30-188 - Virginia Coal and Energy Commission; membership; terms; compensation and expenses; staff; quorum; voting on recommendations.

§ 30-188. Virginia Coal and Energy Commission; membership; terms;compensation and expenses; staff; quorum; voting on recommendations.

A. The Virginia Coal and Energy Commission (the Commission) is established inthe legislative branch of state government. The Commission shall consist of20 members to be appointed as follows: five members of the Senate to beappointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; eight members of the House ofDelegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; and sevennonlegislative citizen members to be appointed by the Governor. Thenonlegislative citizen members shall be citizens of the Commonwealth andshall include representatives of industry, government and groups ororganizations identified with production and conservation of coal, naturalgas, and energy.

B. Legislative members shall serve terms coincident with their terms ofoffice. Members appointed by the Governor shall serve for terms of fouryears. Vacancies occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filledfor the unexpired term. Any member may be reappointed for successive terms.

C. The members of the Commission shall elect a chairman and vice-chairmanannually from among its membership.

D. Legislative members of the Commission shall receive such compensation asprovided in § 30-19.12 and nonlegislative citizen members shall receive suchcompensation as provided in § 2.2-2813 for their services. All members shallbe reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in theperformance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. Fundingfor compensation and expenses of the members shall be provided from existingappropriations to the Commission.

E. Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerkof the Senate or the Office of the Clerk of the House of Delegates as may beappropriate for the house in which the chairman of the Commission serves. TheDivision of Legislative Services shall provide legal, research, policyanalysis and other services as requested by the Commission. All agencies ofthe Commonwealth shall assist the Commission upon request.

F. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum. The meetings of theCommission shall be held at the call of the chairman or whenever a majorityof the members so request.

G. No recommendation of the Commission shall be adopted if a majority of theSenate members or a majority of the House members appointed to the Commission(i) vote against the recommendation and (ii) vote for the recommendation tofail notwithstanding the majority vote of the Commission.

(1979, c. 330, §§ 9-145.2, 9-145.3; 1996, c. 535; 2001, c. 844; 2004, c.1000.)