SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2007 SESSION

  • print version
Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology

Chairman: Walter A. Stosch

Clerk: Cheryl Law, Karen R. West
Staff: Amigo Wade, Patrick Cushing
Date of Meeting: January 17, 2007
Time and Place: 2:00p.m./Senate Room B

S.B. 735 Spot blight abatement; interest on liens.

Patron: Cuccinelli

Housing authority law; spot blight abatement; interest on liens.  Gives a locality a lien on property declared a nuisance when the locality, and not the owner, abates or removes the nuisance at its expense. The bill provides that this lien shall bear interest at the legal rate of interest established in § 6.1-330.53, beginning on the date the removal or abatement is completed through the date on which the lien is paid. The bill also provides for the same interest rate for liens on property declared to be blighted.

S.B. 756 Public-Private Partnership Advisory Commission; created.

Patron: Stosch

Public-Private Partnership Advisory Commission. Establishes the Public-Private Partnership Advisory Commission to review and advise responsible public entities that are agencies or institutions of the Commonwealth on (i) interim and comprehensive agreements for qualifying transportation facilities under the Public-Private Transportation Act of 1995 (§ 56-556 et seq.) and (ii) detailed proposals for qualifying projects under the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002 (§ 56-5575.1et seq.). The bill also requires all responsible public entities to adopt guidelines to guide the selection of projects under the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act containing certain specified provisions. For responsible public entities that are not agencies or institutions of the Commonwealth, the guidelines must include a mechanism for the appropriating body to review the proposed interim or comprehensive agreement prior to execution.

S.B. 760 General fund revenue; year-end surplus use thereof.

Patron: Stosch

Use of year-end general fund balance.  Provides that any fiscal year-end general fund balance that is not otherwise reserved or designated shall be designated by the Comptroller in the amount of 50% for nonrecurring, non-transportation expenditures and 50% for deposit into the Highway Maintenance and Operating Fund.  The bill would provide that the Comptroller make such designation only after amounts have been reserved and set aside for the Revenue Stabilization Fund, the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund, and other required designations.  The bill would require the Governor to recommend appropriations in the budget bill that would be consistent with the Comptroller's designations for nonrecurring, non-transportation expenditures and for deposits into the Highway Maintenance and Operating Fund.

S.B. 768 Small business; change in definition.

Patron: Locke

Department of Minority Business Enterprise; definition of small business.  Requires a business to have both 250 or fewer employees and average annual gross receipts of $10 million or less averaged over the previous three years to fit the definition of "small business."  Currently a business must have either 250 or fewer employees or average annual gross receipts of $10 million or less averaged over the previous three years to fit the definition.

S.B. 769 Charitable gaming; reports of gross receipts and disbursements.

Patron: Potts

Department of Charitable Gaming; reports of gross receipts and disbursements.  Provides for each qualified organization to file at least annually a report of all receipts and disbursement from its charitable gaming operation. The bill also authorizes the Board for Charitable Gaming to require a qualified organization whose receipts exceed a specified amount during any three-month period to file a report of its receipts and disbursements for such period. Currently the qualified organizations are required to file the report for each calendar quarter.

S.B. 787 Animal emergency response plan; Department of Emergency Management to address needs thereof.

Patron: Stosch

Emergency preparedness; animal protection.  Requires the Department of Emergency Management to develop an emergency response plan to address the needs of animals in an emergency and to assist localities in developing their own emergency response plans.

S.B. 796 Food products; exempts local school boards from bidding process when purchasing from State farmer.

Patron: Potts

Virginia food products.  Exempts local school boards from the competitive bidding process when purchasing Virginia food products from a Virginia farmer.

S.B. 818 International adoptions; sets fees to be charged by Secretary of Commonwealth for testimonials.

Patron: Cuccinelli

Fee for testimonials; international adoptions.  Sets the fees to be charged by the Secretary of the Commonwealth for testimonials, including seal tax, for a person submitting multiple documents for testimonial seals required by a foreign country as part of an international adoption process relating to a particular child or children.

S.B. 820 Discrimination; prohibited in public employment.

Patron: Devolites Davis

Nondiscrimination in public employment.  Prohibits employment discrimination.

