TITLE 2.2. MISCELLANEOUS - ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT.

Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans' Cemetery. Designates the state veterans' cemetery to be established in Hampton Roads as the "Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans' Cemetery." HB 1528; CH. 235.

Conveyance of easement. Authorizes the Department of General Services to negotiate with all necessary parties regarding the security of the alley running between 8th and 9th Streets in Richmond, separating the Supreme Court of Virginia Building and St. Paul's Episcopal Church, and if determined appropriate, to acquire the alley and convey an easement to St. Paul's Episcopal Church to permit vehicles parked in the church's parking garage to enter and exit the parking garage. SB 1305; CH. 230.

Space Radiation Effects Laboratory. Repeals the authorization to enter into a joint agreement to operate and manage such a laboratory because the laboratory was decommissioned around 1980 and sold. This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Code Commission. HB 1478; CH. 586.

State travel guidelines. Requires that the governing bodies of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Virginia Tourism Authority, and the Virginia Port Authority shall establish policies on travel expenses that are substantially consistent with the policies on travel expenses established by the State Comptroller. The bill further provides that if a particular travel reimbursement situation is not covered by the policies or the amount of expense or reimbursement is greater than 10 percent of what is allowed by the policies, then approval must be obtained by the traveler from the cabinet secretary to which the governing body reports. HB 2079; CH. 601.

Veterans Care Center; to be named after certain Medal of Honor recipients. Provides that the second Virginia Veterans Care Center, to be constructed on the property of the McGuire V.A. Hospital, shall be named in the honor of Richmond-area Medal of Honor recipients Colonel Carl Sitter, U.S. Marine Corps, Retired and Colonel Van Barfoot, U.S. Army, Retired. The Virginia Veterans Care Center Board of Trustees shall place and maintain appropriate markers indicating this designation. HB 1793; CH. 244.

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; electronic communication meetings. Extends the exemption of certain public bodies from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act's electronic communication meeting restrictions to public bodies in the legislative branch and any authority, board, bureau, commission, district or agency of the Commonwealth whose membership includes persons who reside or work more than 55 miles from the meeting location as stated in the required notice for such meeting. The bill also provides that these public bodies make an audio or audio/visual recording of the meeting that must be retained for three years. All authorized public bodies are required to submit a report detailing their experience with meetings held under this pilot program to the Freedom of Information Advisory Council and the Joint Commission on Technology and Science. The chairman of any meeting so held is required to make an announcement of the reporting provision during the course of such meeting. The bill also changes the required reporting date from April 15, 2003, to September 1 of each year and extends the sunset from July 1, 2003, to July 1, 2005. The bill contains an emergency clause. SB 1203; CH. 346 (effective 3/16/03).

Virginia Public Building Authority; Capitol Square Preservation Act of 2003. Authorizes the Virginia Public Building Authority to issue bonds in a principal amount not to exceed $118,570,000 to finance the improvement and furnishing of certain buildings located within the boundaries of Capitol Square that were originally built before 1950. HB 2804; CH. 955.

Virginia Research and Technology Advisory Commission (VRTAC); strategies for the incubation of science and technology industries; report. Directs VRTAC to develop strategies for the incubation of new science and technology industries in the Commonwealth. The Commission is required to provide a report of such strategies to the Governor and the General Assembly by November 30, 2003. HB 2639; CH. 365.

Virginia Research and Technology Advisory Commission (VRTAC); strategic plan for research and development; report. Directs VRTAC, in conjunction with the Secretaries of Technology, Commerce and Trade, and Education, to develop strategies for research and development in the Commonwealth. The Commission is required to provide a report of such strategies to the Governor and the General Assembly by November 30, 2003. The Innovative Technology Authority, Virginia Economic Development Partnership, and State Council of Higher Education shall provide staff support to the Commission. HB 2760; CH. 653.

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