SEARCH SITE
VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL
- Code of Virginia
- Virginia Administrative Code
- Constitution of Virginia
- Charters
- Authorities
- Compacts
- Uncodified Acts
- RIS Users (account required)
SEARCHABLE DATABASES
- Bills & Resolutions
session legislation - Bill Summaries
session summaries - Reports to the General Assembly
House and Senate documents - Legislative Liaisons
State agency contacts
ACROSS SESSIONS
- Subject Index: Since 1995
- Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
- Summaries: Since 1994
Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
2014 SESSION
(SB650)GOVERNOR’S VETO
Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto Senate Bill 650 which requires that the Governor, his campaign committee, and any political action committee established on his behalf shall not knowingly solicit or accept a contribution, gift, or other item with a value greater than $50 from persons or entities seeking loans or grants from the Governor’s Development Opportunity Fund (GOF). The bill also restricts such gifts and contributions from persons and entities seeking loans or grants from the Fund. This bill is identical to House Bill 1212.
I proposed key recommendations for this bill during the reconvened session. First, while grants are awarded by the Governor from the GOF, the General Assembly approves and votes on its funding; therefore the provisions and protections for ethical standards associated with these awards should also apply to legislators. Additionally, requiring the 2015 Session of the General Assembly to reenact this bill would allow appropriate time to determine the best means for review and implementation. These measures would avoid unintended consequences and protect confidentiality for ongoing economic development projects. These recommendations were not adopted.
Accordingly, I veto this bill.
GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION
1. Line 193, enrolled, after Governor,
strike
or to his
insert
a member of the General Assembly, a
2. Line 193, enrolled, after campaign committee
insert
of the Governor or a member of the General Assembly,
3. Line 194, enrolled, after established on
strike
his
4. Line 194, enrolled, after behalf
insert
of the Governor or a member of the General Assembly
5. Line 218, enrolled, after Governor,
strike
his
insert
a member of the General Assembly, a
6. Line 218, enrolled, after campaign committee
insert
of the Governor or a member of the General Assembly
7. At the beginning of line 219, enrolled
strike
his
8. Line 219, enrolled, after behalf
insert
of the Governor or a member of the General Assembly
9. After line 238, enrolled
insert
2. That the provisions of this act shall not become effective unless reenacted by the 2015 Session of the General Assembly.
3. That the Executive Branch Ethics Commission created on January 11, 2014, by Executive Order 2 shall study the provisions of this act and shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by October 1, 2014. The report shall include whether any revisions are necessary to ensure the maintenance of high ethical standards within the Executive Branch.