S.B. 823 Social security numbers; penalty for intentionally communicating to general public.

Patron: Devolites Davis

Public dissemination of social security numbers.  Proscribes under the Personal Information Privacy Act and the Government Data Collection and Dissemination Practices Act the intentional communication to the general public of another's social security number regardless of whether the social security number was obtained from a public record or from a private source. The bill adds a punishment for violation of the Personal Information Privacy Act subjecting a violator to civil penalties of $1,000 per day, with each day being a separate violation.

S.B. 842 Department of Charitable Gaming; gross receipts; 'winner-take-all' and 'Lucky Seven'.

Patron: Colgan

Department of Charitable Gaming; gross receipts; "winner-take-all" and "Lucky Seven" games.  Provides that the proceeds from any bingo game commonly referred to as "winner-take-all" or "Lucky Seven" games shall not be included in determining the gross receipts for a qualified organization.

S.B. 844 Condominium and Property Owners' Association Acts; delivery of resale certificates packets, etc.

Patron: Devolites Davis

Condominium and Property Owners' Association Acts; insurance; deposit of funds; charges for and delivery of resale certificates/disclosure packets. Requires any managing agent of a condominium and property owners' association to keep funds deposited with the managing agent in fiduciary trust accounts in a federally insured financial institution, and to keep such funds segregated from other assets of the managing agent. The bill also requires condominium associations to obtain a blanket fidelity bond or employee dishonesty insurance policy in a minimum amount of $10,000. The bill allows condominium and property owners' associations to collect a fee for preparation of a resale certificate or disclosure packet, respectively, if the fee is established in the contract between the association and its managing agent and the fee is disclosed on the website of either the association or the managing agent. The bill requires the prompt payment of the above fee to the managing agent who furnishes the resale certificate/disclosure packet. The bill allows either type of association to deliver the resale certificate/disclosure packet by electronic means unless the purchaser or seller requests a paper copy. Currently, delivery by electronic means can only be done with the consent of the seller or purchaser. The bill contains technical amendments.

S.B. 845 State agencies; Chief Information Officer to develop policies, etc. relating to security data.

Patron: Devolites Davis

Security of confidential state data.  Requires the Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth to develop policies, procedures, and standards relating to the security data maintained and used by state agencies. The policies, procedures, and standards must include requirements that a user be required to provide a password or other means of authentication to access a computer and to access a state-owned or operated computer network or database through the computer, and that a digital rights management system be used to control access to electronic records containing confidential information.

EMERGENCY

S.B. 846 Uniform Statewide Building Code; adoption by localities of residential rental inspection districts.

Patron: Lambert

Uniform Statewide Building Code; adoption by localities of residential rental inspection districts. Requires localities to adopt an ordinance establishing a rental inspection district or districts that encompass any area of the locality where 30 percent or more of the available residential rental dwelling units are located in structures that were built before 1950.

S.B. 849 Condominium Act; assessments and taxation on certain condominium units.

Patron: Lambert

Virginia Condominium Act; assessments and taxation.  Provides that certain condominium units owned by the declarant shall be assessed and taxed against the declarant based solely upon the income derived from that unit

S.B. 861 Virginia Public Procurement Act; required disclosure; location where services are to be performed.

Patron: Reynolds

Virginia Public Procurement Act; required disclosure of the location where services are to be performed under the contract. Requires prospective vendors for state service contracts to disclose the location where services will be performed under the contract, including any subcontracts, and whether any services under the contract, including any subcontracts, are anticipated to be performed outside of the United States. In addition, the bill provides that the state public body may consider the disclosure of the prospective vendor and the economic impact to the Commonwealth and its citizens in awarding the contract or evaluating the bid or offer. Under the bill, if the vendor subsequently changes the location where the services are performed to a location outside of the Untied States, then the vendor will be in breach of the contract unless the public body makes a written determination that circumstances required the change in location or termination of the contract would not be in the best interest of the Commonwealth. The bill also provides for the Department of General Services to submit to the Governor and General Assembly by September 30 of each year a report detailing the impact of outsourcing services on the procurement cost of the Commonwealth.

S.B. 894 Office of the Attorney General;Dept. of Conservation and Recreation;representation in civil matters.

