SESSION ENROLLED VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY ––-- 2024 SESSION CHAPTER E132 An Act to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-2699.3, 2.2-2720, and 3.2-3103 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Center for Rural Virginia;

R O [H 1381] Approved LMarch L26, 2024 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

That §§ 2.2-2699.3, 2.2-2720, and 3.2-3103 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenactedEreenacted as follows:

D§ A.2.2-2699.3.

Broadband Advisory Council;

purpose;

membership;

compensation;

chairman.

A.

The purpose of the Council shall be to advise the Governor on policy and funding priorities to expedite deployment and reduce the cost of broadbandbroB. access in the Commonwealth.

B.

four members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House Hfof Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rul1sRules of the andHouse six nonlegislative citizen members to be appointed by the Governor, of whomDelegates; one shall be ae8;

representativethree ofmembers the Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association, one shall be a representative of the VirginiaSenate Telecommunicationsto Industry Association, one shall be aappointed representative from local R government recommended by the VirginiaSenate MunicipalCommittee Leagueon andRules; Virginia Association of Counties, one shall be a representative of the Virginia Wireless Internet Service Providers Association, one shall be a representative of a wireless service authority, and one shall be a representative of the Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives.

and six nonlegislative citizen members to be appointed by the Governor, of whom one shall be a representative of the Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association, one shall be a representative of the Virginia Telecommunications Industry Association, one shall be a representative from local government recommended by the Virginia Municipal League and Virginia Association of Counties, one shall be a representative of the Virginia Wireless Internet Service Providers Association, one shall be a representative of a wireless service authority, and one shall be a representative of the Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives.

Center for Rural Virginia and three Secretaries as defined in § 2.2-200 to be appointed by the theirGovernor termsshall ofserve office.ex officio.

Legislative and ex officio members shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office.

Appointments to fillhfill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be for the unexpired terms.

Funding for compensation and expenses of legislative members shall be provided by the operating budgets of the Clerk of the House of Delegates and the Clerk of the Senate secretariesupon appointedapproval pursuant to subsection B to provide funding for the costs of expenses of the nonlegislativeJoint citizenRules membersCommittee. and all other expenses of the Council.

The Governor shall designate the office of one of the secretaries appointed pursuant to subsection B to provide funding for the costs of expenses of the nonlegislative citizen members and all other expenses of the Council.

The Senator Frank M.

Ruff, Jr.

Center for Rural Virginia.

2.

Make bylaws for the management and regulation of its affairs;

Accept, hold, and administer moneys, grants, securities, or other property transferred, given, or of 2 bequeathed to the Commission, absolutely or in trust, for the purposes for which the Commission is created;

of 2 5.

The Commission shall at least biennially develop a strategic plan containing specific priorities, measureablemeasurable goals, and quantifiable outcomes.