General Assembly>Division of Legislative Services>Publications>Session Summaries>2004>Study Resolutions

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Study Resolutions

Passed

P HJ6

Virginia Public Records Act. Creates a joint subcommittee to study the Virginia Public Records Act, electronic records, and their effect on the state depository system. In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall examine the Virginia Public Records Act and the extension of its scope to (i) provide and assign authority to establish and maintain guidelines or regulations for the creation, transfer, and archival preservation of electronic state records and publications; (ii) provide and assign authority to establish and maintain procedures for the official authentication of e-records and documents; and (iii) establish a means to identify, describe, receive, and manage discrete electronic government information products covered by copyright. This resolution is a recommendation of the Joint Subcommittee to Study the Operations, Practices, Duties, and Funding of the Commonwealth's Agencies, Boards, Commissions, Councils, and Other Governmental Entities pursuant to HJR 159 (2002). This resolution is identical to SJR 1.
Patron - Cox

P HJ13

Two-term Governor. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the appropriate balance of power between the legislative and executive branches to support a two-term Governor. The joint subcommittee shall (i) examine the history of the Governor's power in the Commonwealth; (ii) compare the powers of the governors of other states; (iii) determine the balance of power established between the executive and legislative branches in other states, particularly in those states that transitioned from a one-term governor to a two-term governor; and (iv) consider constitutional and statutory options for the equitable distribution of power between the legislature and executive branch to support a two-term Governor in the Commonwealth.
Patron - Landes

P HJ34

Virginia Retirement System. Creates a joint legislative subcommittee to study the Virginia Retirement System and benefits for public safety officers who are injured in the line of duty. In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall (i) examine the current benefit structure of the Virginia Retirement System; (ii) review matters relating to funding, including amortization schedules, level and adequacy of funded ratios, and blending of contribution rates between and among retirement systems; (iii) make recommendations to improve the Virginia Retirement System; (iv) examine existing Virginia benefits and those provided by other states and the federal government to public safety officers who suffer severe and permanent disabilities as a result of catastrophic personal injuries incurred in the line of duty; and (v) consider such other related matters as the joint subcommittee deems appropriate.
Patron - Putney

P HJ71

Individuals with limited English proficiency; access to information and services. Requests the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to develop a plan for increasing awareness of the requirements to provide meaningful access to information and services in the Health and Human Resources Secretariat for Virginia's limited English speaking residents who are lawfully in the United States. The Secretary is also requested to identify, prioritize and estimate the costs of translating significant information and documents used by agencies and service providers within the Secretariat.
Patron - Cox

P HJ72

Virginia's nutrient management plans. Directs the Joint Legislative and Review Commission to study the effectiveness of the implementation, performance, and enforcement of Virginia's nutrient management plans. The Commission must also make recommendations concerning improvements to nonpoint source pollution that comply with the nutrient management program.
Patron - Cox

P HJ79

Mistaken identity. Directs the Virginia State Crime Commission to study mistaken identification in criminal cases. The commission shall (i) review the cases in the United States in which DNA profiling was used to exonerate persons convicted of a crime; (ii) examine the procedures used in traditional police lineups or photographic review; and (iii) consider the sequential method as a procedure for identifying suspects.
Patron - Purkey

P HJ82

Nonstate cultural institutions. Requests the Department of Taxation to collect sales tax data concerning the economic impact of nonstate cultural institutions on the Commonwealth. The Department of Taxation must compile sales tax collections for businesses in the immediate vicinity of nonstate agency cultural institutions located in the cities of Norfolk, Lynchburg, Richmond, and Roanoke, and in the County of Fairfax that received more than $50,000 in state funds in a single year within the last five years.
Patron - Fralin

P HJ103

Impact of aging population on the demand for and cost of state agency services. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the impact of Virginia's aging population on the demand for and cost of state agency services, policies and program management. In conducting its study, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall consult with the Commonwealth Council on Aging, the Commissioners of the Departments of Health, Social Services, and Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, and the Director of the Virginia Retirement System, Department for the Aging, Department of Medical Assistance Services, Department of Corrections, and Department of Human Resources Management.
Patron - Reid

P HJ105

Commonwealth's assistance to localities for developing adequate K-12 school infrastructure. Creates a joint subcommittee to study the level of the Commonwealth's assistance to localities that is necessary for developing adequate K-12 schools infrastructure. The joint subcommittee shall consider the physical and technical structure needs of K-12 schools throughout the Commonwealth and various options for funding those needs.
Patron - Drake

P HJ114

Proposed child-care regulations. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the potential impact of the amended 22 VAC 15-30, Standards for Licensed Child Day Care Centers, on providers, parents, and children. The commission shall submit a report no later than September 15, 2004. The Governor is requested to consider the results of the study prior to his approval of the regulation. This resolution is identical to SJR 80.
Patron - Marrs

P HJ120

Nanotechnology. Directs the Joint Commission on Technology and Science to identify nanotechnology research and economic development opportunities for the Commonwealth. The Commission shall consider the efficacy of creating a statewide, comprehensive and coordinated strategy to secure additional federal research and development funds and to boost commercial activity in this fast-emerging sector.
Patron - May

P HJ124

Continuing Commission on Educational Leadership. Continues for one year the 21-member Commission to Review, Study, and Reform Educational Leadership (initially created in 2002 (HJR 20; SJR 58)) to (i) receive reports and information regarding Board of Education recommendations regarding alternative licensure routes and a two-tiered licensure system; and (ii) examine such other issues as it deems appropriate.
Patron - Hamilton

P HJ125

Template for a statewide articulation agreement. Requests the Board of Education, the State Board for Community Colleges, and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to develop a template for a statewide articulation agreement for career and technical education. The resolution notes that articulation agreements can provide a seamless pathway for students to progress from high school to community college for completion of industry certifications and state licensure requirements and, for certain students, to enrollment in four-year institutions of higher education. Because an educated workforce is the only way to maintain the economic base of the Commonwealth, the Advisory Council on Career and Technical Education recommends that all levels of public education cooperate in the development of a template for articulation agreements in order to facilitate students' movement through a K-16 system that allows smooth transitions between high school, community college, and four-year institutions of higher education. The template will be developed by a taskforce of staffers and stakeholders that will identify obstacles and issues, including any issues relating to credentialing of teachers and how credits can be transferred from one high school to another, from any high school to any community college, and from any community college to the public four-year institutions of higher education. The taskforce is also directed to develop a template that provides for flexibility for school divisions, community colleges, and four-year institutions of higher education, taking into account the various curricula that are offered in the many schools, colleges, and universities, and the local economic and other conditions. The template is to include some standardization of credit transfers, provide options for the various corners of the Commonwealth that are tailored to match the capabilities of the educational agencies in local areas while offering opportunities for improvement in cooperation and collaboration between and among the various levels of educations, a list of programs and courses that are articulated, the identity of the agencies that are articulated for each program or course, the tuition charges for the various classes at the different levels, information on limitations on enrollment in the various programs or classes, and the effect, if any, on tuition charges of articulation agreements in the community colleges and four-year institutions of higher education.
Patron - Hamilton

P HJ133

Prehospital emergency medical services in Virginia. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study prehospital emergency medical services in Virginia. In conducting its study, the Commission shall (i) conduct a comprehensive review and assessment of emergency care services in Virginia; (ii) ascertain the average Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement rates in the Commonwealth, and compare such rates to the national average; (iii) identify emerging issues and problems in prehospital emergency medical services in the Commonwealth and make recommendations to address them; (iv) review the findings and recommendations of previous legislative studies pertaining to emergency medical services to determine their relevancy today; (v) evaluate the need for a Department of Emergency Medical Services; (vi) review relevant state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to emergency medical services, patient privacy, security and emergency preparedness; (vii) consider issues pertaining to medical liability insurance, health care insurance, health care costs, funding for emergency medical care, third-party reimbursement, and indigent care and their effect on a quality and efficient emergency medical care services system in the Commonwealth; and (viii) consider such other related issues as the Commission may deem appropriate and necessary.
Patron - O'Bannon

