Sponsored bills
Increase from 14 to 17 the total membership of the Broadband Advisory Council by adding two additional members of the Senate of Virginia and an additional nonlegislative member, who shall be a representative of a municipal broadband authority. The bill also removes the Secretary of Technology from the Council and adds the Secretary of Administration. The bill extends the expiration of the Council from July 1, 2018, to July 1, 2021.
Changes from one-quarter of the annual budget to a proportionate contribution amount from each participating political subdivision the required contribution to the operating and capital budget of the New River Valley Emergency Communications Regional Authority (the Authority). The bill requires the Board of the Authority to develop and submit for approval a formula to allocate a proportionate contribution for each participating political subdivision on or before February 1, 2019. The bill requires that the participating political subdivisions unanimously approve the formula before it is used to calculate each participating political subdivision's required contribution. If the formula is not unanimously approved, each participating political subdivision's contribution remains a one-quarter share of the annual budget.
Increases the membership of the State Board of Elections (Board) from three members to five members, with representation given to each of the political parties having the highest and next highest number of votes in the Commonwealth at the last preceding gubernatorial election. Three Board members are to be of the party of the Governor. Terms of Board members are initially staggered. The Governor shall designate one member of the Board as the Commissioner of Elections, to head the Department of Elections and to act as the principal administrative officer. The Commissioner shall also serve as the chair of the Board. The bill requires the Board to submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2019.