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2008 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services

Chairman: Linda T. Puller

Clerk: Emily O'Brion
Staff: Patrick Cushing
Date of Meeting: February 1, 2008
Time and Place: Friday, 8:30 a.m in Senate Room B

S.B. 27 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); time limit on receipt thereof.

Patron: Miller, Y.B.

Social services; time limit on receipt of TANF.  Allows the child of a VIEW participant to continue receiving TANF financial assistance beyond the initial 24-month period if (i) the VIEW-participating parent is no longer the child's legal guardian, (ii) legal custody of the child has been placed with a relative of the child after a complaint of child abuse or neglect filed against the child's parent has been deemed founded or after an order for removal of the child from the child's home has been issued pursuant to § 16.1-251 or 16.1-252, and (iii) the child otherwise meets the eligibility requirements set forth in §§ 63.2-602 through 63.2-607.  This bill is contingent upon appropriation of funds.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 63.2-612 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the time limit on the receipt of TANF.

083135276

Impact Statements

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. 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. 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

Impact Statements

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

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

Impact Statements

S.B. 315 Children's Ombudsman, Office of; created, report.

Patron: Edwards

Office of the Children's Ombudsman. Creates the Office of the Children's Ombudsman to provide ombudsman services, including investigation of complaints, advocacy, and the provision of information for children, parents, and citizens involved with child-serving agencies.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding sections numbered 2.2-214.2, 2.2-214.3, and 2.2-214.4 in Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 2.2, relating to Office of the Children's Ombudsman.

088531874

Impact Statements

S.B. 366 Alcoholic beverage control; creates new nonresident winery distributor license.

Patron: Watkins

Alcoholic beverage control; nonresident winery distributor license.  Creates a new nonresident winery distributor license that authorizes the licensee to sell and deliver the wine produced by the licensee, in accordance with ABC Board regulations, in closed containers, to (i) persons licensed to sell the wine at retail for the purpose of resale, § 4.1-326 notwithstanding, (ii) the Board, and (iii) persons in Virginia to whom alcoholic beverages may be lawfully sold. The bill provides that, for purposes of § 4.1-234 and Chapter 6 (§ 58.1-600 et seq.) of Title 58.1, each delivery of wine by such licensee to a consumer or a retail licensee shall constitute a sale in Virginia. Licensees are required to collect the taxes due to the Commonwealth and remit any excise taxes monthly to the Board and any sales tax to the Department of Taxation. The bill defines "nonresident winery distributor" as any winery located outside the Commonwealth and licensed as such in the state where the winery is located and whose total wine distribution to all Virginia licensees does not exceed 3,000 cases in any calendar year. The bill also grants these same privileges to certain winery and farm winery licensees. The bill also requires the ABC Board to quarterly audit and inspect all licensees with the privilege of self-distribution to ensure they meet the requirements for the license. The bill sets the state license tax for this new license and requires the ABC Board to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill eliminates the authority for creation of a nonprofit corporation by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services and contains numerous technical corrections to effect such elimination.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-4002, 4.1-100, 4.1-111, 4.1-203, 4.1-204, 4.1-207, 4.1-208, 4.1-223, 4.1-231, and 4.1-310 of the Code of Virginia and to repeal §§ 3.1-14.01 and 4.1-207.1, relating to alcoholic beverage control; nonresident winery distributor license.

081761348

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

Impact Statements

S.B. 472 Group homes & residential facilities for children; regulations for licensure of programs offered.

Patron: Hanger

Licensure of group homes and residential facilities for children.  Eliminates provisions requiring the Department of Education and the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services to regulate group homes and residential facilities for children. This bill requires the Department of Social Services to regulate group homes and residential facilities for children, requires the Department of Education to regulate educational programs and the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services to regulate mental health, mental retardation or substance abuse services offered in group homes and residential facilities for children licensed by the Department of Social Services.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 22.1-323.2, 37.2-408, 63.2-1737, and 66-24 of the Code of Virginia, relating to regulation of group homes and residential facilities for children.

083151232

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

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

Impact Statements