Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 96 Part 1.djvu/193

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PUBLIC LAW 97-000—MMMM. DD, 1982

PUBLIC LAW 97-213—JUNE 30, 1982

96 STAT. 151

expenses incurred in attending meetings or incurred otherwise in the performance of his duties as a member of the commission. The members of the commission shall hold regular quarterly meetings and such special meetings as its business may require. They shall choose annually a chairman and vice chairman from among their members, and the chairmanship shall rotate each year among the party States in order of their acceptance of this compact. The commission shall adopt rules and regulations for the transaction of its business and a record shall be kept of all its business. It shall be the duty of the commission to study the feasibility of providing interstate rapid rail transit service between the party States. Toward this end, the commission shall have power to hold hearings; Hearings. to conduct studies and surveys of all problems, benefits, and other matters associated with such service, and to make reports thereon; to acquire, by gift, grant, or otherwise, from local, State, Federal, or private sources such money or property as may be provided for the proper performance of their function, and to hold and dispose of same; to cooperate with other public or private groups, whether local. State, regional, or national, having an interest in such service; to formulate and execute plans and policies for emphasizing the purpose of this compact before the Congress of the United States and other appropriate officers and agencies of the United States; and to exercise such other powers as may be appropriate to enable it to accomplish its functions and duties and to carry out the purposes of this compact. "ARTICLE IV

"Each party State agrees that its legislature may, in its discretion, Funds. from time to time make available and pay over to the commission funds for the establishment and operation of the commission. The contribution of each party State shall be in equal amounts, if possible, but nothing in this article shall be construed as binding the legislature of either State to make an appropriation of a set amount of funds at any particular time. "ARTICLE V

"Nothing in this compact shall be construed so as to conflict with any existing statute, or to limit the powers of any party State, or to repeal or prevent legislation, or to affect any existing or future cooperative arrangement or relationship between any Federal agency and a party State. "ARTICLE VI

"(1) This compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon Withdrawal. each party State until the legislature or Governor of each or either State takes action to withdraw therefrom. However, any such withdrawal shall not become effective until six months after the date of the action taken by the legislature or Governor. Notice of such action shall be given to the other party State or States by the Secretary of State of the party State which takes such action. "(2) There is hereby granted to the Governor, to the members of Powers. the commission for Louisiana, and to the compact administrator all the powers provided for in this compact and in this section. All officers of the State of Mississippi/Louisiana are hereby authorized and directed to do all things falling within their respective jurisdic-

97-200 O—84—pt. 1

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