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2014 SESSION
14105580DBe 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.