SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2008 SESSION

  • print version
Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services

Chairman: Linda T. Puller

Clerk: Emily O'Brion
Staff: Patrick Cushing
Date of Meeting: January 25, 2008
Time and Place: Friday, 8:30 a.m./ Senate Room B

S.B. 15 Income tax credit, earned; Department of Social Services to provide notice to all applicants.

Patron: Edwards


Notice to recipients; earned income tax credit.  Requires the Department of Social Services to provide notice of the earned income tax credit to all applicants for or recipients of assistance.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 5 of Title 63.2 a section numbered 63.2-527, relating to notice to recipients; earned income tax credit.

083110228

Impact Statements

S.B. 22 Foster care background check; fingerprints required for an individual with whom child may be placed.

Patron: Reynolds

Foster care background checks; fingerprints. Provides that the requirement that an individual with whom a child in foster care may be placed submit fingerprints for the purpose of obtaining criminal history record information may be waived if an officer of the Department of State Police determines that it is impossible for the individual to submit fingerprints or impossible for him to submit fingerprints that are legible for identification purposes.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 63.2-901.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to foster care background checks; fingerprints.

072892316

S.B. 28 Child-friendly visiting rooms; state correctional facilities required to provide.

Patron: Miller, Y.B.

Child-friendly visiting rooms in state correctional facilities.  Requires each state correctional facility to provide child-friendly visiting rooms to promote positive bonds between incarcerated parents and their children. This bill requires the Department of Corrections to promulgate regulations governing the use of these visiting rooms that do not penalize inmates with sanctions, such as termination of a visit, due to normal child behavior.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 53.1-25.2, relating to child-friendly visiting rooms in state correctional facilities.

088129276

Impact Statements

S.B. 36 Child support; administrative fees.

Patron: Deeds

Child support; administrative fees.  Eliminates the $25 fee that a person not receiving public assistance must pay each year if more than $500 of child support is collected by the Department of Social Services in order to utilize the support enforcement services of the Department.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 63.2-1904 of the Code of Virginia, relating to child support; administrative fees.

080590220

Impact Statements

S.B. 138 Prisoners; medical and psychiatric benefits.

Patron: Puller

Medical and psychiatric benefits for prisoners.  Requires the Department of Corrections to take reasonable steps to identify any benefits, including any Social Security or Veterans Administration benefits, for which a prisoner may be eligible and take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that benefits are available to the prisoner at the time of release.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 2.1 of Chapter 2 of Title 53.1 a section numbered 53.1-40.11, relating to medical and psychiatric benefits for prisoners.

083124304

Impact Statements

S.B. 171 Adoption by former stepparents; expands exception to divestiture of parental rights.

Patron: Blevins

Adoption by former stepparents.  Expands the exception to the divestiture of parental rights of a birth parent or parent by previous adoption applicable in cases of stepparent adoptions to cases where a former stepparent petitions to adopt a child.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 63.2-1215 of the Code of Virginia, relating to adoption by former stepparents.

087775204

Impact Statements

S.B. 205 Prisoners; mandatory release on parole.

Patron: Quayle

Prisons and correctional facilities; mandatory release on parole.  Provides that a prisoner whose parole is revoked on a technical violation is not required to serve the minimum six months. Under this bill, the prisoner would receive credit for good time if the parole violation was technical, but not if the violation involved a new and subsequent charge. "Technical violation" means any failure to adhere to conditions of parole that is not deliberate defiance of those conditions or does not constitute further criminal conduct or both.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 53.1-159 of the Code of Virginia, relating to mandatory release on parole.

088419308

S.B. 228 Child abuse and neglect; emergency medical services personnel added to list of mandatory reporters.

Patron: McDougle

Mandatory child abuse reporters; EMS personnel.  Adds emergency medical services personnel certified by the Board of Health to the list of mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 63.2-1509 of the Code of Virginia, relating to mandatory reporters of child abuse.

084065272

Impact Statements

S.B. 249 Independent living services & arrangements; require inclusion of plan for children 14 yrs. & older.

