SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2009 SESSION

  • print version
Senate Committee on Rules

Chairman: Mary Margaret Whipple

Clerk: Susan Clarke Schaar/Patty Lung
Staff: Cheryl Jackson, Brenda Edwards
Date of Meeting: January 30, 2009
Time and Place: 10:00 a.m. -- Senate Room A

S.B. 1364

Patron: Reynolds

Commission on Civics Education.  Moves the Commission on Civics Education from the executive to the legislative branch. Also, allows the Commission to seek other public and private sources of funding.

Impact Statements

S.J.R. 274

Patron: Reynolds

Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week.  Designates the third week of September, in 2009 and in each succeeding year, as Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week in Virginia in conjunction with the national awareness week.

S.J.R. 276

Patron: Puller

Study; JLARC to study Board of Medicine; report.  Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to conduct a follow-up review of the effectiveness of the Board of Medicine in regulating the practice of medicine.

S.J.R. 277

Patron: Edwards

Study; costs incurred resulting from tort claims brought against the Commonwealth and localities; report.  Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the costs incurred by the Commonwealth and localities resulting from tort claims brought against such entities.

S.J.R. 303

Patron: Watkins

Year of Astronomy. Designates 2009 as the Year of Astronomy in Virginia in conjunction with the United Nations declaration of the year 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy.

S.J.R. 305

Patron: Stuart

Steamboat Era Day. Designates September 14, in 2009 and in each succeeding year, as Steamboat Era Day in Virginia.

S.J.R. 307

Patron: Marsh

Study; establishing a joint subcommittee to study the effects of the economic recession on public schools and families in Virginia.  Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the effects of the economic recession on public schools and families in Virginia. In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall (i) evaluate the effects of the economic crisis on public schools in Virginia; (ii) determine the number of school-age children affected by recent home foreclosures with the decline of the housing industry, the unemployment of a parent, and homelessness, and, if possible, correlate these events in the lives of school children to academic performance; (iii) determine whether the economic crisis has contributed to an increase in family dysfunction, unemployment, crime, familial breakdown, divorce and separation, substance abuse, mental health problems, school and college dropout rates, and domestic violence; (iv) ascertain how and which educational programs and services have been reduced or eliminated by public schools as a result of funding reductions due to the economic crisis; (v) determine whether there has been an increase in the number of homeless students in Virginia public schools, and the fiscal and programmatic effect of such increase; (vi) determine ways to assist public schools, children, and their families in coping with the economic crisis so as to minimize adverse consequences to them and governmental agencies; and (vii) consider such other matters as the joint subcommittee deems pertinent to carrying out the objectives of the study. In the course of its deliberations, the joint subcommittee shall provide opportunities for the participation of professional and community organizations, the corporate and faith communities, and other persons with expertise and interest in public and higher education, and the welfare of children and their families. The joint subcommittee must submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2010 Session of the General Assembly.

S.J.R. 313

Patron: Miller, J.C.

Study; early reading proficiency and comprehension; report.  Establishes a joint subcommittee to study ways to promote and ensure early reading proficiency and comprehension among third graders in public schools. In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall (i) determine the number of third graders who read at grade level; (ii) rank the school divisions according to the number of third graders who passed the most recent third grade reading test; (iii) identify best practices utilized by school divisions with the highest percentage of third graders who read at grade level; (iv) examine the findings and recommendations of state and national studies pertaining to the efficacy of early reading proficiency and comprehension and its relationship to academic success, and recommend those recommendations appropriate for implementation in Virginia; and (v) determine strategies to increase the number of third graders who pass the third grade reading test and ways to improve and sustain the early reading proficiency of third grade students. The joint subcommittee must submit its findings and recommendations to the 2010 Session of the General Assembly.

S.J.R. 314

Patron: Edwards

Virginia's Rail Heritage Region.  Establishes "Virginia's Rail Heritage Region" to promote and encourage rail tourism.

