The Joint Subcommittee Studying the Funding Requirements of the Virginia Unemployment Trust Fund (the Trust Fund) was continued for another year in 1999 by HJR 589. Each year since its establishment in 1977, the subcommittee is briefed on the status of the Trust Fund by the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC). In addition, the subcommittee reviews and recommends major revisions to the Unemployment Compensation Act, as proposed from time to time by the VEC and by representatives of business and organized labor.

The following General Assembly members were appointed to the joint subcommittee: Senators Chichester from Stafford, Holland from Windsor, Y. B. Miller from Norfolk, Puckett from Buchanan, and Watkins from Chesterfield, together with Delegates Rust from Fairfax, Hull from Falls Church, D. C. Jones from Richmond, Kilgore from Suffolk, and Spruill from Chesapeake.

The joint subcommittee met in Richmond on November 23, 1999. Delegate Rust had been elected vice-chairman of the joint subcommittee in 1998 under SJR 77. Due to Senator Jackson Reasor's departure from the General Assembly prior to the 1999 Session, Delegate Rust called the joint subcommittee's 1999 meeting. As a quorum of members was not in attendance at the meeting, an election of officers was not held and Delegate Rust continued in his position as vice-chairman.

At this meeting, VEC Commissioner Dr. Thomas J. Towberman briefed the members on the status of the Unemployment Trust Fund. The subcommittee also considered HJR 752 (1999), HB 1573 (1999), HB 1574 (1999), and HJR 249, a proposal for continuing the joint subcommittee prepared for introduction during the 2000 Session of the General Assembly.