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ACROSS SESSIONS
- Subject Index: Since 1995
- Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
- Summaries: Since 1994
Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
2008 SESSION
Edwards (Chairman), Puckett, Quayle
Clerk: Susan Clarke Schaar/Patty Lung
Staff: Cheryl Jackson, Brenda Edwards
Date of Meeting: January 29, 2008
Time and Place: 10:00 a.m., 4th Floor East Conference Room
Patron: Whipple
Virginia Commission on Energy. Establishes the Virginia Commission on Energy as a legislative commission. Its purposes include reviewing and recommending steps to implement the Virginia Energy Plan; promoting energy efficiency and energy conservation; securing reliable supplies of energy; promoting research and development in the field of alternative and renewable energy sources; reviewing state building standards; and recommending measures to secure Virginia's energy future.
Patrons: Saslaw, Norment
Commission on Electric Utility Regulation. Renames the Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring as the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation, extends its scheduled expiration from July 1, 2008, until July 1, 2010, and states that its purposes is to work collaboratively with the State Corporation Commission in conjunction with the implementation of the Virginia Electric Utility Restructuring Act.
Patron: Ticer
Commission on Climate Change; report. Establishes a Climate Change Commission in the executive branch to develop a Climate Change Action Plan that: (i) calculates the size of and contributors to Virginia's carbon footprint; (ii) addresses the effects of increasing atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations on the state; (iii) identifies what the Commonwealth needs to do to prepare for the likely consequences of climate change; and (iv) identifies actions that are needed to meet goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In its development of the Climate Change Action Plan, the Commission shall consider demand-side energy conservation by utilities and consumers; expanding renewable energy portfolios; rate decoupling; time-of-use pricing; and transportation demand management. The Commission will also consult with the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish and supervise the High School Climate Change Leadership Awards Program and with the State Council of Higher Education to require that a state-supported institution of higher education organize and host a 2009 Mid-Atlantic Regional Climate Change Leadership Consortium.
Patron: Wampler
Southwest Virginia Cultural Heritage Commission. Creates the Southwest Virginia Cultural Heritage Commission to encourage the economic development of Southwest Virginia through the expansion of cultural heritage ventures and initiatives related to tourism and other asset-based enterprises, including the Southwest Virginia Artisan Center, the Crooked Road, Round The Mountain, and related cultural heritage organizations and venues that promote entrepreneurial and employment opportunities. The bill sets out the membership of the Commission and its powers and duties. The bill contains technical amendments.
Patron: Stolle
Special Commission on State Police Staffing. Establishes the Special Commission on the State Police Staffing to advise the Governor and the General Assembly on the adequate staffing level for the Department of State Police.
Patron: Herring
Virginia Commission on Bioscience and Biotechnology. Establishes the Virginia Commission on Bioscience and Biotechnology within the legislative branch of state government for the purpose of studying and advancing the development and enhancement of the biosciences and biotechnology in the Commonwealth, and reviewing and implementing appropriate and efficacious recommendations of recent state and national research investigations in these disciplines, including the Governor’s Commission on Biotechnology. The Commission is also charged, among other things, to review, continue, and expand the work of the Governor’s Commission on Biotechnology, and to develop a strategic plan that will foster bioscience and biotechnology research in the Commonwealth and establish Virginia as a national and global leader in the field.
Patron: Deeds
Comprehensive information system to replace or revise the Service Fee Directory. Requests that the Office of Comprehensive Services develop a comprehensive information system that would replace or revise the Service Fee Directory to capture and track, on an ongoing basis, key compliance, performance, and financial information, including rates, about residential services.
Patron: Colgan
Attorney General of Virginia; illegal immigration; report. Requests the Attorney General to pursue all remedies through litigation to recover moneys owing from the United States government to the Commonwealth for reimbursement of costs incurred by the State in dealing with illegal immigration.
Patron: Marsh
Study; enhanced punishment for crimes committed in the presence of children; report. Requests the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission to study the use of and need for enhanced punishment for crimes committed in the presence of children. In conducting its study, the Commission shall examine the number of convictions for crimes, and the nature of these crimes, that were committed in the presence of children and whether the presence of such children during the commission of a crime was taken into account during sentencing.
