§ 2.2-302. Responsibilities of Office
It shall be the responsibility of the Office, through its Director, generally, to serve as an institutional and organizational link between the government of the Commonwealth and those agencies, bureaus, departments, offices, and entities of the United States government located in the City of Washington, D. C., and its immediate environs. The responsibilities of the Office shall include, but not necessarily be limited to:
1. Monitoring and tracking the development of federal legislation which is of interest to the Commonwealth;
2. Conducting in-depth analyses of federal legislation and regulations as to their impact upon the Commonwealth;
3. Providing state agencies with up-to-date information on the status of federal legislation and regulations;
4. Influencing the development of federal legislation by keeping the State Congressional Delegation informed about the Governor's priorities;
5. Alerting state agencies and local governments to early opportunities for federal grants;
6. Joining in cooperative efforts with other states, through their Washington offices, on issues of mutual concern;
7. Maintaining personal contacts with Congressional staffs, key federal agency officials, public interest groups, etc.;
8. Writing, or advising upon, testimony to be presented by the Governor or state agency heads before Congressional committees;
9. Assisting state agency officials in resolving administrative problems which occur between the state and federal agencies;
10. Monitoring and tracking the status of federal grant applications submitted by state agencies;
11. Assisting state agencies in obtaining needed information from the federal government;
12. Serving as a base office for state officials traveling to Washington;
13. Arranging meetings between federal and state officials;
14. Serving as an information source about the Commonwealth when called upon by another state's Congressional delegate's staff;
15. Preparing analyses of legislation and initiatives which originate with the federal government, other states and interstate groups, including preparing statements of their potential impact on the Commonwealth, and coordinating state positions on such legislation and initiatives;
16. Maintaining liaison with other states and interstate groups;
17. Supporting state agencies in monitoring and influencing the development of federal regulations of interest to the Commonwealth; and
18. Reporting twice yearly to the members of the Senate Committee on Finance, the House Committee on Appropriations, and the Governor all federal mandates and regulations that may have an effect on the Commonwealth. These reports shall be presented by January 15 and July 15 of each year and shall contain the names of those Virginia congressional members who voted for the legislation resulting in the mandates.
(1978, c. 515, § 2.1-567; 1981, c. 315; 1994, c. 479; 1997, c. 67; 2001, c. 844.)
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