P HJ134

Disclosure of health records. Directs the Joint Commission on Health Care to study the use and disclosure of health records relative to Virginia law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The Commission shall consider the need for amendments to Virginia laws and recommend ways to assist health care providers and other relevant parties to understand and comply with state and federal health record privacy laws.
Patron - O'Bannon

P HJ142

Consolidation of the Cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the feasibility of the consolidation of the Cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth. In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall (i) review other models whereby localities were consolidated into a single city that operates under the strong mayor/council form of government; (ii) determine whether such a system, with a directly elected mayor, would be feasible in the two cities, to be phased in over a period of 10 to 20 years; (iii) examine the feasibility of permitting the consolidation of a particular city only upon a favorable vote by referendum in each such city; (iv) examine the feasibility of allowing the constitutional officers of each of the consolidating cities to retain their individual positions during an interim period of time or until the retirement of such an officer; and (v) explore an efficient method of eventually transferring the duties of such constitutional officers to a single office for the consolidated city. Other issues to be examined by the joint subcommittee shall include (i) whether an amendment to the Constitution of Virginia will be required in order to implement a proposed consolidation; (ii) the means by which utility systems within the consolidating cities may be efficiently combined or coordinated so as to provide cost-effective and uninterrupted service to the region; (iii) the feasibility of phasing in a consolidated school system under the leadership of a single school board with each city being a separate school district; (iv) the feasibility of providing for oversight by an outside entity of new local debt of the consolidating cities during the transition period between the time of voter approval of the consolidation and the actual consolidation; and (v) the method by which the individual debts and obligations of the consolidating cities shall become the debts and obligations of the consolidated city.
Patron - Joannou

P HJ152

Housing issues. Directs the Virginia Housing Study Commission, with the assistance of the Virginia Housing Development Authority and the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, to continue its study of certain housing-related issues, including the development of a statewide housing policy for the Commonwealth.
Patron - Drake

P HJ153

Underground utility distribution lines. Requests the State Corporation Commission to study the placement of utility lines underground. The State Corporation Commission is required to study the feasibility of placing underground the currently existing overhead utility distribution lines and any new distribution lines, the costs that would be incurred, and the options for funding such underground placement.
Patron - Drake

P HJ162

"Smart" driver's licenses. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the desirability and feasibility of issuing driver's licenses and identification cards containing an embedded computer chip that stores biometric and other personal data.
Patron - Byron

P HJ163

Transportation in Reston. Requests the Secretary of Transportation, the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Rail and Public Transportation, the County of Fairfax, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, LINK, the Dulles Corridor Rail Association, the Dulles Corridor Task Force, local elected officials, and Reston community and business leaders to continue their work to ensure that a coordinated transportation plan is implemented for the Reston community.
Patron - Plum

P HJ164

Adequacy of Virginia's infant screening program for metabolic disorders. Directs the Joint Commission on Health Care to collect information pertaining to infant screening program for metabolic disorders. The Commission shall compile a list of the (i) types of metabolic disorders for which infants are screened in other states, including a summary of the benefits of such screening; and (ii) the costs of such screening programs.
Patron - Plum

P HJ170

Commission on Growth and Economic Development. Continues the Commission for one additional year and requires the Commission to review conditional zoning and its effect on residential housing patterns and the cost of housing in the Commonwealth. This resolution incorporates HJR 227 (2004).
Patron - Hall

P HJ172

Income tax and sales and use tax. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to collect information from other states and countries that have replaced income tax revenues with sales and use tax revenues.
Patron - Lingamfelter

P HJ174

Certification process for voting equipment and matters related to the performance and proper deployment of voting equipment. Creates a joint subcommittee to evaluate the Commonwealth's procedures and processes for evaluating, certifying, and handling voting equipment. The resolution provides for background information from the State Board of Elections on the source codes for direct electronic voting devices and on the undervote experience in 2003 compared to past years.
Patron - Hugo

P HJ176

Remote sales tax collection. Creates a joint subcommittee to study the impact of collecting remote sales taxes on the economy of the Commonwealth, including the impact on revenue and small businesses. In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall determine the amount of revenue the Commonwealth would generate and the impact on small businesses within the Commonwealth if the Commonwealth collected taxes on remote sales; and the ability to use the lack of a requirement to collect remote sales as a marketing tool.
Patron - Hugo

P HJ183

The use and financing of trauma centers in the Commonwealth's hospitals. Requires the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study use and financing of Virginia's designated trauma centers. In conducting its study, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission must (i) examine utilization trends vis-a-vis number of patients served and kind of services delivered; (ii) compare Virginia's utilization trends to national utilization trends; (iii) assess the demographics of patients requiring trauma center services in Virginia; (iv) conduct an insurance profile of the patients requiring these services in Virginia and, in so far as possible, the nation; (v) analyze the financial costs and benefits to hospitals of being designated a trauma center, including any public relations or other "good will" benefit from being known as a trauma center; and (vi) determine any steps that can be taken to maintain appropriate and necessary trauma services in Virginia's hospitals. This resolution incorporates HJR 115.
Patron - McDonnell

P HJ185

U.S. Route 460 Communications Committee. Extends for two years the Committee's mandate to receive and disseminate communications between the Virginia Department of Transportation and persons and entities affected by the prompt completion and success at all phases and aspects of the planning, designing, constructing, and financing of the U. S. Route 460 Improvement Projects. This resolution incorporates HJR 166.
Patron - McDonnell

P HJ186

Conflicts of interests and lobbyist disclosure forms. Creates a legislative joint subcommittee to review the adequacy of the disclosure forms, study the use of a uniform conflicts of interests disclosure form, and examine the feasibility and costs of providing information from the forms on the Internet.
Patron - McDonnell

P HJ193

Department of Social Services by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to conduct a two-year study of the mission and effectiveness of the organization, operation, and performance of the Department of Social Services. In conducting the study, JLARC shall assess the effectiveness of the social services system as measured by (i) changes in customer self-sufficiency; (ii) the delivery of effective prevention and early intervention services; (iii) the availability of necessary resources to ensure the delivery of quality services in a timely manner; and (iv) the adequacy and effectiveness of information systems, such as the Application Benefit Delivery Automation Project (ADAPT), including the effective coordination of services by the Departments of Social Services, Medical Assistance Services, and Juvenile Justice. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall make recommendations based upon the findings of the study to improve the Department's performance for each of these measures.
Patron - Landes

P HJ195

Community health workers. Requests James Madison University to study the status, impact, and utilization of community health workers. Community health workers are trained lay persons who, as trusted members of their communities, serve as health resource persons where they live and work, implementing culturally appropriate health education and outreach among groups that have traditionally lacked adequate health care. The University shall (i) inventory the number, roles, and training of all community health workers employed in the Commonwealth and explore a standard designation for such workers; (ii) identify and review outcome studies and evaluations on the efficacy of community health workers; (iii) determine ways to elevate the role of community health workers in the health care delivery system and to integrate more effectively such workers in public agencies; (iv) examine the potential use of community health workers as part of a best-practice quality measure for Medicaid and other contracted providers; (v) explore the development of a statewide core curriculum that would be used for the training of publicly employed community health workers and be available for volunteer workers; and (vi) recommend any other steps to maximize the value and utilization of community health workers. This resolution is identical to SJR 19.
Patron - Landes

P HJ197

Establishing a public four-year institution in South Central Virginia. Requests the State Council of Higher Education to consider the establishment of a public four-year degree granting institution of higher education in South Central Virginia in developing its systemwide needs assessment plan for higher education in the Commonwealth. The institution must strengthen and support existing public and private institutions of higher education in the South Central Virginia region. In its deliberations to develop the plan, the Council shall (i) solicit the participation of and collaborate with all interested parties, and (ii) evaluate all available options, including, but not limited to, the creation of a branch campus of an existing institution in the South Central Virginia region. This resolution is identical to SJR 86.
Patron - Armstrong

P HJ225

Commonwealth's Attorneys. Directs the Crime Commission to conduct a statewide study of the operations of the offices of the Commonwealth's Attorneys. The Commission shall study the quality of prosecutorial representation and the efficiency by which prosecutorial services are provided. The study of prosecutorial representation shall examine the impact, if any, of the existing workloads in the Commonwealth's Attorneys' offices, any disparity in workload per attorney, training and technical support for Commonwealth's Attorneys versus judicial and criminal justice system agencies, opportunities for continuing legal education specifically geared towards career prosecutors, and the Commonwealth's Attorneys' ability to hire and retain qualified prosecutors in their offices.
Patron - McDonnell

P HR18

Child Day Care Regulations. Requests the Child Day Care Council to review the impact of proposed revisions to the Minimum Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers on providers and families, and to defer the implementation of the provisions of such revised regulations pertaining to staff-to-child ratios, educational requirements, square footage, and group size until July 1, 2005. The Child Day Care Council must submit an executive summary and report of its progress in meeting the requests of this resolution no later than the first day of the 2005 Regular Session of the General Assembly.