Patron: Puller
Study; uniform risk assessment tool for parole determinations; report. Requests that the Department of Corrections study the fiscal and administrative impacts of implementing a uniform risk assessment tool for parole determinations.
Patron: Locke
Study; juvenile transfers; report. Requests the Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice to study the process of determining whether a juvenile should be tried as an adult.
Patron: Lucas
Study; Craney Island Dredged Materials Management Area; report. Requests the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the impact of increased elevations at the Craney Island Dredged Materials Management Area. The Commission will study the efficiencies of ocean dumping compared to continued dumping on Craney Island; the stability of the dredged materials during and after a natural disaster; the risks of dike breaches; impacts on the harbor infrastructure and the environment; and reduced utility of the area after dredging has ceased.
Patron: Quayle
Study; Southeastern Public Service Authority; report. Requests the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission to study the operation and finances of the Southeastern Public Service Authority.
Patron: Blevins
Study; fiscal autonomy for elected school boards; report. 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 2009 Session of the General Assembly.
Patron: Hanger
Study; increasing the number of foster families in the Commonwealth; report. Requests the Department of Social Services to study ways of increasing the number of foster families in the Commonwealth.
Patron: Quayle
Study; policies to reduce the negative impacts of plastic bags on the environment; report. Requests the Department of Environmental Quality to convene stakeholders meetings to discuss and report on potential legislative actions that would mitigate the negative effects of improperly disposed of plastic bags on the Commonwealth's environment. Stakeholders shall include representatives of agriculture, conservation, local government, manufacturing, plastics industry, timber industry, and retailers. In the selection of feasible policies, the stakeholders shall review existing policies and programs adopted in the United States and other countries.
Patron: Barker
Study; mass transit options for Northern Virginia; report. Requests the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to study mass transit options and potential improvements for Northern Virginia.
Patron: Obenshain
Study; Department of Treasury; Virginia Unclaimed Property Act; report. Requests the Department of Treasury to study the reporting requirements established by the Virginia Unclaimed Property Act. In reviewing the Act, the Department shall study the feasibility of establishing a minimum threshold amount for reporting and transferring unclaimed property to the state.
Patron: Ticer
Study; Department of Social Services to study foster care code of ethics; report. Requests the Department of Social Services to study and develop a statewide foster care code of ethics and responsibility agreement. In conducting its study, the Department shall: (i) identify mutual responsibilities of foster parents, foster care workers, and directors of child-placing agencies, including local departments; (ii) develop a foster care code of ethics and responsibilities agreement to be signed by each foster care parent and worker, as well as the local department of social services' or child-placing agency's chief executive officer; and (iii) develop a grievance procedure to be used for violations of the code of ethics.
Patron: Cuccinelli
Study; nuclear power; report. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study nuclear power within the Commonwealth. The joint subcommittee shall (i) address all aspects of the production of nuclear power, including the mining of uranium the impact of the new nuclear plants on electricity rates; (ii) examine the economic development potential of nuclear power; (iii) consider whether the General Assembly should take action to support the development of additional nuclear power facilities in the Commonwealth; and (v) examine the advisability of permitting the mining of uranium in Virginia.
Patron: Colgan
Study; enhancing rapid transit service in Northern Virginia; report. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study enhancing rapid transit service in Northern Virginia.
Patron: Stolle
Center for Innovative Technology; innovation index; report. Requests the Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) to establish a Commonwealth Innovation Index to foster the formation, retention, and expansion of technology-based economic development opportunities. In developing the Innovation Index, CIT shall solicit input from the Commonwealth's regional technology councils and technology community. The index shall serve as a community-driven tool that will enable community and Commonwealth leaders to steer a successful course toward global leadership in advanced technology company formation and attraction while saving tax dollars.
Patron: Houck
Study; JCHC to study continuing competency of health care professionals; report. Directs the Joint Commission on Health Care to study the feasibility, advisability, and necessity of considering the competence of licensed health care professionals as a condition of license renewal.
Patron: McEachin
Study; low-level radioactive waste; report. Requests the Department of Health to study long-term options for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste.