The Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS), a permanent legislative study commission created in 1997, continued its work during the 2015 interim to "study all aspects of technology and science and to endeavor to stimulate, encourage, promote, and assist in the development of technology and science in the Commonwealth and sound public policies related thereto" (§ 30-85 of the Code of Virginia).

House Joint Resolution 97 and Senate Joint Resolution 97, both adopted by the 2016 Session of the General Assembly, directed JCOTS to undertake an in-depth and multi-faceted study of the aerospace and aviation industry in the Commonwealth. JCOTS partnered with the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine ("the Academy") to gather an extraordinary group of experts that developed a comprehensive list of recommendations based on several months of study, analysis, and interviews. A detailed summary of JCOTS' work, along with the Academy's report, can be found in House Document 14 (2017). In addition to the recommendations developed with the Academy, JCOTS also recommended that the Virginia sales and use tax be eliminated for the sale of aviation parts and equipment used in aviation maintenance.

While the bulk of JCOTS' 2016 work was focused on aerospace and aviation, JCOTS did devote time to a few additional items. The 2016 Session of the General Study referred Senate Bill 531 (Surovell) to JCOTS, which addressed the digital authentication of government records. Staff convened a work group of interested parties to discuss the bill, but JCOTS did not make any formal recommendations regarding this topic.

In addition to this work, JCOTS received updates on the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, and CodeRVA, a Richmond Regional School for Innovation.

This executive summary completes the 2016 report of JCOTS, and no further report is forthcoming.