Patron: Deeds

Office of the Attorney General; Department of Conservation and Recreation; representation in civil matters; special counsel for certain proceedings. Provides for the Attorney General to represent conservation officers or other employees of the Department in civil actions. The bill also provides for the Director of the Department of Conservation to employ special counsel to defend any conservation officer or other employee of the Department who is prosecuted on any criminal charge arising out of any act committed in performing his official duties

S.B. 906 Officers of militia; Massanutten Military Academy.

Patron: Obenshain

Officers of militia; Massanutten Military Academy.  Adds the officers of the Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Virginia, to the list of those officers recognized as commissioned officers of the unorganized Virginia militia.

S.B. 938 Address Confidentiality Program; victims of domestic violence.

Patron: Ticer

Address Confidentiality Program; victims of domestic violence. Requires the Statewide Facilitator for Victims of Domestic Violence in the Office of the Attorney General to establish the "Address Confidentiality Program" to protect victims of domestic violence by authorizing the use of designated addresses for such victims.

S.B. 958 Emergency service providers; advanced life support procedures.

Patron: Quayle

Emergency service providers; advanced life support procedures. Requires the Board of Health to promulgate regulations to allow certified advanced life support providers, in emergency situations where a second emergency provider who is at least a certified emergency medical technician is not available, to perform advanced life support procedures with whatever support may be available. In such situations, the certified advanced life support provider shall not be held liable, provided his actions are otherwise in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

S.B. 964 Property Owners' Association Act; display of political signs. 

Patron: Puller

Property Owners' Association Act; display of political signs.  Provides that, except as otherwise expressed in the declaration, no declaration or association's rules and regulations or architectural guidelines shall restrict or prohibit the display by a lot owner on his lot of a candidate sign or a sign that advertises the support or defeat of any question submitted to the voters in accordance with state election law. For the purposes of the bill, "candidate sign" means a sign on behalf of a candidate for public office or a slate of candidates for public office. The bill provides, however, that an association may restrict the display of such signs (i) in the common areas or (ii) in accordance with federal or state law, and may establish reasonable restrictions as to the size, place, duration, and manner of placement or display of such signs, except that no restriction on the duration of the display of such signs shall be less than (a) 30 days before the primary election, general election or vote on the proposition or (b) seven days after the primary election, general election, or vote on the proposition. The bill also requires the association disclosure packet to contain a statement of any restrictions on the size, place, duration, and manner of placement or display of such signs. The bill contains technical amendments. The bill also clarifies that the display of the flag of (i) the United States, (ii) the Commonwealth, (iii) any active branch of the armed forces of the United States, or (iv) any military valor or service award of the United States also includes display on mailboxes and similar structures.

S.B. 966 Virginia Housing Partnership Trust Fund; dedicating unreserved general fund balances.

Patron: Whipple

Virginia Housing Partnership Trust Fund; dedicating unreserved general fund balances.  Changes the name of the Virginia Housing Partnership Revolving Trust Fund to the Virginia Housing Trust Fund. The bill provides for 10% of any unreserved general fund balance at the close of each fiscal year whose reappropriation is not required in the general appropriation act and 10 % of any unreserved general fund balance at the close of each fiscal year whose reappropriation is not required in the general appropriation act to be transferred to the Fund. The bill also provides that a portion of the fund shall be used to provide matching funds to localities that have both established a local housing fund and appropriated local moneys to the fund. Under the bill, the Department of Housing and Community Development is required to establish criteria for the allocation of the matching funds to eligible localities and to annually report on the allocation of matching funds. In addition, the bill authorizes grants to be made from the Fund to support innovative housing projects and low and moderate income housing projects that are located in areas experiencing extreme shortages of such housing.

S.B. 967 Virginia Housing Trust Fund; dedicating recordation tax revenues.

Patron: Whipple

Virginia Housing Trust Fund; dedicating recordation tax revenues.  Changes the name of the Virginia Housing Partnership Revolving Trust Fund to the Virginia Housing Trust Fund. The bill provides for $0.02 of the recordation tax to be transferred to the Fund. The bill also provides that a portion of the Fund shall be used to provide matching funds to localities that have both established a local housing fund and appropriated local moneys to the fund. Under the bill, the Department of Housing and Community Development is required to establish criteria for the allocation of the matching funds to eligible localities and to annually report on the allocation of matching funds. In addition, the bill authorizes grants to be made from the Fund to support innovative housing projects and low and moderate income housing projects that are located in areas experiencing extreme shortages of such housing.

