(a) There is a Joint Committee on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area. (b) (1) The Committee consists of 10 members. (2) Of the 10 members: (i) 5 shall be members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; and (ii) 5 shall be members of the House of Delegates appointed by the Speaker of the House. (c) The members of the Committee serve at the pleasure of the presiding officer who appointed them. (d) The President and the Speaker shall jointly appoint a Senator and a Delegate each to serve as cochairs. (e) The Department of Legislative Services shall provide staff assistance to the Committee. (f) The Critical Area Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays shall meet with the Committee periodically as the Committee requests to review development and implementation of the criteria for program development. (g) The Committee may study and make recommendations to the Legislative Policy Committee on any other area of the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Protection Program the Committee considers appropriate. (h) The Committee shall meet with the Critical Area Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays, representatives of counties and municipalities having land within the critical areas, and any other interested parties to study and determine: (1) whether adequate flexibility exists under the current criteria to meet the special characteristics and needs of the individual counties and municipalities having land within the critical areas; (2) whether the current timetable for review of approved local critical area protection programs is adequate to meet the special characteristics and needs of the individual counties and municipalities having land within the critical areas; and (3) whether the criteria need to be strengthened in any area so as to make the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Protection Program more effective in the protection of the water quality and habitat of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. (i) The Committee shall study and determine the appropriate future role of the Critical Area Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays, including: (1) whether the Critical Area Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays should remain an autonomous organization or be incorporated into an existing executive agency; (2) how long the current oversight role of the Critical Area Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays should continue; and (3) whether the current appeal process is the most effective appeal process to meet the goals of the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area protection law.
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