Authority: Title 33.1, Code of Virginia.

A. Out of the amounts for General Management and Direction shall be provided $652,800 the first year and $652,800 the second year from the Transportation Trust Fund to the Commonwealth Transportation Board for the management of the Transportation Trust Fund.

B. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the Commonwealth Transportation Commissioner may enter into a contract with Homeowner Associations with a population greater than 35,000 for grounds-keeping, mowing, and litter removal services.

C. The Governor is hereby authorized to increase the maximum position level for the Department of Transportation for additional staff in all construction districts if the actual employment rate exceeds 99 percent. The additional staff shall be responsible for maintenance and highway construction.

D. The Department of Transportation shall review the formulas used in determining the financial assistance to localities distributions and make recommendations to the Commonwealth Transportation Board as to the appropriate allocations based on that review and the Commonwealth Transportation Board may adjust allocations accordingly.

E. Any action to modernize and integrate the automated systems of the Department of Transportation shall be based on a plan, which includes developing the integrated system in phases, or modules. However, before the department proceeds with implementation of any phase or component of the plan, the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Technology, and the Secretary of Finance must approve it. An oversight committee, comprised of representatives from the Department of Technology Planning, Department of Information Technology, the Department of Planning and Budget, and the office of the Secretary of Transportation shall be established. This committee shall review and make recommendations, as directed by the Secretary of Transportation, over all aspects of the automation modernization, including the development of any requests for proposals. The Department of Transportation shall submit periodic reports, as directed by the Secretary of Transportation, to this committee regarding the progress in implementing the automation modernization.

F. The Commonwealth Transportation Board shall allocate additional funding for the effective management of the administration and operations of the Department of Transportation, provided that such increases are fully itemized and documented, in its annual update of the Six Year Financial Plan.