S.J.R. 316

Patron: Miller, Y.B.

Study; Joint Commission on Health Care to study establishing a state surgeon general; report. Directs the Joint Commission on Health Care to study the feasibility and value of establishing a State Surgeon General. In conducting its study, the Commission shall (i) review other states' surgeon general positions, including their duties, powers, and the effect they are having on public health; (ii) investigate the need for such a position in the Commonwealth; (iii) consider the possibility of combining an existing position within state government with the newly created surgeon general position; and (iv) examine all the possible benefits of such a position to the citizens of the Commonwealth.

S.J.R. 318

Patron: Hanger

Joint Subcommittee to Study Strategies and Models for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment; Report.  Continues the Joint Subcommittee to Study Strategies and Models for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment for two more years, to continue to (i) identify and characterize the nature of substance abuse in the Commonwealth; (ii) identify current state policies and programs targeting substance abuse prevention and treatment; (iii) examine the cost of such policies and programs to the Commonwealth; (iv) identify and examine policies and prevention programs from other leading states in the field of substance abuse and prevention; and (v) benchmark the Commonwealth's substance abuse prevention and treatment programs and policies against those of the leading states. Additionally, the joint subcommittee shall establish work groups to explore issues, existing state policies and programs, and potential recommendations or solutions to address problems related to substance abuse prevention, substance abuse treatment services, use of evidence-based practices, and other pertinent topics. The joint subcommittee is authorized to hold four meetings during the 2009 interim and four meetings during the 2010 interim, and shall submit a report to the Division of Legislative Automated Services each year. 

S.J.R. 319

Patron: Whipple

Study; home energy consumption; report. Directs the Virginia Housing Commission to study home energy consumption.

S.J.R. 321

Patron: Puller

Disability History and Awareness Month. Designates the month of October, in 2009 and in each succeeding year, as Disability History and Awareness Month in Virginia.

S.J.R. 322

Patron: Puller

Study; waterfowl hunting; report. Establishes a six-member legislative subcommittee to study waterfowl hunting in urban and suburban areas.

S.J.R. 324

Patron: Howell

Study; corporate income tax formula for multistate service corporations; report.  Creates a joint committee of members from the Senate and House Finance Committees, two and four respectively, to examine the way Virginia calculates the corporate income tax for multistate service corporations.

S.J.R. 325

Patron: Houck

Study; chronic diseases; report.  Directs the Joint Commission on Health Care to study opportunities for early identification and preventive care of chronic diseases. In conducting its study, the Commission shall (i) examine clinical and other studies concerning the manner in which early identification and preventive care can be utilized to halt or slow the evolution of such conditions as diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, obesity, and pneumonia into chronic and terminal conditions, (ii) assess the means by which Virginia can address fragmentation of services across the health care delivery system and the patient's community in order to enhance early identification and preventive care for chronic disease, and (iii) estimate the fiscal impact on the Commonwealth and private payers from such strategies.

S.J.R. 330

Patron: Colgan

Study; findings of the Review of State Employee Total Compensation JLARC report; report. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the findings of the Review of State Employee Total Compensation, prepared by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission.

S.J.R. 331

Patron: Colgan

Study; joint subcommittee on school dropout prevention; report.  Establishes a joint subcommittee to study school dropout prevention in Virginia. In conducting the study, the joint subcommittee shall (i) identify the reasons for and issues attendant to the problem of school dropout in Virginia; (ii) determine, by school division, the number of students who drop out of school before the seventh grade and the reasons therefor, and the number of students who graduate annually; (iii) conduct a comprehensive assessment of the factors related to school dropout in and prevention efforts employed by each school division, including the academic achievement gap, school dropout prevention, retention, and retrieval initiatives, social and economic dynamics in the locality, family and community support systems, and how and the extent to which the criminal justice system, faith community, and business and industry are actively involved in addressing the problem; (iv) review the findings and recommendations of recent national and state studies and reports related to dropout prevention and increasing the high school graduation rates, and determine the appropriateness of adopting certain of the recommendations for use in Virginia; (v) develop appropriate strategies and an action plan that incorporates a multifaceted approach to address the problem of school dropout comprehensively and systemically throughout the Commonwealth; (vi) review all current state laws, regulations, appropriations, and public policies relative to and that affect the issues attendant to school dropout and recommend such policy, statutory, fiscal, or regulatory changes as the joint subcommittee deems necessary; and (vii) consider such other related matters as the joint subcommittee deems appropriate to assist it in satisfying the objectives of this study. The joint subcommittee must report its final findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2011 Session of the General Assembly.

