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2006 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Rules

Chairman: Thomas K. Norment, Jr.

Clerk: Susan Clarke Schaar
Staff: Cheryl Jackson, M. Brissette
Date of Meeting: February 3, 2006
Time and Place: 9:00 a.m.; Senate Room A; GAB

S.B. 79 Unemployment Compensation, Commission on; repeals sunset provision.

Patron: Watkins

Commission on Unemployment Compensation.  Repeals the section that provides that the authorization for the Commission on Unemployment Compensation expires on July 1, 2006. Repealing this sunset provision allows the Commission to remain in existence indefinitely.

S.B. 261 Manufacturing Development Commission; created, report.

Patron: Wagner

Manufacturing Development Commission.  Establishes the Manufacturing Development Commission as a permanent legislative body. The Commission will be responsible for assessing manufacturing needs and formulating legislative and regulatory remedies to ensure the future of the manufacturing sector in Virginia. Its membership will consist of three members of the Senate, five members of the House of Delegates, and five nonlegislative citizen members appointed by the Governor, who are to include the president of the Virginia Manufacturers Association; the Secretary or Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade; a representative of higher education; a representative from economic development; and a representative of a Virginia manufacturer.

S.B. 438 Health Care, Joint Commission on; repeals sunset provision.

Patron: Lambert

Joint Commission on Health Care. Repeals the section providing that the chapter authorizing the Commission will expire on July 1, 2007, thereby establishing the Commission as a permanent Commission.

S.B. 705 State Government Programs, Joint Commission on; created, report.

Patron: Stolle

Joint Commission on State Government Programs. Creates the Joint Commission on State Government Programs as a legislative agency. The bill sets out the Commission's membership, terms, staffing, and powers and duties.

S.J.R. 2 Interstate Routes 77 and 81; Department of Transportation to study needed improvements thereto.

Patron: Reynolds

Study; Wythe County and I-77/I-81; report.  Requests the Virginia Department of Transportation, in cooperation with Wythe County and major employers within the county, to seek to identify strategies, technologies, and actions that will most effectively, expeditiously, and cost-effectively reduce highway congestion, improve traffic flow, and improve safety on that portion of Interstate Route 77 and Interstate Route 81 where the two highways share the same alignment.

S.J.R. 3 I-77 & 81; Dept. of Transportation to study improved highway connections in Wythe County.

Patron: Reynolds

Study; highway connections between Progress Park and I-77/81; report.  Requests the Virginia Department of Transportation, in cooperation with Wythe County and major employers within the county, to seek to identify strategies, technologies, and actions that will most effectively, expeditiously, and cost-effectively improve highway connection between Progress Park in Wythe County and Interstate Routes 77 and Route 81.

S.J.R. 4 Health insurance premiums; Joint Commission on Health Care to study increase in health care costs.

Patron: Reynolds

Study; the derivative effects of increases in health care costs on health insurance premiums; report.  Directs the Joint Commission on Health Care to study the derivative effects of increases in health care costs on health insurance premiums.  In conducting its study, the Joint Commission on Health Care must examine (i) the factors leading to rising health care costs in the Commonwealth, (ii) the derivative effects of rising health care costs including increases in health insurance premiums and denial of coverage, and (iii) ways to reduce health care costs in the Commonwealth and alleviate burdens associated with the rising cost of health care.

S.J.R. 38 Beekeepers; Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to study plight thereof.

Patron: Blevins

Beekeeping study. Requests that the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services study the problems encountered by beekeepers in Virginia and assess possible solutions to assist beekeepers.

S.J.R. 39 Southeastern Va. Training Center; study relocation thereof to benefit State & City of Chesapeake.

Patron: Blevins

Study; Southeastern Virginia Training Center; Report. Requests the Secretary of Commerce and Trade and the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to study the relocation of the Southeastern Virginia Training Center in the City of Chesapeake and the development of its existing location in a way that would be economically beneficial to the Commonwealth and the City of Chesapeake. It is a one-year study.

S.J.R. 40 Uniform Statewide Building Code; Dept of Housing and Community Development to study strengthening.

Patron: Blevins

Study; Department of Housing and Community Development; report.  Requests the Department of Housing and Community Development to study whether the Uniform Statewide Building Code may be strengthened to increase public protection by (i) modifying the sound transmission coefficient ratings for sound attenuation to higher levels, (ii) developing a tiered application of the new ratings according to noise contours, and (iii) the application of advanced methods of sound attenuation through new construction and building materials.

S.J.R. 48 Electoral boards and registrars, local; joint subcom. to study administration of election process.

Patron: O'Brien

Study; local electoral boards and registrars.  Creates a joint subcommittee comprised of five members of the House of Delegates and three members of the Senate to study the administration of the election laws by local electoral boards and registrars.  The subcommittee will examine the functions of the local electoral officials, their compensation, protections and potential for conflict of interests, and make recommendations to assure their independence.                   

S.J.R. 51 Government databases and data communications; JLARC to study adequacy of security.

Patron: O'Brien

Study; security of state government databases; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the adequacy of the security of state government databases and data communications from unauthorized uses.