P SJ19

P SJ24

Access to and costs of oral health care. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study access to and the costs of oral health care. In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall (i) ascertain the state of oral health in Virginia; (ii) identify and evaluate oral health care needs by demographic characteristics in the Commonwealth; (iii) determine the number of persons without adequate or any dental insurance; (iv) determine the number of dental visits each year by age, gender, services rendered, and costs of services; and (v) recommend strategies to promote and increase good oral health in the Commonwealth, including, but not limited to, issues relating to access to oral care by poor, low-income, and minority persons, and ways to provide affordable oral health care for all persons. The joint subcommittee must submit an executive summary of its findings and recommendations to the 2005 Session of the General Assembly.
Patron - Marsh

P SJ25

Mental health needs and treatment of young minority adults in the Commonwealth. Directs the Joint Commission on Health Care to study the mental health needs and treatment of young minority adults in the Commonwealth. In conducting its study, the Joint Commission on Health Care shall, to the extent possible, (i) estimate the number of mentally disabled young adults by gender, age, and racial and ethnic classification, in the geographical regions of the Commonwealth; (ii) identify the prevailing mental health and emotional disorders and their etiology among minority young adults; (iii) identify the mental health needs of minority citizens, particularly minority young adults in Virginia; (iv) determine the number of racial and ethnic minority persons who receive mental health treatment each year and the facilities providing such care; (v) determine whether mental health care providers are trained to provide culturally competent mental health treatment; (vi) assess the need for culturally competent mental health treatment in Virginia; (vii) review federal and state laws and regulations governing the confidentiality of health care, mental health treatment, and medical records and identify the conditions and the extent to which medical records information may be disclosed to parents and family members to assist them in obtaining health, social services, and mental health treatment for mentally disabled young adults; (viii) recommend ways and alternatives, within the law, to provide parents and family members of mentally disabled young adults the ability to obtain needed health, social services, and mental health treatment for such persons without involuntary commitment; and (ix) consider such other related matters as the Commission may determine necessary to address the objectives of this resolution. The Commission must report its findings and recommendations to the 2005 Session of the General Assembly.
Patron - Marsh

P SJ38

Local firearms hunting ordinances. Requests the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to study local firearms hunting ordinances. The study is to examine how these ordinances can be made more uniform throughout the State. The Department shall submit a report its findings and recommendations to the 2005 Session of the General Assembly.
Patron - Stolle

P SJ43

Lead-poisoning prevention. Continues the Joint Subcommittee Studying Lead-Poisoning Prevention to (i) work with the Lead-Safe Virginia program within the Department of Health, in all ways feasible, to maintain and increase federal support for Virginia's lead-poisoning prevention efforts; (ii) cooperate with the Department of Housing and Community Development, in all ways feasible, to assist with its housing grant; (iii) pursue the development of a metadata clearinghouse by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency of the databases and data repositories within the Secretariat of Health and Human Resources, upon approval of appropriate legislation; (iv) examine any issues relating to the blood-lead testing protocol as needed; (v) assess any housing issues that may arise in the coming year; (vi) seek the establishment of a collaborative approach to blood-lead testing issues between the Division of Consolidated Laboratories, the Department of Health, and the Department of Medical Assistance Services; (vii) seek input from nurses, pediatricians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and various state agency personnel concerning the potential benefits or drawbacks of delegating certain screening and testing to registered nurses; and (viii) continue to act as a coordinating influence on state efforts to prevent lead poisoning. To assist the joint subcommittee in its work (a) the Secretary of Health and Human Resources is requested to establish a task force to examine issues relating to the delegation of screening and testing to registered nurses, pursuant to the Medicaid Early and Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) program; and (b) the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services and the Secretary of Health and Human Resources are requested to establish a task force to facilitate communication and cooperation of blood-lead testing issues. The joint subcommittee must submit an executive summary of its findings and recommendations, including a summary of the presentations to the joint subcommittee by the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, to the 2005 Session of the General Assembly.
Patron - Lambert

P SJ57

Horse industry. Requests the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to study ways to enhance the economic development of Virginia's horse industry. The Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services is required to create a task force composed of representatives of industry groups to assist the Department in its study. The Department's study may include, among other issues, an examination of the use tax, the application of sales tax on horses sold in Virginia to determine whether the breeding animal exemption should be expanded, zoning issues, the extent to which horses or horsemeat are exported to foreign markets for human consumption and the laws governing this practice, the impact of the loss of state funding on the Virginia Horse Center and the Virginia Horse Breeder Incentive Program, and the need for a state natural disaster plan, including the education and training of horse owners regarding preparation for disasters.
Patron - Hawkins

P SJ58

Benefits of public-private partnerships to Medicaid recipients. Directs the Joint Commission on Health Care to study the success of other states in improving services and lowering costs of health care and prescription drugs to Medicaid recipients through public-private partnerships, including other states' disease management programs, and to recommend whether Virginia should adopt similar programs. In conducting its study, the Commission shall examine the other states' programs for improving services and lowering costs of health care and prescription drugs through agreements with the private sector, including Florida's Medicaid Initiative and its Medicaid Disease Management Initiative.
Patron - Bell

P SJ64

Future of manufacturing in Virginia. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study manufacturing needs and the future of manufacturing in Virginia. The joint subcommittee shall (i) assess the current state of the manufacturing sector of Virginia's economy; (ii) determine how the sector's needs may be addressed quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively; and (iii) consider what role state and local governments should have in this endeavor. The joint subcommittee must submit its findings and recommendations to the 2005 Session of the General Assembly.
Patron - Wagner

P SJ74

Public funding of higher education Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the public funding of higher education in Virginia. The joint subcommittee shall examine (i) alternatives to the current formulas and methods used by the Commonwealth to fund institutions of higher education; (ii) alternatives for paying for a college education including, but not limited to, interest-free loans guaranteed by the Commonwealth; (iii) the efficacy and appropriateness of delivering degree programs through distance learning; and (iv) access to Virginia institutions of higher education by residents of the Commonwealth, including the feasibility of guaranteeing placement at a four-year institution of higher education in Virginia for certain graduates of Virginia's community colleges satisfying an agreed upon curriculum and grade-point average. Staff support to the joint subcommittee will be provided by the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Committee on Appropriations. The joint subcommittee must report its findings and recommendations to the 2006 Session of the General Assembly.
Patron - Stosch

P SJ75

Incentives for preserving forestland. Requests the Board of Forestry, with assistance from the Virginia Department of Forestry, to study the provision of incentives to private landowners to hold and preserve forestland. In conducting the study, the Board is to (i) review laws and programs of other states, localities, and agencies and (ii) seek comments and recommendations from citizens, conservation groups, farm and forest landowner association representatives, and forest industry association representatives for the purpose of recommending mechanisms that will provide incentives to private landowners to maintain and preserve their forestland for the environmental and economic benefit of the Commonwealth. The Board must submit its findings and recommendations to the 2005 Session of the General Assembly.
Patron - Ticer