S.B. 968 Condominium Act; allows elderly or disabled tenants in conversion units to assign purchase right.

Patron: Whipple

Virginia Condominium Act; conversion of condominium sales.  Allows for a condominium conversion tenant who is disabled or elderly to assign his right to purchase to a government agency, housing authority, or certified nonprofit housing corporation. This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Housing Commission.

S.B. 969 Condominium and Property Owners' Association Acts; no instrument shall restrict display of flags.

Patron: Whipple

Condominium and Property Owners' Association Acts; display of flags.  Provides that no condominium instrument or declaration shall restrict or prohibit the display by a unit or lot owner of the flag of the United States. The bill provides, however, that an association may restrict the display of such flag in the common areas and may establish reasonable restrictions as to the size, place, duration, and manner of placement or display of the flag of the United States. The bill also requires the public offering statement, resale certificate, or association disclosure packet to contain a statement of any restrictions on the size, place, duration, and manner of placement of the flag. This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Housing  Commission.

S.B. 971 Department of Treasury; Division of Risk Management; supplement liability coverage.

Patron: Howell

Department of Treasury; Division of Risk Management; supplement liability coverage for city and county sheriff's departments.  Provides that a sheriff's department of any city or county shall not be precluded from securing supplemental liability insurance coverage beyond the coverage provided by the Division.

S.B. 992 Branch Pilots, Board of; limited branch pilot license.

Patron: Blevins

Board of Branch Pilots; limited branch pilot license.  Removes the reference to draft or ship unit measurements as the basis for determining the vessels that individuals holding a limited branch pilot license may pilot. Effective October 1, 2006, the State Corporation Commission, which regulates fees of the licensed branch pilots, discontinued its usage of a formula that used unit terminology and instituted a formula based on gross tonnage. The change will allow the Board to use the gross tonnage terminology as the basis for determining the vessels that such individuals may pilot.

S.B. 1004 Telecommuting; use of personal computers.

Patron: Devolites Davis

Telecommuting; use of personal computers.  Authorizes a state agency to allow employees to use computer equipment not owned or leased by the Commonwealth to telecommute, so long as such equipment is not used to access or store data made confidential by state or federal law. The bill contains an emergency clause.

S.B. 1012 Administrative Process Act; Department of Planning and Budget; fiscal impact analysis.

Patron: Saslaw

Administrative Process Act; Department of Planning and Budget; fiscal impact analysis.  Requires the Department of Planning and Budget to include the costs of development of real estate for commercial or residential purposes in its fiscal impact analysis of proposed regulations.

S.B. 1023 Department of General Services; Division of Engineering and Buildings; purchase of electricity.

Patron: Whipple

Department of General Services; Division of Engineering and Buildings; purchase of electricity generated from renewable energy sources.  Requires that at least 15 percent of the total electricity purchased by state-owned buildings be electricity generated from renewable energy sources by 2020 pursuant to a phase-in schedule. The bill defines "renewable energy" as energy derived from sunlight, wind, falling water, sustainable biomass, energy from waste, wave motion, tides, and geothermal power and does not include energy derived from coal, oil, natural gas or nuclear power.

S.B. 1024 Secretary of Health and Human Resources; powers.

Patron: Puller

Secretary of Health and Human Resources; powers. Clarifies that the Secretary of Health and Human Resources is responsible for coordinating the work of state agencies to implement the long-term care policy of the Commonwealth, including services that would ordinarily fall under another secretariat, such as transportation, commerce and trade, and education.

S.B. 1029 Powers of the Chief Information Officer (CIO); information security.

Patron: O'Brien

Powers of the Chief Information Officer (CIO); information security.  Requires the CIO of the Commonwealth to monitor trends in information security and incorporate computer security into the four-year strategic plan for information technology.

S.B. 1033 Virginia Personnel Act; preference for veterans for employment with the Commonwealth.