S.J.R. 336

Patron: Blevins

Study; establishing a joint subcommittee to study the risks of consuming high caffeine energy drinks together with alcohol; report.  Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the risks of consuming high caffeine energy drinks together with alcohol. In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall (i) determine the extent to which high caffeine energy drinks are consumed by students and young adults, and whether such drinks are consumed with alcohol or medication; (ii) ascertain whether certain injuries, violence, and other risky behaviors have been linked to the consumption of these products by students and young adults in Virginia; (iii) determine whether the consumption of these drinks together with alcohol and medication is a problem in Virginia; (iv) evaluate the feasibility of limiting access of these drinks that are already laced with alcohol to underage drinkers; (v) recommend ways to inform the public concerning the health and behavior risks of consuming high caffeine energy drinks with alcohol and medication; and (vi) consider such other related matters as the joint subcommittee deems appropriate.

S.J.R. 339

Patron: Barker

Study; ensuring care for those with life-threatening conditions.  Directs the Joint Commission on Health Care to study ways to ensure that individuals with life-threatening conditions receive the care they need, regardless of resources. In conducting its study, the Commission shall (i) identify existing resources to help those without private insurance who don't qualify for Medicaid in emergency situations and ways to publicize any such resources, (ii) determine approximately how many such cases occur in the Commonwealth each year, (iii) examine programs in other states to provide assistance in such situations, and (iv) recommend effective solutions for addressing this problem in the Commonwealth.

S.J.R. 357

Patrons: Barker, Colgan

Study; rapid transit service network; report. Continues the mandate of the joint subcommittee to study the feasibility of creating a regional rapid transit network for connecting existing and emerging population centers in major transportation corridors for a second year.

S.J.R. 358

Patron: Stolle

Study; hospital violence; report. Directs the Crime Commission to study the incidence of violent events in hospital emergency rooms and how such public safety issues can best be addressed.

S.J.R. 359

Patron: Stolle

Study; clerks' offices; report.  Continues the joint subcommittee to study the operations of circuit court clerks' offices.

S.J.R. 362

Patron: Norment

Study; restorative justice; report.  Directs the Virginia State Crime Commission to study restorative justice and specifically, victim-offender reconciliation programs.

S.J.R. 373

Patron: Miller, J.C.

American Cancer Society Day. Designates February 5, in 2009 and in each succeeding year, as American Cancer Society Day in Virginia.

S.J.R. 379

Patron: Deeds

Designating August 20, 2009, as a day of remembrance of the 40th anniversary of Hurricane Camille.

S.J.R. 392

Patron: Whipple

Resolution; Designating National School Breakfast Week in Virginia.  Designates the week of the first Sunday in March, in 2009 and in each succeeding year, as National School Breakfast Week in Virginia.

S.J.R. 401

Patron: Petersen

Law Day.  Designates May 1, in 2009 and in each succeeding year, as Law Day in Virginia in conjunction with the national day.

S.R. 21

Patron: Whipple

Confirming nominations to the Senate Ethics Advisory Panel.  Confirms the nominations of the Senate Committee on Rules to reappoint the Honorable Clarence A. Holland for a four-year term commencing July 1, 2009, and to appoint the Honorable Arthur A. Giesen, Jr., for a four-year term commencing July 1, 2007.