P SJ80

P SJ86

Establishing a public four-year institution in South Central Virginia. Requests the State Council of Higher Education to consider the establishment of a public four-year degree granting institution of higher education in South Central Virginia in developing its systemwide needs assessment plan for higher education in the Commonwealth. The institution must strengthen and support existing public and private institutions of higher education in the South Central Virginia region. In its deliberations to develop the plan, the Council shall (i) solicit input from and collaborate with all interested parties, and (ii) evaluate all available options, including, but not limited to, the creation of a branch campus of an existing institution in the South Central Virginia region. The Council must report its progress in meeting the objectives of the resolution to the 2005 Session of the General Assembly. This resolution is identical to HJR 197.
Patron - Reynolds

P SJ89

Incorporation of churches. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the issues attendant to the incorporation of churches in Virginia. The joint subcommittee shall examine, among other issues it deems appropriate, (i) whether churches properly can incorporate in those portions of the state not covered by the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia's ruling; (ii) how unincorporated churches should transition from "trustee" ownership to "corporate" ownership of real property; and (iii) whether statutory restrictions on the amount of real property a church may hold apply to incorporated churches. The joint subcommittee shall submit its findings and recommendations to the 2005 Session of the General Assembly.
Patron - Mims

P SJ90

Administrative and financial relationships between the Commonwealth and its institutions of higher education. Establishes a joint subcommittee to examine the issues and law relating to the feasibility and practicability of restructuring the administrative and financial relationships between the Commonwealth and its public institutions of higher education. The joint subcommittee must submit its findings and recommendations to the 2005 Session of the General Assembly.
Patron - Chichester

P SJ95

Impact of blighted or deteriorated properties in older urban communities. Directs the Virginia Housing Study Commission to study the impact of blighted or deteriorated properties in older urban communities as part of the commission's study on the development of a statewide housing policy.
Patron - Lucas

P SJ111

Southwest Virginia economic development. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study measures to improve and enhance economic development in the Southwest region of the Commonwealth. The joint subcommittee shall review methods to attract business and industry to the Southwest region of the state through (i) actions that may be taken by the state government, (ii) joint efforts with neighboring states and local governments, and (iii) programs provided by or through institutions of higher education and the business community located in the region. The joint subcommittee must submit its findings and recommendations to the 2006 Session of the General Assembly.
Patron - Puckett

P SJ131

Sexual assault. Requests the Department of Health, with primary assistance from the Department of Criminal Justice Services, to study the effectiveness of the statewide response to sexual assault victims and the prevention of sexual assault, and to make recommendations to the General Assembly.
Patron - Watkins

Failed

F HJ8

Sheriffs' staffing standards. Creates a joint subcommittee to study staffing standards for sheriffs' departments.
Patron - Cosgrove

F HJ17

Joint Rules Committee to study the formation of a bipartisan redistricting commission. Requests the Committee to (i) evaluate the present Virginia redistricting process, (ii) review alternative redistricting processes used in other states, (iii) consider both constitutional and statutory changes in the process, and (iv) study the criteria that should be followed in developing redistricting plans. The Committee shall complete its work by November 30, 2004. This resolution is incorporated into HJR 165.
Patron - Purkey

F HJ20

Joint subcommittee to study medical, ethical, and scientific issues relating to stem cell research conducted in the Commonwealth. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study stem cell research in Virginia. In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall examine the medical, ethical and scientific policy implications of prohibiting the creation of embryos in vitro for any purpose other than bringing them to birth, and the criminalizing of the transfer of compensation, in cash or in-kind, to induce any person to donate sperm or eggs for any purpose other than procreation. The joint subcommittee shall also examine the efficacy of research using adult stem cells rather than embryonic stem cells. The chairman must submit an executive summary of the joint subcommittee's findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2005 Regular Session of the General Assembly to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems. The executive summary shall state whether the joint subcommittee intends to submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a document. The executive summary and the report shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.
Patron - Marshall, R.G.

F HJ39

Economic development and retention. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study economic development and the retention of existing businesses within the Commonwealth. In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall research and ascertain necessary programs that will aid in retaining businesses within the Commonwealth including (i) no- or low- interest loans, (ii) tax refunds based on job creation, (iii) waiver of permit fees, (iv) relief from or assistance with utility taxes, (iv) subsidies for land purchases, and (v) any other programs, plans or processes that enhance business retention within the Commonwealth. The joint subcommittee shall complete its work by November 30, 2004.
Patron - Purkey

F HJ42

Medicaid nonemergency transportation services. Directs the Joint Commission on Health Care to study the current provision of brokered nonemergency transportation for Medicaid recipients through the Logisticare contract. The Joint Commission shall examine the previous pilot program in far southwest Virginia and the efforts by states similar to Virginia to provide cost-effective Medicaid transportation. The Joint Commission shall make legislative, regulatory, policy, or administrative recommendations that would result in a nonemergency transportation service that is brokered more effectively and responsively, for the benefit of Medicaid recipients, their families, other service providers, and taxpayers. In conducting this study, the Joint Commission shall solicit input from recipients, family members, and providers of transportation and other Medicaid services. The Joint Commission on Health Care shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2004, 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 2005 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
Patron - Athey

F HJ75

Due process accorded noncustodial parents. Requests the Department of Social Services to study the due process accorded noncustodial parents in the enforcement remedies used by the Division of Child Support Enforcement. In conducting this study, the Department of Social Services shall evaluate the enforcement remedies used by the Division of Child Support Enforcement, describe the due process procedures currently accorded noncustodial parents prior to enforcement action, and make legislative recommendations to enhance the constitutional requirements of due process for noncustodial parents.
Patron - Jones, D.C.

F HJ76

Child support enforcement. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the Commonwealth's child support enforcement practices. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall examine, among other things deemed relevant, the management of the state and local child support enforcement offices, their enforcement and accounting practices, and the high proportion of African Americans in the enforcement base. The Joint Legislative and Audit Commission shall complete its meetings for the first year by November 30, 2004, and for the second year by November 30, 2005, 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 next Regular Session of the General Assembly for each year.
Patron - Jones, D.C.

F HJ83

Business practices and ethical issues relating to assisted reproductive technology conducted by fertility clinics. Requests the Joint Commission on Health Care to study for two years the business practices and ethical issues relating to assisted reproductive technology conducted by fertility clinics in the Commonwealth. In conducting its study, the Joint Commission shall make legislative, regulatory or policy recommendations to ensure the quality of assisted reproductive technology and address the ethical quandaries that arise from the scientific manipulation of the origins of human life. The Joint Commission shall solicit input from bioethicists, the fertility industry, appropriate consumer and professional organizations involved in assisted reproductive technology, legal experts, and all other stakeholders. The chairman must submit an executive summary of the Joint Commission's findings and recommendations no later than the first day of both the 2005 and 2006 Regular Sessions of the General Assembly to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems. The executive summary shall state whether the Joint Commission intends to submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a document. The executive summary and the report shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.
Patron - Marshall, R.G.

F HJ84

Joint subcommittee to study regulation of embryo laboratories engaging in assisted reproductive technology. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the regulation of embryo laboratories engaging in assisted reproductive technology in the Commonwealth. In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall solicit input from appropriate consumer and professional organizations with expertise in using, providing, and evaluating professional services and embryo laboratories associated with assisted reproductive technology programs. The joint subcommittee shall review the model certification program developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for inspecting and certifying laboratories used in fertility clinics that provide assisted reproductive technology and make all necessary legislative, regulatory or policy recommendations to promote quality services. The chairman must submit an executive summary of the joint subcommittee's findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2005 Regular Session of the General Assembly to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems. The executive summary shall state whether the joint subcommittee intends to submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a document. The executive summary and the report shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.
Patron - Marshall, R.G.