Patron: O'Brien

Virginia Personnel Act; personnel administration; preference for veterans for employment with the Commonwealth. Provides a veteran who applies for employment with the Commonwealth a preference during the selection process, if the veteran has received (i) an honorable discharge and served more than 180 consecutive days of full-time active duty in the armed forces of the United States or reserve components thereof, including the National Guard, or (ii) has a service-connected disability rating.

S.B. 1046 Virginia Military Family Relief Fund; assistance after active duty.

Patron: O'Brien

Virginia Military Family Relief Fund; assistance after active duty. Provides that funds from the Virginia Military Family Relief Fund may be provided to a service member or his family from the date of entry into active duty until 180 days after release from active duty.

S.B. 1053 Uniform Statewide Building Code; regulations; authority of localities; historic districts. 

Patron: Edwards

Uniform Statewide Building Code; regulations; authority of localities; historic districts. Requires the Board of Housing and Community Development to promulgate regulations as part of the Building Code that authorize a locality to require building permits for the installation of replacement siding, roofing, and windows in buildings within designated historic zoning districts within the locality.

S.B. 1077 Board of Housing and Community Development; carbon monoxide detectors;certain rental dwelling units.

Patron: Ruff

Board of Housing and Community Development; carbon monoxide detectors in certain rental dwelling units; report.  Requires the Board of Housing and Community Development to promulgate regulations to require carbon monoxide detectors in all rental dwelling units that have an attached garage or carport, are adjacent to a parking space, or contain or are serviced by an appliance or device that uses carbon-based fuels. The bill also provides for the Board and the Department of Fire Programs to establish a working group consisting of the State Fire Marshal, representatives of local fire departments and rescue squads, and representatives of landlord and tenant interests to develop an educational program focusing on the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and adequate prevention measures.

S.B. 1078 Virginia Tourism Authority; powers and duties of the Executive Director.

Patron: Ruff

Virginia Tourism Authority; powers and duties of the Executive Director. Provides that the powers conferred upon the Virginia Tourism Authority are exercised by the Executive Director with the advice and counsel of the board of directors of the Authority.

S.B. 1090 Virginia State Firefighter's Association; establishment.

Patron: Puckett

Virginia State Firefighter's Association; establishment. Clarifies that the Virginia State Firemen's Association, which was created as a body corporate and politic in 1896, is currently known as the Virginia State Firefighter's Association and that the organization in its current form should continue as a body corporate and politic. The bill also sets forth the purpose of the Association and its powers.

S.B. 1093 Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation; Real Estate Board; broker applicants.

Patron: Puckett

Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation; Real Estate Board; applicants for initial licensure as a real estate broker.  Provides that individuals who have been actively engaged as a real estate salesperson for a period of five years are eligible to apply for initial licensure as a real estate broker.

S.B. 1108 Emergency preparedness; orders of isolation and quarantine.

Patron: Wampler

Emergency preparedness; orders of isolation and quarantine.  Makes several revisions to the procedures related to orders of quarantine and isolation.  The bill also authorizes persons who are otherwise not authorized by law to administer or dispense all necessary drugs when the Governor has declared a disaster or a state of emergency and allows for electronic legal filings in order to protect the public from communicable diseases.

S.B. 1123 Auditor of Public Accounts; review security; governmental databases containing personal information.

Patron: Cuccinelli

Auditor of Public Accounts; review security of governmental databases containing personal information. Provides that the Auditor of Public Accounts shall periodically review the security of any database or information system maintained or operated by any agency or other governmental entity of the Commonwealth that contains personal information regarding any individual to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to prevent unauthorized or unlawful access to this information. On an annual basis, the Auditor shall report the results of its review to the General Assembly and make recommendations for new or revised security measures, if needed.

S.B. 1132 Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Patron: Deeds

Office of the State Fire Marshal.  Transfers the enforcement of the Statewide Fire Prevention Code from the Department of Housing and Community Development to the Department of Fire Programs under the Fire Services Board. The bill also establishes the Office of the State Fire Marshal and provides for the State Fire Marshal to be appointed by the Secretary of Public Safety rather than by the Director of Housing and Community Development.

S.B. 1136 Council on Indians.

