Bill Text: VA HB594 | 2014 | Regular Session | Conference Sub

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Bill Title: Local Government, Commission on; local mandates.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2014-03-08 - Failed to pass in House [HB594 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2014-HB594-Conference_Sub.html

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14105580D
HOUSE BILL NO. 594 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Joint Conference Committee on March 7, 2014) (Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate BaCote) A BILL to amend and reenact §15.2-2903 of the Code of Virginia, relating to local government mandates.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §15.2-2903 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§15.2-2903. General powers and duties of Commission.

The Commission shall have the following general powers and duties:

1. To make regulations, including rules of procedure for the conducting of hearings;

2. To keep a record of its proceedings and to be responsible for the custody and preservation of its papers and documents;

3. To serve as a mediator between localities;

4. To investigate, analyze, and make findings of fact, as directed by law, as to the probable effect on the people residing in any area of the Commonwealth of any proposed action in that area:

a. To annex territory,

b. To have an area declared immune from annexation,

c. To establish a town or independent city,

d. To settle or adjust boundaries between localities,

e. To make a transition from city status to town status,

f. To make a transition from a county to a city,

g. To consolidate two or more localities, at least one of which is a county, into a city, or

h. To enter into economic growth-sharing agreements among localities;

5. To conduct investigations, analyses and determinations, in the sole discretion of the Commission, for the guidance of localities in the conduct of their affairs upon the request of such localities;

6. To receive from all agencies, as defined in §2.2-128, assessments of all mandates imposed on localities administered by such agencies. The assessments shall be conducted on a schedule to be set by the Commission, with the approval of the Governor and the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, provided that the assessments shall not be required to be performed more than once every four years. The purpose of the assessments shall be to determine which mandates, if any, may be altered or eliminated. If an assessment reveals that such mandates may be altered or eliminated without interruption of local service delivery and without undue threat to the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Commonwealth, the Commission shall so advise the Governor and the General Assembly;

7. To prepare and annually update a catalog of state and federal mandates imposed on localities including, where available, a summary of the fiscal impact on localities of all new mandates. All departments, agencies of government, and localities are directed to make available such information and assistance as the Commission may request in maintaining the catalog;

8. At the direction of the Governor, to assist a five-member task force appointed by the Governor to review state mandates imposed on localities and to recommend temporary suspension or permanent repeal of such mandates, or any other action, as appropriate. The Governor shall have all necessary authority granted under §2.2-113, or any other provision of law, to implement the task force recommendations or may recommend legislation to the General Assembly as needed. The task force shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor and shall serve without compensation. The task force may shall include city or town managers, county administrators, members of local governing bodies and members of appointed or elected school boards. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission, upon request.

The provisions of this subdivision shall expire On July 1, 2014, the five-member task force shall be reconstituted as a nine-member task force to be called the Joint Task Force for Local Mandate Review. In addition to the five members appointed by the Governor, he shall appoint two members to the task force who shall be non-governmental appointees with a background in business. The General Assembly shall appoint two members as follows: the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections shall appoint one Senator, and the Speaker of the House of Delegates shall appoint one Delegate. All members shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and shall serve without compensation. The provisions of this subdivision shall expire on July 1, 2018; and

9. To perform such other duties as may be imposed upon it, from time to time, by law.