F HJ85

Escalating cost of health care in Virginia. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the escalating cost of health care in Virginia. The joint subcommittee shall identify and consider the impact of various influences on escalating health care costs, including dramatically rising prescription drug costs, related to factors such as increased patient demand and education as a result of direct consumer advertising, the introduction of new and expensive drug therapies by pharmaceutical companies, greater reliance on drug therapies by the physician community, and efforts by drug manufacturers to increase market share; the aging of the workforce; increased obesity and other health risk factors among various age groups; critical labor shortages for certain medical professionals such as nurses, physical therapists, and pharmacists; escalating medical malpractice insurance premiums; consolidations of for-profit health care provider groups, which have enabled providers to negotiate higher reimbursement levels and made it more difficult to contain costs; mergers of health insurers with health care providers, which may result in less competition and increased costs; the erosion in value of fixed-dollar copayment levels over time relative to the cost of medical care to the patient, which may encourage greater use of services; limited information about the effectiveness of many medical tests and procedures; and significant amounts of uncompensated care provided for many individuals without health insurance. The Joint Subcommittee also shall identify potential strategies and mechanisms to address the escalating cost of health care in Virginia, including chronic disease management techniques, provider payment incentive systems, the widespread distribution of comparative quality information about providers and effectiveness information about various medical procedures and tests, restrictive choices of providers, and cost-sharing approaches that provide increased incentives to patients to make cost-effective decisions about their use of health care resources. The joint subcommittee shall complete its meetings for the first year by November 30, 2004, and for the second year by November 30, 2005, 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 next Regular Session of the General Assembly for each year.
Patron - Marshall, R.G.

F HJ86

Comprehensive Services for At-Risk Youth and Families. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the cost effectiveness of the Comprehensive Services for At-Risk Youth and Families program (CSA). In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall study the administration of CSA by state and local governments, including projections of caseloads, service needs and costs, and make recommendations for improvement of program services and strategies for cost containment. The chairman must submit an executive summary of the joint subcommittee's findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2005 Regular Session of the General Assembly to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems. The executive summary shall state whether the joint subcommittee intends to submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a document. The executive summary and the report shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.
Patron - Pollard

F HJ92

Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission school funding recommendations. Creates a 10-member legislative study committee to conduct a one-year study of the feasibility and appropriateness of implementing the recommendations of the 2002 Review of Elementary and Secondary School Funding by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission. In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall consider, among other things, the implication of requiring that (i) the costs of implementing the Standards of Quality be estimated on principles consistent with producing a current, prevailing cost; (ii) salaries, support costs, and fringe benefits be funded at the full anticipated levels in the budgetary biennium; (iii) the cost of competing factor for Planning Division 8 support salaries be fully funded; (iv) the use of the linear weighted average to determine prevailing costs be reviewed for any dampening effect on estimates of prevailing costs; and (v) recommendations be developed regarding establishing a teacher salary goal for the Commonwealth.
Patron - Rust

F HJ93

Virginia Public Procurement Act. Creates a joint subcommittee to study the Virginia Public Procurement Act to ensure the best possible goods and services at the lowest possible cost and to identify ways that state procurement practices can strengthen Virginia's economy.
Patron - Amundson

F HJ94

Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the redistricting process. Creates a joint subcommittee comprised of five House and three Senate members to (i) evaluate the present Virginia redistricting process, (ii) review alternative redistricting processes used in other states including, in particular, Arizona and Iowa, (iii) consider both constitutional and statutory changes in the process, and (iv) study the criteria that should be followed in developing redistricting plans. The subcommittee shall complete its work by November 30, 2004. This resolution isincorporated into HJR 165.
Patron - Amundson

F HJ102

Nonmigratory Canada geese. Requests that the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries study strategies to control nonmigratory Canada Geese populations.
Patron - Watts

F HJ104

Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission; Office of Inspector General. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the establishment of an office of inspector general in each Secretariat.
Patron - Brink

F HJ111

Safe Routes to School. Requests the Board of Education to examine the feasibility and appropriateness of implementing a Safe Routes to School Program in the Commonwealth. In conducting its study, the Board shall examine (i) Safe Routes to School programs in other states; (ii) the respective roles of state and local education, transportation, law enforcement, and other entities; (iii) current initiatives in the Commonwealth addressing student safety in walking or cycling to school; (iv) relevant fiscal and safety concerns; and (v) such other issues as it deems necessary.
Patron - Van Yahres

F HJ115

The use and financing of trauma centers in the Commonwealth's hospitals. Requires the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study use and financing of Virginia's designated trauma centers. In conducting its study, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission must (i) examine utilization trends vis-a-vis number of patients served and kind of services delivered; (ii) compare Virginia's utilization trends to national utilization trends; (iii) assess the demographics of patients requiring trauma center services in Virginia; (iv) conduct an insurance profile of the patients requiring these services in Virginia and, in so far as possible, the nation; (v) analyze the financial costs and benefits to hospitals of being designated a trauma center, including any public relations or other "good will" benefit from being known as a trauma center; and (vi) determine any steps that can be taken to maintain appropriate and necessary trauma services in Virginia's hospitals. The Commission must report by the first day of the 2005 Session. This resolution is incorporated into HJR 183.
Patron - Jones, D.C.

F HJ121

Local correctional facilities. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study good conduct allowance for jail inmates.
Patron - Keister

F HJ131

Expansion of Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. Requests the Virginia Department of Transportation to study the desirability, feasibility, and cost of constructing two additional tunnel tubes parallel to the existing tunnel tubes of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel connecting the Cities of Hampton and Norfolk and expanding a portion of Interstate Route 64 in Norfolk.
Patron - Gear

F HJ135

Access to and the availability of geriatricians and ways to increase geriatrics expertise among Virginia's health professionals; report. Directs the Joint Commission on Health Care to survey the Commonwealth's three medical schools and other health professional programs in Virginia's private and public institutions of higher education to ascertain how geriatrics is covered in the curricula and what, if any, plans have been or are being made to develop specific programs focused on geriatrics or incorporating appropriate principles into the present programs for surgeons, psychiatrists, neurologists, dentists, other specialty areas, and primary care specialties. The Joint Commission must also ascertain how the known effects of aging on the immune system, the nervous system and other organ systems are approached or included in the relevant courses of various undergraduate courses for health care professionals or basic science classes for graduate and professional students. In its deliberations, the Joint Commission shall determine the adequacy of the Commonwealth's programs and whether additional projects, programs, or curriculum should be initiated in order to produce an adequate supply of geriatricians to care for Virginia's senior citizens. Upon completion of its data collection and analyses, the Joint Commission must make recommendations concerning (i) the professionals that should be encouraged to study geriatrics, (ii) additions to any medical school or higher education curriculum, (iii) the number of geriatricians in various health professions and specialties that will be needed in Virginia by 2010, and (iv) initiatives for individuals enrolled in various medical and health care education to become geriatricians. The Joint Commission must report its findings by the first day of the 2005 Session.
Patron - Morgan

F HJ143

Escalating costs of health insurance in Virginia. Establishes a 10-member joint subcommittee to study the escalating costs of health insurance in Virginia, by identifying and considering the impact of various influences such as the dramatically rising prescription drug costs; increased patient demand and education for new drugs and other new medical therapies; the effects of direct consumer advertising; greater reliance on drug therapies by the physician community; efforts by drug manufacturers to increase market share; the aging of the workforce; increased obesity and other health risk factors among various age groups; critical labor shortages for certain medical professionals such as nurses, physical therapists, and pharmacists; escalating medical malpractice insurance premiums; consolidations of for-profit health care provider groups, which have enabled providers to negotiate higher reimbursement levels and made it more difficult to contain costs; mergers of health insurers with health care providers, which may result in less competition and increased costs; the erosion in value of fixed-dollar co-payment levels over time relative to the cost of medical care to the patient, which may encourage greater use of services; limited information about the effectiveness of many medical tests and procedures; and significant amounts of uncompensated care provided for many individuals without health insurance. The joint subcommittee must also collect and analyze data relating to the past and present business practices of the insurance companies, without intruding into the realm of proprietary business information, to determine the companies' yearly total premiums, surplus funds, net incomes, and assets; the salaries of executives and bonuses or other perquisites for executives; workforce size and makeup; actual costs of the delivered services to the company, as negotiated with health care providers; the effects of conversion to stock companies; and the effects of any changes in corporate documents or any other matters relating to company structure and form that may be relevant to costs. This two-year study group must report by way of an executive summary posted by the first day of the 2005 and 2006 Sessions. The executive summary will note whether a report will be submitted.
Patron - Marshall, R.G.

