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2004 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 196
Requesting the Virginia State Crime Commission, in conjunction with the Virginia Sentencing Commission and the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court, to develop an implementation plan for the revisions to Title 18.2. Report.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 17, 2004
Agreed to by the Senate, March 9, 2004

WHEREAS, House Joint Resolution No. 687, passed by the 2001 General Assembly, directed the Virginia State Crime Commission to study the organization of and inconsistencies in Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia and to review the proportionality of the criminal penalties and make recommendations for necessary amendments; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia State Crime Commission formed a subcommittee and workgroup to accomplish the assigned tasks and numerous meetings have been held with contributions by persons representing a variety of interests in the criminal justice field; and

WHEREAS, in fulfilling its directive the Virginia State Crime Commission has proposed a significant amount of legislation involving revisions to Title 18.2; and

WHEREAS, because of the widespread significance and volume of changes to Title 18.2 and the number of persons and entities affected by the revisions, which are proposed to become effective July 1, 2005, there is a great need for a coordinated effort to assist these persons and entities in implementing the changes; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Virginia State Crime Commission, in conjunction with the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission and the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court, be requested to develop an implementation plan for the revisions to Title 18.2. The plan shall identify the persons, entities, procedures, sentencing guidelines and documents that will be affected by the revisions to Title 18.2 and shall identify the actions that need to be taken to implement the revisions. The plan shall include recommendations regarding training for judicial officers, attorneys, law-enforcement personnel and other persons in the criminal justice field.

The Virginia State Crime Commission shall coordinate the development of the plan.

Technical assistance shall be provided by the Virginia State Bar, the Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council, the Departments of Criminal Justice Services, State Police, Juvenile Justice and Corrections. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance in developing the plan, upon request.

The Virginia State Crime Commission shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary and the plan developed no later than the first day of the 2005 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.