SJ357: Rapid transit service network; continues mandate of study.


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 357
Continuing the Joint Subcommittee to Study the Feasibility of Creating a Regional Rapid Transit Network for Connecting Existing and Emerging Population Centers in Major Transportation Corridors. Report.
 
Agreed to by the Senate, February 4, 2009
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 26, 2009
 

WHEREAS, the 2008 Regular Session of the Virginia General Assembly, through the passage of Senate Joint Resolution No. 122, established a joint subcommittee to study the feasibility of creating a regional rapid transit network for connecting existing and emerging population centers in major transportation corridors; and

WHEREAS, in seeking the information necessary and convenient for fulfilling its charge from the General Assembly, the joint subcommittee was very ably and significantly assisted by many capable persons, both within government and from the private sector; and

WHEREAS, despite this assistance, the joint subcommittee was not able to collect and evaluate all the kinds of data that it discovered it required to make substantive findings and recommendations relating to the matters within its charge; and

WHEREAS, the joint subcommittee believes that, given additional time and the continued support of capable and knowledgeable resource persons, it may be able to develop legislative and other recommendations leading to the creation of a regional rapid transit network connecting existing and emerging population centers in major transportation corridors; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Joint Subcommittee to Study the Feasibility of Creating a Regional Rapid Transit Network for Connecting Existing and Emerging Population Centers in Major Transportation Corridors be continued. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of 10 members that shall consist of four members of the Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and six members of the House of Delegates 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 current members appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules shall continue to serve until replaced. The current members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates shall be subject to reappointment. Vacancies shall be filled by the original appointing authority. The joint subcommittee shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership.

Administrative staff support shall continue to 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 continue to 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 2009 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.

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, 2009, 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 2010 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 2009 interim.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 357
Offered January 14, 2009
Prefiled January 14, 2009
Continuing the Joint Subcommittee to Study the Feasibility of Creating a Regional Rapid Transit Network for Connecting Existing and Emerging Population Centers in Major Transportation Corridors. Report.

Patrons-- Barker, Colgan and Puller; Delegates: Frederick, May, Rust and Watts

Referred to Committee on Rules

WHEREAS, the 2008 Regular Session of the Virginia General Assembly, through the passage of Senate Joint Resolution No. 122, established a joint subcommittee to study the feasibility of creating a regional rapid transit network for connecting existing and emerging population centers in major transportation corridors; and

WHEREAS, in seeking the information necessary and convenient for fulfilling its charge from the General Assembly, the joint subcommittee was very ably and significantly assisted by many capable persons, both within government and from the private sector; and

WHEREAS, despite this assistance, the joint subcommittee was not able to collect and evaluate all the kinds of data that it discovered it required to make substantive findings and recommendations relating to the matters within its charge; and

WHEREAS, the joint subcommittee believes that, given additional time and the continued support of capable and knowledgeable resource persons, it may be able to develop legislative and other recommendations leading to the creation of a regional rapid transit network connecting existing and emerging population centers in major transportation corridors; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Joint Subcommittee to Study the Feasibility of Creating a Regional Rapid Transit Network for Connecting Existing and Emerging Population Centers in Major Transportation Corridors be continued. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of 10 members that shall consist of four members of the Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and six members of the House of Delegates 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 current members appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules shall continue to serve until replaced. The current members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates shall be subject to reappointment. Vacancies shall be filled by the original appointing authority. The joint subcommittee shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among its membership.

Administrative staff support shall continue to 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 continue to 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 2009 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.

No recommendation of the joint subcommittee shall be adopted if a majority of the House members or a majority of the Senate 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, 2009, 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 2010 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 2009 interim.