2015 Vermont Statutes
Title 19 - Highways
Chapter 1 - State Highway Law; General Transportation Provisions
§ 12b Joint Transportation Oversight Committee

§ 12b. Joint Transportation Oversight Committee

(a) There is created a Joint Transportation Oversight Committee composed of the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, the House and Senate Committees on Transportation, the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the Senate Committee on Finance. The Committee shall be chaired alternately by the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Transportation, and the two-year term shall run concurrently with the biennial session of the Legislature. The Chair of the Senate Committee on Transportation shall chair the Committee during the 2009-2010 legislative session.

(b) The Committee shall meet during adjournment for official duties. Meetings shall be convened by the Chair and when practicable shall be coordinated with the regular meetings of the Joint Fiscal Committee. Members shall be entitled to compensation and reimbursement pursuant to 2 V.S.A. § 406. The Committee shall have the assistance of the staff of the Legislative Council and the Joint Fiscal Office.

(c) The Committee shall provide legislative overview of the Transportation Fund revenues collection and the operation and administration of the Agency of Transportation construction, paving, and rehabilitation programs. The Secretary of Transportation shall report to the Oversight Committee upon request.

(d)(1) In coordination with the regular meetings of the Joint Fiscal Committee in mid-November, the Secretary shall prepare a report on the status of the State's transportation finances and transportation programs. If a meeting of the Committee is not convened on the scheduled dates of the Joint Fiscal Committee meetings, the Secretary in advance shall transmit the report electronically to the Joint Fiscal Office for distribution to Committee members. The report shall list contract bid awards versus project estimates and all known or projected cost overruns, project savings, and funding availability from delayed projects with respect to:

(A) all paving projects other than statewide maintenance programs; and

(B) all projects in the Roadway, State Bridge, Interstate Bridge, or Town Bridge programs with authorized spending in the fiscal year of $500,000.00 or more with a cost overrun equal to 20 percent or more of the authorized spending or generating project savings or delayed project available funding equal to 20 percent or more of the authorized spending.

(2) The report required under subdivision (1) of this subsection also shall describe the Agency's actions taken or planned to cover the cost overruns and to reallocate the project savings and delayed project funds, and shall discuss the Agency's plans to adjust spending to any changes in the consensus forecast for Transportation Fund revenues.

(3) If and when applicable, the Secretary shall submit electronically to the Joint Fiscal Office for distribution to members of the Joint Transportation Oversight Committee a report summarizing any plans or actions taken to delay project schedules as a result of:

(A) a generalized increase in bids relative to project estimates;

(B) changes in the consensus revenue forecast of the Transportation Fund or Transportation Infrastructure Bond Fund; or

(C) changes in the availability of federal funds. (Added 1993, No. 25, § 78, eff. May 18, 1993; amended 1993, No. 211 (Adj. Sess.), § 11, eff. June 17, 1994; 2005, No. 80, §§ 44, 45; 2009, No. 50, § 87; 2009, No. 123 (Adj. Sess.), § 23; 2011, No. 153 (Adj. Sess.), § 30.)