Senate committee fails to report SJR 6001 after dispute over required joint subcommittee and nominee fitness

The Senate Privileges and Elections Committee voted 4-8 on May 30 in Richmond against reporting SJR 6001, a slate of gubernatorial appointees to university boards and other bodies, after members debated whether a joint House–Senate subcommittee required by state law had been constituted and raised questions about the nominees’ fitness for some university boards.

The motion to report SJR 6001 was introduced during the committee’s hearing on the governor’s conforming appointments, but several senators argued that Virginia Code §2.2-107 requires a joint subcommittee of House and Senate Privileges and Elections committees to review resumes and statements of economic interest before the committee proceeds. Senator Sturdivant (Senator, Senate Privileges and Elections Committee) said the code “says there shall be a joint subcommittee … appointed to review the resumes and statements of economic interests of all gubernatorial appointees,” and asked whether…