Patron: Howell

Foster care; independent living services for children 14 and older. Requires that every foster care plan for a child 14 years of age or older include an independent living services plan. The bill also defines the terms "independent living," "independent living arrangement," and "independent living services."

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 16.1-228, 16.1-281, 16.1-282, 16.1-282.1, 16.1-282.2, 63.2-100, 63.2-904, 63.2-905, 63.2-905.1, and 63.2-1819 of the Code of Virginia, relating to foster care; independent living services for children 14 and older.

084447248

S.B. 250 Independent living service & arrangements; require inclusion of plan for persons until 21 yrs.

Patron: Howell

Foster care; independent living services for persons between the ages of 18 and 21.  Establishes that children who are in foster care when they reach 18 years of age shall receive independent living services from the appropriate local board of social services or licensed child-placing agency until they reach 21 years of age. Currently, the provision of such services to children between the ages of 18 and 21 is discretionary. The bill also defines the terms "independent living services" and "independent living arrangement."

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 16.1-228, 16.1-281, 16.1-282, 16.1-282.1, 16.1-282.2, 63.2-100, 63.2-904, 63.2-905, 63.2-905.1, 63.2-906, and 63.2-1819 of the Code of Virginia, relating to foster care; independent living services for persons between the ages of 18 and 21.

084446248

S.B. 251 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); waiver of ineligibility period.

Patron: Miller, Y.B.

TANF; waiver of ineligibility period.  Provides that the 24-month period of ineligibility shall not apply to a child who is removed from his parents' home as the result of a child protective services report or complaint as defined in regulations promulgated by the Board and placed with a relative. This bill provides that in such cases, the child shall be eligible for TANF financial assistance immediately and without waiting for the 24-month period to run.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 63.2-612 of the Code of Virginia, relating to TANF; waiver of ineligibility period.

089814276

Impact Statements

S.B. 296 TANF; eligibility for food stamps when convicted of drug-related felonies.

Patron: Puller

Eligibility for TANF and food stamps; drug-related felonies. Provides exemption to receive TANF benefits for persons who have been convicted of a felony drug offense pursuant to § 18.2-250 and comply with criminal court orders and treatment programs, as permitted by federal law.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 63.2-505.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to eligibility for TANF and food stamps; drug-related felonies.

083182304

S.B. 323 Alcoholic mixed beverages; restaurant licensee food sale requirement.

Patron: Wagner

Alcoholic beverage control; mixed beverage restaurant licensee food sale requirement. Changes the gross receipt sale requirement for mixed beverage restaurant licensees. The bill requires licensees' gross receipts from the sale of food cooked or prepared and consumed on the premises and nonalcoholic beverages served on the premises, after issuance of such license, to amount to at least an average of $4,000 per month annually.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 4.1-210 of the Code of Virginia, relating to alcoholic beverage control; minimum food sale requirement for mixed beverage restaurant licensees.

085674340

S.B. 387 Guardian ad litem; mandatory reporting of child abuse or neglect.  

Patron: Martin

Guardian ad litem; mandatory reporting of child abuse or neglect.  Requires any guardian ad litem who has been appointed by a court to represent a child to report suspected child abuse or neglect to a local department of social services or to the Department of Social Services' toll-free child abuse and neglect hotline.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 63.2-1509 of the Code of Virginia, relating to mandatory reporting of child abuse or neglect by guardians ad litem.

080202268

Impact Statements

S.B. 404 Substance abuse screening; person become ineligible for public assistance if using illegal drugs.

Patron: Puckett

Substance abuse screening and assessment of public assistance applicants and recipients. Requires local departments of social services to conduct a screening of all applicants or recipients of public assistance. This bill provides that, where a screening indicates reasonable cause to believe an applicant or recipient is using illegal drugs, the applicant or recipient may be required to submit to drug testing. Where a drug test indicates that the applicant or recipient is using illegal drugs, the person shall become ineligible for public assistance. The person may reapply for public assistance once 12 months have elapsed from the date of initial ineligibility.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 63.2-503 of the Code of Virginia, relating to substance abuse screening and assessment of public assistance applicants and recipients.