F HJ147

Department of Social Services; reporting of adult abuse and neglect. Requests the Virginia Department of Social Services to study the detection and reporting of caregiver abuse, neglect, and exploitation of adults. In conducting its study, the Department shall (i) determine whether caregiver abuse, neglect, and exploitation of adults can be adequately prosecuted under existing domestic violence or other criminal statutes; (ii) determine whether hospital admission procedures should track occurrences of conditions that could indicate adult abuse or neglect; (iii) develop a list of mandatory reporters and establish reporting procedures comparable to those regarding suspected abuse or neglect of children; and (iv) determine whether family violence fatality review teams should investigate the deaths of adults who were being cared for by nonfamily members when abuse or neglect is a suspected cause of death. The commissioner of the Department shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary and report of the progress in meeting the request of this resolution no later than the first day of the 2005 Regular Session of the General Assembly. 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.
Patron - Watts

F HJ149

Establishing a joint subcommittee to examine advisory referenda procedures. Establishes an eight-member joint subcommittee appointed from the House and Senate Committees on Privileges and Elections to propose a uniform process for advisory referenda for localities throughout the Commonwealth.
Patron - Ware, O.

F HJ151

Need for and cost of additional veterans care centers and cemeteries. Requests that the Department of Veterans Services study the need for and cost of additional veterans care centers and cemeteries. The Department of Veterans Services shall (i) examine the present services provided by Virginia's veterans care centers and cemeteries and the related costs; (ii) identify situations where veterans' needs are not presently being met; (iii) examine whether changes to the federal government's veterans' policies and practices are failing to meet the needs of Virginia's veterans; (iv) recommend whether Virginia should increase the services it provides Virginia's veterans via care centers and cemeteries and identify the related costs; (v) recommend whether Virginia should construct or acquire facilities to house additional veterans care centers and identify the related costs; and (vi) recommend whether Virginia should acquire property for additional veterans cemeteries and identify the related costs. The Department of Veterans Services shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2004, and 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 no later than the first day of the 2005 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
Patron - Dillard

F HJ155

Racial and ethnic disparity in mental health services. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study racial and ethnic disparity in mental health services. In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall identify the mental disorders prevalent among racial and ethnic minority citizens in the Commonwealth, (ii) determine whether such persons suffer disproportionately from depression and substance abuse; (iii) determine why such persons are less likely to receive needed mental health services and whether they have less access to such services, and the availability of mental health services; (iv) assess the quality of mental health services that minorities receive and whether mental health care providers are required to develop cultural diversity competencies; (v) assess the extent to which cultural, economic, and social influences are determinants of mental illness, and how such factors effect the willingness of minority citizens to seek care, communication with mental health care providers, and diagnosis, treatment, and service delivery; (vi) ascertain the supply and demand of racial and ethnic mental health care providers; and (vii) recommend ways to eliminate racial and ethnic disparity in mental health services and the underrepresentation of minorities in mental health research. The joint subcommittee must submit an interim report to the 2004 and 2005 Sessions of the General Assembly.
Patron - Baskerville

F HJ157

Racial and ethnic disparities in health care. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study ways to eliminate racial and ethnic disparity in health care in Virginia. In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall (i) identify the health status and needs of racial and ethnic minority populations in Virginia; (ii) evaluate the need for more racial and ethnic minority health care providers; (iii) determine ways to improve and increase the delivery of health care services in minority and medically underserved communities, including strategies to overcome language barriers; (iv) ascertain the need for cultural competency training for health care providers; (v) assess the need for patient education programs to increase patients' health literacy, knowledge, and skills in navigating the health care system; and (vi) consider such other related issues and concerns as the joint subcommittee deems necessary and appropriate to accomplish the objectives of this resolution. The joint subcommittee must submit an executive summary of its findings and recommendations to the 2004 and 2005 Sessions of the General Assembly.
Patron - Baskerville

F HJ160

Pain management in long-term care facilities in the Commonwealth. Directs the Joint Commission on Health Care to conduct a study of the issue of developing a pain management standard for long-term care facilities in Virginia. In conducting its study, the Joint Commission must review the report of the National Conference of State Legislatures titled "State Initiatives in End of Life Care," outlining advice and questions to guide legislators in improving pain and symptom management for patients approaching the end of their lives. This resolution details statistics indicating that nursing home residents do not receive adequate pain assessments or pain management therapy. The Joint Commission is directed to report its findings by the first day of the 2005 Session.
Patron - Brink

F HJ161

Joint subcommittee to study the appointment, responsibilities, and oversight of the Commonwealth's general registrars. Creates a nine-member joint subcommittee to examine various issues involving the appointment, responsibilities and oversight of office of the general registrar.
Patron - Jones, S.C.

F HJ165

Joint subcommittee to study the redistricting process. Creates a joint subcommittee comprised of five House and three Senate members to (i) evaluate the present Virginia redistricting process, (ii) review alternative redistricting processes used in other states including, in particular, the use of advisory commissions to prepare redistricting plans for consideration by the legislature, (iii) consider both constitutional and statutory changes in the process, and (iv) study the criteria that should be followed in developing redistricting plans. The subcommittee shall complete its work by November 30, 2004.
Patron - Plum

F HJ166

U.S. Route 460 Communications Committee. Extends the Committee's mandate until construction of the U.S. Route 460 upgrade project has begun. This resolution is incorporated into HJR 185.
Patron - Wardrup

F HJ167

Commissioners of Revenue, Treasurers and Directors of Finance. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the functions and operations of the Commissioners of Revenue, Treasurers, and Directors of Finance. The study shall address (i) the benefits provided by the three local financial officers to the Commonwealth and its localities; (ii) whether the benefits outweigh the costs; (iii) whether alternative methods of State financing for these offices would be feasible and advisable; (iv) whether the State tax assistance function carried out by these local officers is valuable and cost-effective; and (v) such other related issues as it deems appropriate by the Commission.
Patron - Wardrup

F HJ169

Qualifications for boards of visitors of the Commonwealth's public institutions of higher education. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the feasibility and appropriateness of requiring qualifications of members of the boards of visitors of public institutions of higher education in Virginia. The joint subcommittee is charged to consider, among other things, qualifications and training requirements of boards of visitors in the Commonwealth and other states; the appointment and term requirements for boards of visitors in other states; the recommendations of the Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education; and such other issues as it deems necessary. The joint subcommittee must submit its executive summary by the first day of the 2005 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
Patron - Purkey

F HJ177

Development of a National Lambda Rail Advanced Performance Standard Initiative. Directs the Joint Commission on Technology and Science to determine what public resources, including but not limited to public-private partnerships, other public and private resources, taxation policies, and direct financial assistance may be used to further the development of a National Lambda Rail, advanced, high-speed telecommunications backbone network with the capability of transmitting a minimum of one gigabit per second (OC-24) utilizing the IPv6 Internet Protocol to all workstations within the Commonwealth; and monitor, cooperate, and coordinate with other agencies of the Commonwealth and committees of the General Assembly to ensure a sound, progressive statewide program is in place and being actively pursued. The National Lambda Rail project is a collaborative effort among a number of universities, federal research and development agencies, and private sector firms to develop a next generation Internet for research and education, including both enhanced network services as well as the multimedia applications that will be enabled by those services.
Patron - Rust

F HJ178

Linear weighted average. Requests the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the feasibility and appropriateness of modifying or eliminating use of the linear weighted average in the calculation of certain costs of providing educational programs meeting the Standards of Quality. In conducting its study, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall review, among other things, (i) its findings and recommendations regarding the linear weighted average in its 2002 Review of Elementary and Secondary School Funding and in its 2003 Interim Report on Best Practices for the Support Services of School Divisions; (ii) funding methodologies implemented in other states; and (iii) such other issues as it deems appropriate. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2004, 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 2005 Regular Session of the General Assembly. This resolution is incorporated into HJR 92.
Patron - Dillard

