HB2690: Virginia Military Advisory Council; adds Secretary of Public Safety to membership, report.

HOUSE BILL NO. 2690
Offered January 10, 2007
Prefiled January 10, 2007
A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-2666.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Virginia Military Advisory Council; membership.
Patron-- Suit

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 2.2-2666.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 2.2-2666.1. Council created; composition; compensation and expenses; meetings; chairman's executive summary.

A. The Virginia Military Advisory Council (the Council) is hereby created as an advisory council, within the meaning of § 2.2-2100, in the executive branch of state government, to maintain a cooperative and constructive relationship between the Commonwealth and the leadership of the several Armed Forces of the United States and the military commanders of such Armed Forces stationed in the Commonwealth, and to encourage regular communication on continued military facility viability, the exploration of privatization opportunities and issues affecting preparedness, public safety and security.

B. The Council shall be composed of 2527 members as follows: the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Public Safety, the Adjutant General, the Chairman of the House Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on General Laws, or their designees; four members, one of whom shall be a representative of the Virginia State Defense Force, to be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor; and 1617 members, including representatives of major military commands and installations located in the Commonwealth or in jurisdictions adjacent thereto, who shall be appointed by the Governor after consideration of the persons nominated by the Secretaries of the Armed Forces of the United States and who shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. However, any legislative member who is appointed by the Governor shall serve a term coincident with his term of office. The provisions of § 49-1 shall not apply to federal civilian officials and military personnel appointed to the Council.

C. Legislative members of the Council shall receive such compensation as provided in § 30-19.12, and nonlegislative members shall receive such compensation as provided in § 2.2-2813 for the performance of their duties. All members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. Funding for the costs of compensation and expenses of the members shall be provided by the Department of Military Affairs.

D. The Council shall elect a chairman from among its membership. The vice-chairman of the Council shall be the Assistant to the Governor for Commonwealth Preparedness. The meetings of the Council shall be held at the call of the chairman or whenever the majority of members so request. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum.

E. The chairman of the Council shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Council no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary 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.