S.J.R. 60 Road system; joint subcommittee to study role of State in meeting future transportation needs.

Patron: Williams

Study; Virginia's future transportation needs; report.  Establishes a 10-member joint subcommittee to conduct a two-year study of the role of the Commonwealth and its agencies in meeting Virginia's future transportation needs.

S.J.R. 71 Income tax; joint subcom. to study imposition of local tax instead of current tax source.

Patron: Quayle

Study; substituting a local option income tax in lieu of all other local taxes currently utilized; report.  Establishes a joint subcommittee to study whether localities should be given an option to impose a local income tax in lieu of all other currently utilized local tax sources.

S.J.R. 72 Overhead utility lines; joint subcommittee to study feasibility & costs of placement underground.

Patron: Quayle

Study; undergrounding overhead utility lines; report.  Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the feasibility and costs relative to requiring the placement of certain overhead utility lines underground.

S.J.R. 75 Campaign Finance Disclosure Act; Board of Elections to continue its review thereof.

Patrons: O'Brien, Lambert

Campaign Finance Disclosure Act. Encourages the State Board of Elections to continue its review of the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act to address issues raised during its review conducted during the 2005 interim pursuant to House Joint Resolution 667 (2005). This is a recommendation of the task force that assisted the State Board of Elections in conducting a review of the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act pursuant to House Joint Resolution 667 (2005).

S.J.R. 80 Energy plan, comprehensive; Secretary of Natural Resources to study development thereof.

Patron: Whipple

Study; comprehensive energy plan for the Commonwealth; report. Requests the Secretary of Natural Resources to study the development of a comprehensive energy plan for the Commonwealth. The plan will evaluate the Commonwealth's current and future energy supply and demand.

S.J.R. 84 Study; redistricting process; report.

Patron: Williams

Study; redistricting process; report. Creates a joint subcommittee to (i) evaluate the present Virginia redistricting process and its impact on competitive elections and district criteria, (ii) review alternative redistricting processes used in other states, (iii) examine the impact of federal legislation such as the Voting Rights Act, (iv) consider both constitutional and statutory changes in the process, and (v) study the criteria that should be followed in developing redistricting plans.

S.J.R. 86 Dulles Toll Road; joint sub. to study desirability of selling or leasing to private operator.

Patron: Saslaw

Study; sale or lease of Dulles Toll Road (Omer L. Hirst-Adelard L. Brault Expressway); report. Establishes a 10-member joint subcommittee to study the desirability and feasibility of selling or leasing the Dulles Toll Road (Omer L. Hirst-Adelard L. Brault Expressway) to a private operator.

S.J.R. 90 Risk Mgt. Plans for Physicians & Hospitals, Joint Subcommittee Studying; continued.

Patron: Newman

Study; medical malpractice; report.  Continues the Joint Subcommittee Studying Risk Management Plans for Physicians and Hospitals to study various aspects of medical malpractice in Virginia.

S.J.R. 91 Incarcerated persons; joint subcommittee to study increasing access to higher education therefor.

Patron: Newman

Study; Joint subcommittee to study increasing accessibility to higher education for incarcerated persons. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study increasing the accessibility to higher education for incarcerated persons. In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall (i) evaluate the existing college education program for prisoners in Virginia, including its advantages, the effect on recidivism, the benefits of such programs to prisoners, their families, and the community; (ii) identify program needs and recommend solutions; (iii) review prisoner college education programs in other states, (iv) consider financial aid alternatives to assist inmates in accessing college, and ways to finance prisoner college education programs in the Commonwealth; (iv) recommend ways in which more inmates may be accommodated in prisoner college education programs; and (v) consider such other related matters as the joint subcommittee may deem necessary and appropriate to satisfy the objectives of this study.

The joint subcommittee must submit its interim findings and recommendations to the 2006 Session of the General Assembly and its final findings and recommendations to the 2007 Session of the General Assembly.

S.J.R. 93 Sheriffs departments; JLARC to study staffing standards.

Patron: Stolle

Sheriffs; staffing standards; study by JLARC. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study staffing standards for sheriffs' departments.

S.J.R. 94 Farmlands; joint subcommittee to study financing & programmatic options for preserving.

Patron: Hanger

Study; farmland preservation; report.  Establishes a six-member joint subcommittee to study the financing and programmatic options for preserving Virginia's farmlands.

S.J.R. 95 Incarceration; joint sub. to study effects on children, families, communities, and economy.

Patron: Hanger

Study; effects of incarceration on children, families, communities, and the economy; report.  Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the effects of incarceration on children, families, communities, and the economy. The study shall identify and develop strategies to overcome adverse effects of incarceration on children, families, communities, and the economy and shall consider the overall benefits versus costs of incarcerating nonviolent offenders, whether the current sentencing system combined with statutory mandatory minimum sentences and prosecutorial practices provide appropriate punishment without overreliance on incarceration, and to what extent racial and ethnic disparity can be reduced in the criminal justice system. The study shall be completed in one year, and its direct costs shall not exceed $10,300 without approval by the Joint Rules Committee.

S.J.R. 96 At-Risk Youth & Families, Comprehensive Services for; study cost effectiveness thereof.