F HJ184

Tourism. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the growth of tourism in the Commonwealth. The study will (i) examine consumer and business travel trends; (ii) review projected estimates of travel expenditures and travel-generated payroll and employment in the Commonwealth; (iii) evaluate the performance of travel-related industries and the state's infrastructure to sustain and promote tourism, including the labor force, transportation (air, rail, and roads), restaurants, accommodations, welcome centers, amusement and recreation services; (iv) evaluate the Commonwealth's spending on promoting tourism through advertisement and marketing strategies and examine ways to bolster such strategies; and (v) examine opportunities to promote regional tourism with neighboring states.
Patron - McDonnell

F HJ198

Cost savings in providing members with videoconferencing equipment. Directs the Clerk of the House of Delegates and the Clerk of the Senate to collect data on the potential cost savings of providing members with communication equipment to enable them to participate in interim meetings through videoconferencing. In collecting the data, the Clerks shall identify (i) the costs of acquiring, maintaining, and upgrading videoconferencing equipment, including hardware, software, and network access, for members to use from remote locations; (ii) the potential cost savings from reduced payments for travel-related expenses; and (iii) any other relevant cost factor involved with the expansion of videoconferencing.
Patron - Armstrong

F HJ201

Faculty compensation. Requests the State Council of Higher Education to examine the current methodology for establishing faculty salary structure among the public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth for the purpose of assessing the parity and appropriateness of the current system. The State Council shall complete its study by October 1, 2004, and shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a 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 no later than the first day of the 2005 Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.
Patron - Nutter

F HJ203

Redistricting commission. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the desirability of creating a Virginia Redistricting Commission. This resolution is incorporated into HJR 165.
Patron - Moran

F HJ227

Conditional zoning. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study conditional zoning and its effect on residential development patterns and the cost of housing. This resolution is incorporated into HJR 170.
Patron - Ingram

F HJ274

Seriously injured public safety officers. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study Virginia's current benefits for public safety officers who suffer catastrophic personal injuries in the line of duty and to make recommendations to the General Assembly for any changes or additions to such benefits deemed appropriate. This resolution is incorporated into HJR 34.
Patron - Carrico

F SJ1

F SJ22

Kinship care. Directs the Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission to determine (i) the extent to which children in foster care are placed with relatives and the conditions under which children enter kinship care; (ii) the costs and sources of funds from all sources for kinship care; (iii) the current policy of the Commonwealth regarding kinship care; (iv) the characteristics of kinship caregivers and their households, services provided to kinship caregivers and birth parents; (v) the conditions, if any, under which birth parents may have access to their children in kinship care; and (vi) whether and how plans to provide transition from temporary to permanent kinship care for children should be developed and implemented.
Patron - Miller

F SJ27

Redistricting process. Creates a joint subcommittee comprised of five House and three Senate members to (i) evaluate the present Virginia redistricting process, (ii) review alternative redistricting processes used in other states, (iii) consider both constitutional and statutory changes in the process, and (iv) study the criteria that should be followed in developing redistricting plans.
Patron - Williams

F SJ28

Educational technology funding. Creates a 14-member joint subcommittee, comprised of legislators, citizens, and agency officials, to review the feasibility and appropriateness of implementing the educational technology funding options recommended by the Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission.
Patron - Puller

F SJ29

Need for and cost of additional veterans care centers. Requests that the Department of Veterans Services study the need for and cost of additional veterans care centers. The Department of Veterans Services shall (i) examine the present services provided by Virginia's veterans care centers and the related costs; (ii) identify situations where veterans' needs are not presently being met; (iii) examine whether changes to the federal government's veterans' policies and practices are failing to meet the needs of Virginia's veterans; (iv) recommend whether Virginia should increase the services it provides Virginia's veterans via care centers and identify the related costs; and (v) recommend whether Virginia should construct or acquire facilities to house additional veterans care centers and identify the related costs. The Department of Veterans Services shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2004, and shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2005 Regular Session of the General Assembly. This resolution was referred to the Senate Committee on Finance for further consideration of the topic by one of its subcommittees during the 2004 interim.
Patron - Puller

F SJ37

Overpopulation of companion animals. Requests the State Veterinarian to study means to address the issue of overpopulation of companion animals and the associated high rate of euthanasia.
Patron - Potts

F SJ45

Issues relating to delegation to registered nurses of screening and testing pursuant to the Medicaid program known as Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT). Requests the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to establish a task force to examine registered nurse delegation of screening and testing under EPSDT. Early and Periodic Diagnosis and Treatment services to children eligible for medical assistance services, which includes comprehensive child health assessments and testing, such as blood-lead testing, when indicated, is a requirement for state Medicaid programs. In conducting its study, the Secretary's task force must (i) review the EPSDT protocols; (ii) identify the screening and testing tasks that could presently be delegated to registered nurses; (iii) identify any screening and testing tasks that would require additional training to be delegated to registered nurses; (iv) evaluate any quality of care issues relating to delegation to a registered nurse by a physician or nurse practitioner; (v) evaluate any costs/reimbursement issues relating to delegation to a registered nurse by a physician or nurse practitioner; (vi) evaluate supervision issues relating to delegation to a registered nurse by a physician or nurse practitioner; (vii) consider the advantages or benefits and disadvantages or disincentives to physicians and nurse practitioners of authorization to delegate EPSDT screening and testing to registered nurses; and (viii) consider whether any cost savings can be realized for delegation to a registered nurse of EPSDT screening and testing. This resolution is a recommendation of the Joint Subcommittee Studying Lead-Poisoning Prevention.
Patron - Lambert

F SJ46

Facilitating communication and cooperation on blood-lead testing issues. Requests the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services and the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to establish a task force to evaluate relevant agencies' processes, forms, guidance letters, etc. that could be revised or standardized to (i) improve providers' understanding of when to submit samples to the Division for testing; (ii) avoid inappropriate funding of tests; and (iii) document for federal authorities the efficiency of the blood-lead testing component of Lead-Safe Virginia. The purpose of the taskforce will be to establish a consistent approach to the processes and communications relating to blood-lead testing. The Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services and the Secretary of Health and Human Resources may view this collaboration as a pilot study to determine if other collaboration on processes, communications and forms would benefit all involved parties. This resolution is a recommendation of the Joint Subcommittee Studying Lead-Poisoning Prevention.
Patron - Lambert

F SJ48

Reestablishment of the Joint Commission on Management of the Commonwealth's Workforce. Reestablishes the Joint Commission on Management of the Commonwealth's Workforce to continue its comprehensive evaluation of the Commonwealth's Compensation, personnel, and management policies and procedures and formulate recommendations for improvements. This resolution was referred to the Senate Committee on Finance for further consideration of the topic by one of its subcommittees during the 2004 interim.
Patron - Lambert

F SJ50

Public-Private Long-Term Care Insurance Partnership Programs for Virginia. Requests the Department of Medical Assistance Services to study the feasibility of Public-Private Long-Term Care Insurance Partnership Programs for Virginia. In conducting its study, the Department of Medical Assistance Services shall (i) project the need for long-term care services in Virginia; (ii) review the provisions and determine the number of long term care insurance policies sold in the Commonwealth; (iii) consider the criteria that should be established for public-private long-term care insurance partnership programs in Virginia; (iv) estimate the costs savings to the Commonwealth with the implementation of such insurance partnership programs; and (v) recommend such changes in the law that may be necessary for the implementation of such programs.
Patron - Edwards

F SJ53

Remote sales tax collection. Creates a joint subcommittee consisting of 17 members (five delegates, four appointed by the Speaker and the chairman of the Joint Commission on Technology and Science, who is a delegate and a member of the House Committee on Science and Technology; three senators; six citizens; and the Secretaries of Finance, Technology, and Commerce and Trade, who serve as nonvoting members) to study the impact of collecting remote sales taxes on the economy of the Commonwealth, including the impact on revenue and small businesses. In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall determine the amount of revenue the Commonwealth would generate and the impact on small businesses within the Commonwealth if the Commonwealth collected taxes on remote sales; and the ability to use the lack of a requirement to collect remote sales as a marketing tool.
Patron - Devolites

