas and incentives must be developed in order for the Commonwealth to remain competitive ; and

WHEREAS, the state of Michigan has recently initiated a renaissance zone program which offers both state and local tax incentives to qualified businesses within certain zones; and

WHEREAS, other states may also be developing new approaches to economic development; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study the Commonwealth's enterprise zone program to determine if it can be improved in order to serve as an effective economic development tool. The joint subcommittee shall review the current enterprise zone program and determine its effectiveness. The joint subcommittee also shall examine Michigan's new renaissance zone program as well as what other states are doing through similar programs.

The joint subcommittee shall be composed of 15 members, which shall include 11 legislative members and four nonlegislative citizen members as follows: six members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; five members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; two business community representatives recommended by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and two local government representatives, one recommended by the Virginia Municipal League and one by the Virginia Association of Counties, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $10,250.

The Division of Legislative Services shall provide staff support for the study. Technical assistance shall be provided by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Department of Housing and Community Development. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1998 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.