087850300

S.B. 479 Comprehensive Services Act; annual workshop to train on best practices and evidence-based practices.

Patron: Hanger

Office of Comprehensive Services and the Comprehensive Services Act; best practices.  Requires the Director of the Office of Comprehensive Services for At-Risk Youth and Families to provide an annual workshop to train CSA staff and other interested parties on best practices and evidence-based practices related to the CSA Program.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-2649 of the Code of Virginia, relating to CSA training; best practices.

085654232

Impact Statements

S.B. 480 Comprehensive Services Act; utilization review.

Patron: Hanger

Comprehensive Services Act; utilization review.  Requires the State Executive Council to oversee development and implementation of uniform standards of utilization review to include review of how individual need for services is determined, how services are procured, and how services are delivered.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-2648 and 2.2-2649 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Comprehensive Services Act; utilization review.

083197232

Impact Statements

S.B. 481 Residential service providers; Executive Council to develop, etc. uniform data collection standards.

Patron: Hanger

Data Collection; residential service providers. Requires the State Executive Council to develop and implement uniform data collection standards to collect data on residential service providers and residential services provided under the Comprehensive Services Act program and to develop uniform outcome measures to evaluate residential services provided under the Comprehensive Services Act program.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-2648 and 2.2-2649 of the Code of Virginia, relating to data collection; residential care providers.

083199232

Impact Statements

S.B. 482 Data collection; Executive Council to oversee development & implementation of program therefor.

Patron: Hanger

Data collection; Title IV-E expenditures.  Requires the State Executive Council to oversee the development and implementation of a program for the collection of data on (i) the cost of services purchased through the CSA program, (ii) treatment foster care services and residential services payments made through the Medicaid program, and (iii) child-specific payments made through the Title IV-E foster care program. This bill also requires the Department of Social Services to collect data on child-specific payments made through the Title IV-E foster care program and to report data collected to the Office of Comprehensive Services.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-2648, 2.2-2649, and 63.2-226 of the Code of Virginia, relating to data collection; Title IV-E expenditures.

083141232

Impact Statements

S.B. 483 Comprehensive Services Act; Executive Council to oversee development of performance standards.

Patron: Hanger

Comprehensive Services Act; performance standards. Requires the state executive council to oversee the development and implementation of a set of uniform performance standards, including standards for evaluation of local decisions regarding levels of care and participant outcomes.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-2648, 2.2-2649, 2.2-5206, and 37.2-308 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Comprehensive Services Act; performance standards.

083140232

S.B. 484 Comprehensive Services Act; cost of services.

Patron: Hanger

Comprehensive Services Act; cost of services. Adds data regarding the number of youth and families eligible for CSA-funded services, the type of services provided, and the cost of services to the list of data that the State Executive Council is required to collect and for which the State Executive Council is required to develop and implement data collection standards.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-2648 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Comprehensive Services Act; data collection standards.

083198232

Impact Statements

S.B. 485 Comprehensive Services Act; child-level data collection.

Patron: Hanger

Comprehensive Services Act; data collection. Requires the Office of Comprehensive Services to include in its child-level data set a field (i) identifying the facility in which a child receives services, including any residential service provider's identification number, (ii) indicating the circumstances under which each child ends each service, and (iii) indicating the circumstances under which each child exits the Comprehensive Services Act program.

A BILL directing the Office of Comprehensive Services to include in its child-level data set a field to identify the facility in which a child receives services and a field to indicate the circumstances under which each child ends each service.

083139232

Impact Statements

S.B. 486 Comprehensive Services Act; data collection for client-specific database.

Patron: Hanger

Comprehensive Services; client-specific database.  Requires the State Executive Council to oversee development and implementation of data collection standards and collection of data for a client-specific database.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-2648 and 2.2-2649 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Comprehensive Services; client-specific database.

083142232

Impact Statements

S.B. 487 Comprehensive Services Act; family assessment & planning teams develop residential service plans.

