Chief Patron: Dudley
Invasive Species Management (language only)

Item 378 #2h

Language
Page 297, at the beginning of line 8, insert "A."
Page 297, after line 25, insert:
"B.  The Secretary of Natural Resources, as Chairman of the Invasive Species Council, shall ensure that once the invasive species management plan required by §10.1-2606, Code of Virginia, has been prepared, all state agency activities concerning invasive species control will be coordinated, complimentary, cost-efficient and effective.  In pursuing this goal, the Secretary of Natural Resources is authorized to request that the Director, Department of Planning and Budget, transfer up to 15 percent of the appropriations of the state agencies assigned to the Office of Natural Resources amongst those agencies to ensure that invasive species are managed, controlled, or eradicated as outlined in the invasive species management plan and that other components of that plan, including the development of an information-sharing system for the exchange of information about invasive species, are implemented.  However, prior to requesting that the Director, Department of Planning and Budget, implement any such transfer, the Secretary of Natural Resources shall first provide notification of the proposed transfer and the purposes to be accomplished by that transfer to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees."

Explanation
(This amendment instructs the Secretary of Natural Resources to ensure that once an invasive species management plan has been developed, all state agency activities with respect to invasive species management are coordinated, complimentary, cost-efficienct, and effect. To ensure actions are taken to control invasive species, the amendment authorizes the Secretary of Natural Resources to transfer appropriations between agencies assigned to the Office of Natural Resources to ensure that the invasive species management plan is actually implemented.)