SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 92 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Senate Committee on Rules on January 25, 2008) (Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Stolle) Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the functions and authorities of entities with transportation responsibilities. Report.

WHEREAS, there are numerous agencies with transportation responsibilities; and

WHEREAS, these agencies all have various functions and authorities; and

WHEREAS, the statutory functions and authorities of these agencies contain ambiguities, overlapping functions, and other weaknesses; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study the functions and authorities of entities with transportation responsibilities. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of five members to be appointed as follows:  two members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and three 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. 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 focus its efforts first on the Hampton Roads region of the Commonwealth, and shall (i) review the statutory functions and authorities of the federally mandated metropolitan planning organizations in the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth-chartered planning district commissions and transportation authorities, and (ii) make recommendations to resolve ambiguities, overlapping functions and other weaknesses of the metropolitan planning organizations, the planning district commissions, and the transportation authorities.

Technical assistance shall be provided to the joint subcommittee by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission. Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the Senate. 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 2008 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $5,000 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 Senate members or a majority of the House 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, 2008, 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 2009 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 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 2008 interim.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 92 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled January 9, 2008 Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the relationships, duties, and responsibilities of and between the various transportation entities in Hampton Roads. Report. ---------- Patron-- Stolle ---------- Referred to Committee on Rules ----------

WHEREAS, the transportation network of Hampton Roads is vital to the region's economy and to the quality of life of the area's residents; and

WHEREAS, the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority, the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, and the Hampton Roads Regional Transit Authority are tasked with duties and responsibilities relating to transportation in Hampton Roads; and

WHEREAS, it is vital that a study of the relationship between these entities and an examination of their duties and responsibilities be conducted; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study the relationship, duties, and responsibilities among the transportation entities in Hampton Roads. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of 10 members to be appointed as follows:  four members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and 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. 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 study the relationships, duties, and responsibilities of and between the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority, the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, and the Hampton Roads Regional Transit Authority as those relationships, duties, and responsibilities relate to transportation in Hampton Roads.

Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the Senate. 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 2008 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $10,000 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 Senate members or a majority of the House 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, 2008, 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 2009 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 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 2008 interim.