§ 136-222.  Commission established; appointment and terms of members; cochairs; reports; commission funds; staff.

(a) Commission established. - The Virginia-North Carolina High-Speed Rail Compact Commission is hereby established as a regional instrumentality and a common agency of each signatory party, empowered in a manner hereinafter to carry out the purposes of the Compact.

(b) Members, terms. - The Virginia members of the Commission shall be appointed as follows: three members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, and two members of the Senate, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. The North Carolina members of the Commission shall be composed of five members as follows: two members of the Senate appointed by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and one appointed by the Governor.

(c) Cochairs. - A cochair to the Commission shall be chosen by the Virginia members of the Commission from among its Virginia membership for a term of one year. A cochair to the Commission shall be chosen by the North Carolina members of the Commission from among its North Carolina membership for a term of one year.

(d) Meetings and reports. - The Commission shall meet at least twice each year, at least once in Virginia and once in North Carolina, and shall issue a report of its activities each year.

(e) Funds. - The Commission may utilize, for its operation and expenses, funds appropriated to it therefore by the legislatures of Virginia and North Carolina, or received from federal sources.

(f) Virginia members of the Commission shall receive compensation and reimbursement for expenses in accordance with the applicable laws of that state. North Carolina members of the Commission shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances in accordance with G.S. 120-31, 138-5, or 138-6, as appropriate.

(g) Staff. - Primary staff to the Commission shall be provided by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and the North Carolina Department of Transportation. (2004-114, s. 1; 2015-264, s. 73.)