Patron: Hanger

Study; Comprehensive Services for At-Risk Youth and Families; report. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the cost effectiveness of the Comprehensive Services for At-Risk Youth and Families program. The joint subcommittee shall study the administration of the CSA by state and local governments, including projections of caseloads, service needs and costs, quality of services provided, and make recommendations for improvement of program services and strategies for cost containment.

S.J.R. 99 Police cadet academy; joint subcommittee to study development thereof.

Patron: Lambert

Study; police cadet academy; report.  Creates a one-year joint subcommittee to study the creation of a police cadet academy.

S.J.R. 103 Lead Poisoning Prevention, Joint Subcommittee Studying; continued.

Patron: Lambert

Study; lead poisoning prevention; report.  Continues the Joint Subcommittee to Study Lead Poisoning Prevention for two years to (i) monitor the development of the reference database of statewide health-related data to determine its usefulness in containing health care costs and improving health care outcomes, including among children who may be exposed to lead risks or have elevated blood lead levels; (ii) seek to enact the two essential lead program elements needed by the Department of Health to be competitive in the 2006 federal grant process; and (iii) continue to assist the agencies of the Commonwealth to obtain funding for activities that protect Virginia's children from lead risks. The joint subcommittee is authorized to have two meetings in each year.

S.J.R. 120 Child abuse; State Crime Commission to study videotaped testimony by victims thereof.

Patron: Stolle

Study of videotaped testimony by child abuse victims; report.  Directs the Virginia State Crime Commission to study the practical and constitutional issues arising from the videotaping of testimony from child abuse victims. Among these issues are the defendant's right to confront his accuser, who should be present at the taping of the testimony, and what procedures are needed to implement a system whereby such interviews can be conducted with the intention of introducing them as direct evidence.

S.J.R. 122 Medicaid; JLARC to study asset transfers being used to shelter assests to qualify for services.

Patron: Martin

Study; asset transfers; report.  Directs the Joint Legislative Audit Review Commission to study the extent to which asset transfers are being used to shelter assets in order to qualify for Medicaid long-term services.

S.J.R. 123 Civilian employees; VEC to study feasibility of providing trailing spouse coverage.

Patron: Ticer

Study; trailing spouse legislation for civilian Department of Defense employees; report.  Requests the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) to study the feasibility of providing trailing spouse coverage with respect to certain civilian employees of the Department of Defense. The VEC is to determine the impact on the Unemployment Trust Fund of legislation that would provide that good cause for leaving employment exists if an employee voluntarily leaves a job to accompany his or her spouse who is a civilian employee of the Department of Defense and has executed a mobility agreement requiring the spouse to relocate at the direction of the employing agency to a new assignment from which the employee's place of employment is not reasonably accessible.

S.J.R. 124 School boards; JLARC to study implications of granting fiscal autonomy to those elected.

Patron: Blevins

Study; fiscal autonomy for elected school boards.  Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study implications of granting fiscal autonomy to elected school boards in the Commonwealth. In conducting its study, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall (i) examine state constitutional and statutory issues regarding school board supervisory authority, (ii) study the respective roles of local school boards and the relevant local governing body in delivering and funding public education, (iii) examine fiscal authority models in other states; and (iv) consider such other issues as it deems appropriate.

The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission must submit an executive summary of its findings and recommendations to the 2007 Session of the General Assembly.

S.J.R. 125 Autism spectrum disorders; Board of Education, et al. to study education and treatment thereof.

Patron: Martin

Resolution; the education and treatment of individuals with autism spectrum disorders.  Encourages the Board and Department of Education and the Board and the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services and other relevant entities to take certain actions to improve the education and treatment of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. During the regulatory review and public comment periods for the proposed revisions to the Regulations Governing the Review and Approval of Education Programs in Virginia and the Virginia Licensure Regulations for School Personnel, the Board and Department of Education are urged to continue to implement initiatives designed to strengthen teacher qualifications, to include preservice and inservice professional development opportunities relating to the effective treatment of autism spectrum disorders, and to consider the treatment of autism spectrum disorders. Further, the Board and Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services and other relevant entities are urged to continue to expand training opportunities that include approaches specifically addressing the needs of children with autism spectrum disorders.

S.J.R. 126 Prisoner Reentry to Society, Program for; Joint Subcommittee Studying, continued.

Patron: Puller

Study; prisoner reentry continued; Report. Continues for one year the joint subcommittee to study the Commonwealth's program for prisoner reentry to society. In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall continue to identify and develop strategies to address key needs and overcome barriers for offenders, prior to and upon leaving prison, to reduce the incidence of reincarceration and increase their successful social adaptation and integration into their communities. The joint subcommittee shall also monitor any budget provisions and changes in the law recommended over the past year to ensure maximum effectiveness. This bill also increases the study membership by adding the Attorney General, or his designee, to serve ex officio with nonvoting privileges.

S.J.R. 171 Family Life Education programs; Board of Education to survey those in public schools.

Patron: Whipple

Virginia Board of Education. Requesting the Virginia Board of Education to survey family life education programs in public schools.