Patron: McDougle

Council on Indians. Changes the membership of the Council on Indians to consist of the chiefs of the Virginia tribes officially recognized by the Commonwealth. Currently the membership includes legislative members. The bill also (i) provides for the chair and vice-chair to be elected from the membership annually, (ii) authorizes each tribal chief to appoint a designee to serve as his representative at meetings and other activities of the Council. In addition, the bill provides that it shall be the policy of the Commonwealth to recognize the sovereignty of Virginia tribes officially recognized by the Commonwealth and to operate with such tribes on a sovereign-to-sovereign basis.

S.B. 1138 City of Norfolk; Redevelopment Housing Authority;East Oceanview Conservation and Redevelopment.

Patron: Rerras

City of Norfolk; Norfolk Redevelopment Housing Authority; East Oceanview Conservation and Redevelopment Plan.  Authorizes the City of Norfolk and the Norfolk Redevelopment Housing Authority to adopt a new redevelopment or conservation plan designating a redevelopment or conservation area that may include real property for acquisition located within the boundaries set forth in the previous Conservation and Redevelopment Plan for the East Ocean View Conservation and Redevelopment Project, which is scheduled to expire on July 1, 2007.

S.B. 1139 Administrative Process Act.

Patron: Wagner

Administrative Process Act. Amends the Administrative Process Act by renumbering provisions relating to the promulgation of regulations by state agencies including public notice and participation. In addition the bill clarifies the process for promulgating emergency regulations and provides for such regulations to be adopted, in certain instances, upon consultation with the Attorney General and approval of the Governor. Under the bill, the duration of an emergency regulation may be extended for up to six months beyond the initial one year effective period if approved by the Governor. The bill also (i) changes the venue for informal fact finding proceedings and formal hearings to the city or county where the administrative agency maintains its principal office or as the parties may otherwise agree, (ii) authorizes agencies using the fast track rulemaking process to provide for a public comment period of 30 days after the publication of the regulation in the Virginia Register and requires the Department of Planning and Budget to provide economic impact analysis within 21 days for such regulations, and (iii) authorizes an additional 30 days for the Department of Planning and Budget to complete fiscal impact statements under certain circumstances. The bill makes technical amendments and removes an obsolete provision.

S.B. 1145 Department of Veterans Services; certification of businesses owned by special disabled veterans.

Patron: Wagner

Department of Veterans Services; certification of businesses owned by special disabled veterans.  Prohibits discrimination by public bodies in the solicitation and awarding of contracts and requires public bodies to establish a program to facilitate the participation of businesses owned by special disabled veterans in procurement transactions. The bill also requires the Department of Veterans Services to establish a program to certify businesses owned by special disabled veterans.

S.B. 1184 Department of Military Affairs; duties.

Patron: Locke

Department of Military Affairs; duties. Establishes specific duties and functions to be carried out by the Department of Military Affairs.

S.B. 1185 Real Estate Board; Real Estate Transaction Recovery Fund.

Patron: Locke

Real Estate Board; Real Estate Transaction Recovery Fund.  Allows interest on the Virginia Real Estate Transaction Recovery Fund to be used to educate the public as well as real estate licensees.

S.B. 1193 Substance Abuse Services Council; review of state agency substance abuse treatment programs.

Patron: Reynolds

Substance Abuse Services Council; review of state agency substance abuse treatment programs. Changes the analysis for agency-administered substance abuse treatment programs required for the Comprehensive Interagency State Plan to focus on the extent to which state agency programs employ evidence-based practices. The bill also provides for the analysis to include the amount of funding expended in the most current fiscal year available rather than the prior fiscal year.

S.B. 1202 Emergency management and preparedness; mutual aid agreements. 

Patron: Wampler

Emergency management and preparedness; mutual aid agreements. Specifies that personnel, equipment, or supplies of the Commonwealth or a political subdivision may be used to assist another state that has declared a state of emergency upon written request of the chief executive of the other state. In addition, the bill authorizes the Governor to provide financial assistance to Virginia state agencies and political subdivisions that provide emergency aid to another state. The bill also increases from 29 to 34 the membership of the Secure Commonwealth Panel by adding the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia and four members from the business or industry sector.

S.B. 1211 Virginia Resources Authority.

Patron: Hanger

Virginia Resources Authority.  Expands projects that can be financed through the Authority to include programs or projects for land conservation or land preservation.

S.B. 1231 Operation of tanning facilities.

Patron: Howell

Operation of tanning facilities.  Requires prospective tanning facility customers to sign a written statement warning of potential dangers. If the prospective customer is under age 18 and not emancipated, the parent or legal guardian must sign the statement. Statements shall be kept at the facility for at least three years. Facility owners are required to identify each customer's skin type based on the Fitzpatrick scale, and advise customers as to their maximum time of recommended exposure. Tanning devices shall be cleaned or sanitized after each use. Persons under age 14 are prohibited from using a tanning device unless authorized in writing by a doctor of medicine or osteopathy. Children between ages 14 and 18 are allowed to use tanning devices only if accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. Tanning facilities shall not claim that the use of tanning devices is safe, free from risk, or will provide health benefits.

S.B. 1251 Substance Abuse Services Council; review of state agency substance abuse treatment programs.

Patron: Herring

Substance Abuse Services Council; review of state agency substance abuse treatment programs.  Changes the analysis for agency-administered substance abuse treatment programs required for the Comprehensive Interagency State Plan to focus on the extent to which state agency programs employ evidence-based practices. The bill also provides for the analysis to include the amount of funding expended in the most current fiscal year available rather than the prior fiscal year.

S.B. 1273 Department of General Services; Green Buildings Act.

Patron: Whipple

Department of General Services; Green Buildings Act. Requires all major facility projects of state agencies to be constructed to meet United States Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) certification standards, unless granted an exemption by the Director of the Department of General Services. Such projects will not be required to obtain official LEED certification. Application of the requirement will be phased in over the next three years based on the square footage of the project. The provisions of the bill do not apply to construction projects of public school districts.

S.B. 1278 Virginia Public Broadcasting Board; membership.

Patron: Whipple

Virginia Public Broadcasting Board; membership.  Decreases the membership of the Virginia Public Broadcasting Board from 15 to 14 members by removing the chairman of the State Council of Higher Education. 

S.B. 1281 Virginia Economic Development Partnership; Virginia Economic Development Incentive Grants.

Patron: Stosch

Virginia Economic Development Partnership; Virginia Economic Development Incentive Grants.  Reduces the waiting period for payments under the Virginia Economic Development Incentive Grant subfund from four to three years. The bill also (i) raises the aggregate amount of grants payable in any fiscal year from $3 million to $6 million, (ii) raises the aggregate amounts outstanding at any time from $15 million to $30 million, and (iii) removes the limit on incentive grants that may be awarded in any single biennium.

S.B. 1284 Auditor of Public Accounts.

Patron: Stosch

Auditor of Public Accounts.  Provides that the searchable database of state agency expenditures and revenues shall not include activity of private gifts, including endowment funds and unrestricted gifts received by state-supported institutions of higher education. The bill clarifies that all appropriated funds and other sources under the control of a state-supported institution of higher education shall be included in the database and that the exclusion of the private gifts activity shall not affect the public access to such records unless otherwise specifically exempted by law.

S.B. 1309 Virginia National Guard; employment protection.

Patron: Lucas

Virginia National Guard; employment protection. Extends the employment protections for service in state duty to service under Title 32 of the United States Code. Upon return to duty, a guardsman would have 14 days to make written application to his previous employer for reemployment. The Code currently requires such application to be made within five days. In addition, the bill would add attorney fees and costs to the damages recoverable for violation of these employment provisions.

S.B. 1310 State Employment;

Patron: Lucas

State Employment;  Nondiscrimination.

S.B. 1318 Local emergency management plans.

Patron: Puckett

Local emergency management plans. Requires every local and interjurisdictional agency to review and update its emergency operations plan every four years. The updated plan must be formally approved by the locality's governing body.

S.B. 1332 State pool of funds for community policy and management teams.

Patron: Devolites Davis

State pool of funds for community policy and management teams. Adds children requiring mental health services not otherwise covered by private insurance or Medicaid, where services are necessary to prevent placement in foster care to the target population for whom state pool funds shall be expended. Expands eligibility for state pool funds to include children requiring mental health services to avoid placement in foster care.