Privatization of government functions continues to receive the attention of those persons seeking ways of providing government services in a more efficient and less expensive manner. Accordingly, the 1993 General Assembly adopted Senate Joint Resolution No. 241 (Appendix A), establishing the Joint Subcommittee Studying Privatization of Certain State Government Functions, and the 1994 General Assembly continued the study by Senate Joint Resolution No. 17 (Appendix B). An interim report of the joint subcommittee was issued in 1994. (*1)

The original resolution called for an 11-member joint subcommittee composed of two members of the Senate, appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; five members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House; and four members from the business community to be appointed by the Governor. However, SJR 17 expanded the membership to allow the Governor to appoint three additional members, including two members from the Governor's cabinet. Furthermore, the vice chairman of the 1993 joint subcommittee, Delegate Alson H. Smith, Jr., retired from the General Assembly and was replaced on the joint subcommittee by Delegate John C. Watkins. Senator Walter A. Stosch continued to serve as chairman of the joint subcommittee, and Delegate Mitchell Van Yahres was chosen vice chairman in 1994.

The joint subcommittee was directed by SJR 17 to continue to examine specific functions of state government as well as other issues such as impediments to privatization and ways to minimize any adverse effect privatization may have on public employees. In addition, the joint subcommittee agreed to undertake a study of the Qualifying Transportation Facilities Act of 1994 (SB 468, 1994) which was passed with a delayed effective date of July 1, 1995.
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(*1) Senate Document No. 64 (1994)