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Governor Kaine Announces Action on Legislation

RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced action on eighteen bills, including one to which he will offer substantive amendments. The Governor is required under the Virginia Constitution to complete action by midnight, April 10, 2006, on all bills passed by the 2006 General Assembly.

Governor Kaine issued the following statement on the bills:

Energy

SB 262 (Senator Wagner)

“I was pleased to see such an important and comprehensive bill addressing the energy policy of the Commonwealth passed this session.  I plan to submit a substitute for the bill, strengthening the state energy policy, promoting energy efficiency in appliances and state buildings, reinstating a more accurate method of determining energy costs in utility fuel rate hearings, and making additional changes to the bill, including technical amendments.

“In particular, my substitute limits the bill’s discussion of offshore natural resources to supporting federal efforts to determine how much natural gas is fifty or more miles off the Atlantic Coast. Before any meaningful discussion of offshore drilling, there must be some sense of the potential size of the natural gas reserve. Absent that information, it is impossible to fairly weigh the benefits of offshore energy against the numerous concerns expressed by the public. Thus, my substitute does not take a position on lifting the federal moratorium on natural gas production or development, which is a question of federal, not state law. 

“My amendments promote energy efficiency and energy independence while protecting our natural resources.  I commend Senator Wagner for his tireless efforts on this bill and for working with me on amendments to it.”

Transportation

“I have approved a number of important bills improving transportation efficiency, strengthening land use, enhancing local authority, improving mobility for disabled Virginians, and promoting fuel efficiency.  While the issue of transportation funding remains unresolved, this session has been a landmark one in terms of transportation policy.  I’m very proud of the bipartisan efforts on transportation reform this session.”

Legislation promoting better transportation efficiency includes:

• HB 666 (Delegate Wardrup) eliminates the number and dollar limitations on awarding of design-build contracts by the Commonwealth Transportation Board. 
• HB 667 (Delegate Wardrup) improves the efficiency of maintenance operations and allows for more flexibility in privatizing maintenance contracts for transportation.
• HB 676 (Delegate Wardrup) requires the Commonwealth Transportation Commissioner annually to report to the General Assembly on the Virginia Department of Transportation’s efforts regarding outsourcing, privatization, and downsizing.
• SB 196 (Senator Williams) allows the Commonwealth Transportation Board to enter into written agreements with localities for the building and maintenance of any of the roads in any system of state highways by local employees.

This session also significantly reformed the way in which transportation and land use are connected.  Bills improving land-use include:

• SB 699 (Senator Houck) requires traffic impact statements to be created for new rezoning requests, so that local planners will know how much traffic would be generated before they act on a request.  The Department of Transportation will also provide comments on proposed changes to local comprehensive plans before they are adopted, to help localities understand the effect changes might have on local roads.
• SB 373 (Senator Watkins) allows for transfer of development rights, allowing communities to help guide development toward more efficient patterns while protecting the property rights of local landowners.  TDR programs will allow landowners in areas marked for conservation to voluntarily trade their development rights to parcels in developed areas, and to be compensated for their loss of property value.
• SB 374 (Senator Watkins) promotes cluster development, allowing development while protecting open space.  Developers with large parcels of land will be allowed to cluster their development in one part of the property, in exchange for permanently protecting the remainder of the property as a park or open space. The Governor’s recommendation includes technical amendments.
• SB 412 (Senator Houck) strengthens the Intermodal Office of the Department of Transportation, giving the office the specific charge to advocate for better links between roads, rail, air and sea ports, and to develop performance measures for state and regional efforts to connect our transportation network. The Governor’s recommendation includes additional responsibilities in coordinating modes of transportation.
• HB 686 (Delegate Brink) allows localities to require sidewalks whenever a parcel is developed that adjoins an existing sidewalk, better connecting neighborhoods.

Legislation enhancing local authority over transportation includes:

• HB 201 (Delegate R.G. Marshall) allows adjoining counties, cities, and towns to enter into agreements for the construction and operation of toll highways, bridges, and ferries within their boundaries.
• SB 720 (Senator Wagner) allows localities to establish tolls on new roads or new road capacity.  The Governor’s recommendation includes a minor technical amendment.

Legislation improving mobility for the disabled, strongly supported by AARP, includes:

• HB 226 (Delegate Dwight Jones) and SB 663 (Senator Miller) requires the Commonwealth Transportation Board, in cooperation with other local, regional, or statewide agencies and entities vested with transportation planning responsibilities, to establish specific mobility goals for addressing the transportation needs of populations with limited mobility and to incorporate such goals in the development and implementation of the Statewide Transportation Plan.
• Finally, HB 1248 (Delegate Hugo) extended a law set to expire that allows hybrid vehicles to use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes.  The bill also provides additional funding for HOV enforcement. The Governor’s recommendation includes a technical amendment.

Dangerous Dogs

HB 340 (Delegate Orrock) and HB 1039 (Melvin) and SB 200 (Senator Houck)

“I am approving, with minor technical amendments, three companion bills protecting Virginians against attacks by dangerous dogs.  I commend the legislators involved for their dedicated efforts on these measures.  Senator Houck helped initiate this effort and has been tireless in his pursuit of it.  I also commend Delegate Orrock and Delegate Melvin for their leadership on this issue.”

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