Virginia@: [Peninsula-Patriots] URGENT ALERT/ Stop Tourist Train Development Authority

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Sent: Friday, February 15, 2013 9:31 AM

Subject: URGENT ALERT/ Stop Tourist Train Development Authority

This Agenda 21 bill must be stopped right now: Contact your Delegates now to vote NO on SB819 "Tourist Train Development Authority; created" Find phone numbers here: House Member Listings Block email list for all Delegates is below.

To email all (copy and paste):

Southwest Virginia, Get to your local Delegates and have them use their influence with others in the GA to vote against this. It has passed the Senate and will go to the House floor today. One of your Delegates can urge a no vote and kill it on the floor! If it passes the house you have one last shot to urge the Gov to veto it! - Carol Stopps

SB 819 "Tourist Train Development Authority; created" is just another costly economic development scheme that threatens property rights. The plan seems to want to connect the proposed Crooked Road National Heritage Area ( 19 counties ) in southwest Virginia with the National Coal Heritage Area ( 12 counties ) in southern West Virginia via train. Please read the bill below. We certainly don't need another costly and growing "Board of Authority" "making all rules and regulations" at taxpayers expense, through "federal and state grants" and "localities authorized to lend/donate money or property" This bill represents more transfer of wealth from the people, expansion of regional government control from unelected boards and more loss of private property.

SB 819 Tourist Train Development Authority; created.

Introduced by: Phillip P. Puckett | all patrons ... notes|

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Tourist Train Development Authority. Reinstates the Authority and its board, repealed by the General Assembly in 2011, which will consist of representatives from the governing bodies of Tazewell County, the Town of Bluefield, and the Town of Pocahontas; four citizen members from Tazewell County; and two legislators. The Authority's powers are similar to those that other authorities possess. The Authority may also cooperate with any private or governmental entity in the state of West Virginia in the development of a tourist train.

FULL TEXT

12/27/12 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/13 13100878D pdf

SENATE BILL NO. 819 Offered January 9, 2013 Prefiled December 27, 2012 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 15.2 a chapter numbered 65.1, consisting of sections numbered 15.2-6550 through 15.2-6554, relating to the Tourist Train Development Authority. ---------- Patron-- Puckett ---------- Referred to Committee on Local Government ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Title 15.2 a chapter numbered 65.1, consisting of sections numbered 15.2-6550 through 15.2-6554, as follows:

CHAPTER 65.1. TOURIST TRAIN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

� 15.2-6550. Tourist Train Development Authority established.

The Tourist Train Development Authority, hereinafter referred to as the "Authority," is created as a body politic and corporate, a political subdivision of the Commonwealth. As such it shall have, and is hereby vested with, the powers and duties hereinafter conferred in this chapter.

� 15.2-6551. Board of the Authority; qualifications; terms; quorum; records.

All powers, rights, and duties conferred by this chapter, or by other provisions of law, upon the Authority shall be exercised by the Board of the Tourist Train Development Authority, hereinafter referred to as "the board." Initial appointments to the board shall begin July 1, 2013. The board shall consist of nine members as follows: seven members appointed by the Governor of whom three shall be representatives from the governing bodies of Tazewell County, the Town of Bluefield, and the Town of Pocahontas and four shall be nonlegislative citizen members who reside in Tazewell County; one member of the House of Delegates representing Tazewell County, who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates if more than one Delegate represents Tazewell County; and one member of the Senate representing Tazewell County, who shall be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules if more than one Senator represents Tazewell County. All members shall serve for a term of four years and may be reappointed for one additional term, except legislative members, who shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office and may be reappointed. The term of any member of the board shall immediately terminate if the member no longer meets the eligibility criteria of the initial appointment. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term. For the initial appointments only, three of the members shall be appointed for two-year terms and such initial terms shall not be counted toward the term limitation.

The board shall elect from its membership a chairman, a vice-chairman, and from its membership or not, as they desire, a secretary and a treasurer, or a secretary-treasurer, who shall continue to hold such office until their respective successors are elected. The members of the board shall receive no compensation. All members may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties from such funds as may be available to the Authority.

Four members of the board shall constitute a quorum of the board for the purposes of conducting its business and exercising its powers and for all other purposes. No vacancy in the membership of the board shall impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the powers and perform all the duties of the board. The board shall keep detailed minutes of its proceedings, which shall be open to public inspection at all times. It shall keep suitable records of its financial transactions and, unless exempted by � 30-140, it shall arrange to have the records audited annually. Copies of each such audit shall be furnished to the governing bodies of Tazewell County and all adjacent counties and the Auditor of Public Accounts and shall be open to public inspection.

� 15.2-6552. Executive director; staff.

The Authority shall appoint an executive director, who shall be authorized to employ such staff as necessary to enable the Authority to perform its duties as set forth in this chapter. The Authority is authorized to determine the duties of such staff and to fix salaries and compensation from such funds as may be received or appropriated.

� 15.2-6553. Powers of Authority.

The Authority shall have the following powers together with all powers incidental thereto or necessary for the performance of those hereafter stated:

1. To sue and be sued and to prosecute and defend, at law or in equity, in any court having jurisdiction of the subject matter and of the parties;

2. To adopt and use a corporate seal and to alter the same at its pleasure;

3. To contract and be contracted with;

4. To employ and pay compensation to such employees and agents, including attorneys, as the board deems necessary in carrying on the business of the Authority;

5. To establish bylaws and make all rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, deemed expedient for the management of the Authority's affairs;

6. To borrow money and to accept contributions, grants, and other financial assistance from the United States of America and agencies or instrumentalities thereof, the Commonwealth, or any political subdivision, agency, or public instrumentality of the Commonwealth;

7. To issue bonds in accordance with applicable law;

8. To receive and expend moneys on behalf of tourist train development; and

9. To cooperate with any private or governmental entity in the state of West Virginia in the development of a tourist train.

� 15.2-6554. Authority of localities.

Localities are hereby authorized to lend or donate money or other property or services to the Authority for any of its purposes. The locality making the grant or loan may restrict the use of such grants or loans to a specific project, within or outside that locality.

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Virginia@

Friday, February 15, 2013

[Peninsula-Patriots] URGENT ALERT/ Stop Tourist Train Development Authority

SB 819 Tourist Train Development Authority; created.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

FULL TEXT

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