Patron: Hanger

Comprehensive Services Act; service planning.  Requires family assessment and planning teams to develop residential service plans for youth placed in residential facilities. Such plans shall (i) identify goals for residential placement, (ii) identify specific programs and services necessary to meet those goals, (iii) provide for periodic review of the placement to determine continued appropriateness of the placement for the child, and (iv) establish a plan for returning the youth to his home or community at the earliest appropriate time, including identification of any community-based services to support the transition to community-based care.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-2648, 2.2-2649, 2.2-5206, and 2.2-5208 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Comprehensive Services Act; service planning.

083138232

S.B. 488 Comprehensive Services, Executive Council for; duties.

Patron: Hanger

State Executive Council for Comprehensive Services; duties.  Requires the State Executive Council to develop and implement an intensive case management services system, including uniform standards for case management for children in residential care.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-2648 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the State Executive Council for Comprehensive Services; duties.

085656232

Impact Statements

S.B. 489 Community policy and management teams; required to identify children in residential care facilities.

Patron: Hanger

Community Policy and Management Teams; duties.  Requires CPMTs to identify children in residential care facilities who can be appropriately served in their homes and communities and to develop a plan for the return of such children from residential care to their homes and communities. Plans shall identify any community-based services which may be necessary for each child and provide for the coordination of services and the monitoring of children returning to their homes or communities from residential care.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-5206 of the Code of Virginia, relating to community policy and management teams; duties.

085655232

Impact Statements

S.B. 493 Foster & adoption workers; Department of Social Services to establish minimum training requirments.

Patrons: Puller, Hanger

Foster and adoption workers; minimum training requirements.  Requires the Department of Social Services to establish minimum training requirements and to provide educational programs for foster and adoption workers and their supervisors.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 9 of Title 63.2 a section numbered 63.2-914 and by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 12 of Title 63.2 a section numbered 63.2-1220.1, relating to foster and adoption workers; minimum training requirements.

089830304

Impact Statements

S.B. 497 Abraham's law; definition of abused or neglected child

Patron: Northam

Definition of abused or neglected child; Abraham's law. Removes language specifying that a decision by parents or another person with legal authority over a child to refuse a particular medical treatment for a child with a life-threatening condition shall not be deemed a refusal to provide necessary care if (i) such decision is made jointly by the parents or other person with legal authority for the child and the child; (ii) the child has reached 14 years of age and is sufficiently mature to have an informed opinion on the subject of his medical treatment; (iii) the parents or other person with legal authority and the child have considered alternative treatment options; and (iv) the parents or other person with legal authority and the child believe in good faith that such decision is in the child's best interest.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 63.2-100 of the Code of Virginia, relating to abused or neglected children.

080721286

S.B. 584 Alcoholic beverage control; permits a licensee to mix wine, beer, and spirits for patrons.

Patron: Ticer

Alcoholic beverage control; mixing of wine, beer, and spirits for patrons.  Permits a licensee to mix wine, beer, and spirits if prepared for a patron. The bill also restricts the Board from adopting regulations prohibiting any mixed beverage licensee from pre-mixing, either in frozen drink dispensers of types approved by the board or otherwise, mixed alcoholic beverages for purposes of sale and consumption upon the licensed premises.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 4.1-324 of the Code of Virginia, relating to alcoholic beverage control; sale of mixed alcoholic beverages and pre-mixing alcoholic beverages by a mixed beverage licensee.

081780340

S.B. 633 Prisoners; notification of child support payments.

Patron: Ticer

Prisoners; notification of child support due.  Requires the Department of Corrections, working in cooperation with the Division of Child Support Enforcement, to identify prisoners of whom child support payments are required pursuant to a court order and to determine (i) the amount of child support required of the prisoner pursuant to the order and (ii) the total amount of child support arrearages, including interest, owed by a prisoner upon intake, at regular intervals but at least annually thereafter, and no more than 30 days prior to discharge. This bill also requires the Department to provide notice to each prisoner of whom child support payments are required of their right to seek a modification of an order pursuant to which they may be obligated to pay child support. Such notice shall be provided at the time of intake and shall include information regarding the requirements and process for seeking a modification.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 53.1 a section numbered 53.1-31.2, relating to prisoners; notification of child support due.

083116304

S.B. 635 Alcoholic beverage control; alcohol content in prepared foods.

Patron: Ticer

Alcoholic beverage control; alcohol content in prepared foods.  Prohibits the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board from prohibiting an on-premises restaurant licensee from using alcoholic beverages that the licensee otherwise is authorized to purchase and possess for the purposes of preparing and selling for on-premises consumption food products with a final alcohol content of more than one-half of one percent by volume, as long as such food products are sold and consumed by persons who are 21 years of age or older.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 4.1-324 of the Code of Virginia, relating to alcoholic beverage control; alcohol content in prepared foods.

081782340

Impact Statements

S.B. 637 Child abuse; animal control officers required to report.

Patron: Ticer

Required reporting of child abuse; animal control officers. Adds animal control officers to the list of persons with the duty to report suspected child abuse. Animal control officers already receive training in the recognition of child abuse and neglect and information on how complaints are filed.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 63.2-1509 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the reporting of child abuse.

083923336

Impact Statements

S.B. 642 TANF; eligibility for food stamps when convicted of drug-related felonies.

Patron: Ticer

Eligibility for TANF and food stamps; drug-related felonies.  Provides exemption to receive TANF benefits for persons who have been convicted of a felony drug offense pursuant to § 18.2-250 and comply with criminal court orders and treatment programs, as permitted by federal law.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 63.2-505.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to eligibility for TANF and food stamps; drug-related felonies.

088322336

S.B. 643 Foster care; require Code of Ethics agreement signed by head of every foster home, etc.

Patron: Ticer

Foster care; Code of Ethics agreement. Requires the agreement signed by the head of every foster home or children's residential facility to set forth the conditions and mutual responsibilities of foster parents, foster care workers, and directors of child-placing agencies, including local departments. The bill requires the Board of Social Services to develop and promulgate regulations implementing the provisions of this Act with the assistance of an advisory committee comprised of representatives from foster and adoptive families, local boards and departments, child-placing agencies, judicial staff, youth in foster and adoptive homes, and other advocates or experts as the Board deems necessary.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 63.2-900 and 63.2-902 of the Code of Virginia, relating to a foster care code of ethics and responsibilities agreement.

085680336

Impact Statements

S.B. 658 Comprehensive Services Act Program; case management and residential care plan.

Patron: Howell

Comprehensive Services Act Program; case management and residential care plan.  Requires the State Executive Council to develop, and localities to implement, a program of case management for residential care to include a provision for residential care plans.  Requires family assessment and planning teams to develop, and community policy and management teams to review, residential care plans that include goals for residential care treatment, a provision for monitoring and review of plans, evaluation of progress toward identified goals, and a plan for returning the youth to his home or community at the earliest appropriate time.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-2648, 2.2-5206, and 2.2-5208 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Comprehensive Services Act Program; case management and residential care plans.

084534248

Impact Statements

S.B. 738 Adult protective services; reporting of suspected financial abuse of elderly & dependent persons.

Patron: Edwards

Adult protective services; reports by financial institution employees of financial abuse of elder or dependent persons.  Requires employees of banks and trust companies, savings banks, building and loan associations, savings and loan companies or associations, and credit unions to report the suspected financial abuse of elder or dependent persons, based on information obtained in their professional or official capacity.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 63.2-1606 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the duty to report financial abuse of elder or dependent adults.

080057228

S.B. 784 ABC Board; sell magazines in government stores that educate public about wine industry.

Patron: Deeds

Alcoholic beverage control; operation of government stores.  Authorizes the ABC Board to sell in government stores magazines or other publications whose principal purpose is to feature and educate the consuming public about the wine industry.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 4.1-103, 4.1-104, and 4.1-119 of the Code of Virginia, relating to alcoholic beverage control; operation of government stores.

089867220