                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

VIRGINIA COAL AND ENERGY COMMISSION; MEMBERSHIP; TERMS; COMPENSATION AND
EXPENSES; STAFF; QUORUM; VOTING ON RECOMMENDATIONS (§ 30-188)

A. The Virginia Coal and Energy Commission (the Commission) is established in
the legislative branch of state government. The Commission shall consist of 20
members to be appointed as follows: five members of the Senate to be appointed
by the Senate Committee on Rules; eight members of the House of Delegates to be
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; and seven nonlegislative
citizen members to be appointed by the Governor. The nonlegislative citizen
members shall be citizens of the Commonwealth and shall include representatives
of industry, government and groups or organizations identified with production
and conservation of coal, natural gas, and energy.

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

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

D. Legislative members of the Commission shall receive such compensation as
provided in &#xA7; 30-19.12 and nonlegislative citizen members shall receive
such compensation as provided in &#xA7; 2.2-2813 for their services. All members
shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the
performance of their duties as provided in &#xA7;&#xA7; 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825.
Funding for compensation and expenses of the members shall be provided from
existing appropriations to the Commission.

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

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

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

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