F SJ56

Outsourcing certain noninstructional services. Requests the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to study outsourcing opportunities for noninstructional services in public school divisions in the Commonwealth. In conducting its study, the JLARC shall examine (i) current state and local costs incurred for noninstructional services in the public schools; (ii) noninstructional services that local school divisions may provide beyond those that may be currently required by statute or regulation; (iii) the extent to which school divisions currently seek private sector providers for noninstructional services; (iv) the potential impact of authorizing school divisions to retain any savings realized by such outsourcing; (v) current provisions authorizing the reversion of local funds; and (vi) such other issues as it deems appropriate.
Patron - O'Brien

F SJ71

Status and educational needs of African-American students in Virginia. Directs the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Commission to study the status and educational needs of African-American students in Virginia. The Commission shall (i) conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the status of education of African-American students in Virginia; (ii) identify the factors contributing to the academic achievement gap between African-American students and students of other races; (iii) determine the educational needs of such students throughout the educational continuum; (iv) develop a plan to close the academic achievement gap; (v) propose recommendations to improve the education of such students; and (vi) consider such other related issues and concerns as the Commission may deem appropriate and necessary to accomplish the objectives of this resolution.
Patron - Marsh

F SJ78

Transportation maintenance, construction, and funding. Establishes a 10-member joint subcommittee to conduct a two-year study of Virginia's transportation maintenance and construction program and its funding. This resolution was referred to the Senate Committee on Finance for further consideration of the topic by one of its subcommittees during the 2004 interim.
Patron - Hanger

F SJ82

Senate and House Finance Committees to continue study of tax code. Directs the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Committee on Finance to continue reviewing the state tax code and tax policy issues on an ongoing basis. This resolution was referred to the Senate Committee on Finance for future examination of the topic during the 2004 interim.
Patron - Hanger

F SJ87

Joint subcommittee on the future of Virginia's public institutions of higher education. Creates the 20-member, two-year joint subcommittee on the future of Virginia's public institutions of higher education. In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall examine, among other things, (i) access to Virginia's public institutions and projected enrollments; (ii) tuition and fee considerations and the availability of student financial aid from public and private sources; (iii) capital construction challenges and the feasibility of enhancing distance learning opportunities; (iv) faculty recruitment and retention; (v) admissions policies and minority access; (vi) such other issues as it deems appropriate.
Patron - Mims

Carried Over

C HJ81

Public-private funding of studies. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, with the assistance of the Attorney General, to study the appropriateness and feasibility of creating public-private partnerships for funding studies to benefit the Commonwealth. The Commission shall examine (i) public-private study partnerships in other states; (ii) the feasibility and appropriateness of implementing any such partnerships in the Commonwealth on a pilot project basis; and (iii) constitutional, financial, and policy issues regarding the creation of hybrid public-private studies. The Commission shall develop criteria for determining what studies should receive public-private funding and a process and criteria for soliciting, accepting and distributing private funds.
Patron - Purkey

C HJ87

Compliance with No Child Left Behind Act. Requests the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the fiscal implications of the Commonwealth's compliance with the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. In conducting its study, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall examine (i) the additional initiatives Virginia must enact to comply with NCLB, and the estimated associated costs, specifically, the potential costs imposed by additional assessments, training and employment of highly qualified teachers and instructional paraprofessionals, and enhanced data collection and reporting systems; (ii) the levels of federal funding the Commonwealth currently receives to support public education initiatives; (iii) the fiscal and policy implications of noncompliance with the Act; and (iv) such other issues as it deems appropriate.
Patron - Pollard

C HJ119

Use of soil stabilizers in highway shoulders. Requests the Virginia Transportation Research Council to study the use of soil stabilizers in highway shoulders at one or more selected locations.
Patron - May

C HJ128

Department of Taxation to study sales tax exemptions. Requests the Department of Taxation to study all of the sales and use tax exemptions. In conducting its study, the Department will compile data for each of the 10 categories of sales tax exemptions including, when possible, (i) the number (or an estimate) of entities taking the exemptions, (ii) the revenue loss broken down by types of organizations within each of the 10 categories as far as possible, and (iii) any other data it deems helpful in evaluating the exemptions and their impact on revenues. The Department of Taxation shall also describe problems with how the current exemption process works and recommend changes to improve it. It is a two-year study with a report to be submitted to the 2005 and 2006 General Assembly Sessions.
Patron - Hamilton

C HJ144

Bureau of Insurance; the operations of the health insurance industry and the escalating cost of health insurance in Virginia. Requests the Bureau of Insurance to study the operations of the health insurance industry and the escalating cost of health insurance in Virginia by identifying and considering the impact of various influences on escalating health insurance costs, including dramatically rising prescription drug costs; increased patient demand and education for new drugs and other new medical therapies; the effects of direct consumer advertising; greater reliance on drug therapies by the physician community; efforts by drug manufacturers to increase market share; the aging of the workforce; increased obesity and other health risk factors among various age groups; critical labor shortages for certain medical professionals such as nurses, physical therapists, and pharmacists; escalating medical malpractice insurance premiums; consolidations of for-profit health care provider groups, which have enabled providers to negotiate higher reimbursement levels and made it more difficult to contain costs; mergers of health insurers with health care providers, which may result in less competition and increased costs; the erosion in value of fixed-dollar co-payment levels over time relative to the cost of medical care to the patient, which may encourage greater use of services; limited information about the effectiveness of many medical tests and procedures; and significant amounts of uncompensated care provided for many individuals without health insurance. The Bureau of Insurance must also collect, analyze, and report aggregate data relating to the past and present business practices of the insurance companies to determine the companies' yearly total premiums, surplus funds, net incomes, and assets; the salaries of executives and bonuses or other perquisites for executives; workforce size and makeup; actual costs of the delivered services to the company, as negotiated with health care providers; the effects of conversion to stock companies; and the effects of any changes in corporate documents or any other matters relating to company structure and form that may be relevant to costs. In addition, the Bureau of Insurance will identify potential strategies and mechanisms to address the escalating costs of health insurance in Virginia, including regulatory schemes and enforcement, chronic disease management techniques, provider payment incentive systems, the widespread distribution of comparative quality information about providers and effectiveness information about various medical procedures and tests, restrictive choices of providers, and cost-sharing approaches that provide increased incentives to patients to make cost-effective decisions about their use of health care resources. The Bureau of Insurance will report an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations (for publication as a document) by the first day of the 2005 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
Patron - Marshall, R.G.

C HJ181

School division consolidation. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study (i) current state constitutional and statutory provisions governing school division consolidation; (ii) relevant judicial precedent addressing school desegregation and other constitutional concerns; (iii) current cooperative practices for shared services in Virginia school divisions; (iv) school consolidation procedures in other states; (v) economic and educational efficiencies to be gained or lost by school division consolidations; (vi) recent division consolidations and joint school division operations in Virginia; and (vii) such other issues as it deems appropriate. The study is to be completed in one year.
Patron - Saxman

C HJ182

C HJ226

Natural aquatic resources. Requests the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, in consultation with the appropriate state and federal natural resource management agencies, local governments, and interested parties to study the natural aquatic resources associated with available water resources. It is a two-year study with the final report to be submitted to the 2006 Session of the General Assembly. This resolution was continued to the 2005 Session by the Senate Rules Committee, and the subject matter will be considered by the State Water Commission during the 2004 interim.
Patron - Morgan

C SJ41

General registrars. Creates a nine-member joint subcommittee to examine various issues involving the appointment, responsibilities and oversight of office of the general registrar. The chairman of the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections agreed to examine the topic of this resolution under his authority granted by the Rules of the Senate during the 2004 interim.
Patron - Martin

C SJ63

Teachers as state employees. Requests the Board of Education to study the feasibility and appropriateness of granting public school teachers and administrators state employee status. In conducting its study, the Board shall examine (i) state constitutional and statutory requirements as well as judicial interpretation of the supervisory role of school boards; (ii) the fiscal and policy implications for the Commonwealth and local school divisions should responsibility for the employment of administrative and instructional personnel be transferred to the Commonwealth; (iii) the benefits of such a conversion, and alternative methods of procuring such benefits for administrative and instructional personnel; and (iv) such other issues as it deems appropriate.
Patron - Ruff

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