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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.
2009 SESSION
Edwards (Chairman), Puckett, Quayle
Clerk: Susan Clarke Schaar/Patty Lung
Staff: Cheryl Jackson, Brenda Edwards
Date of Meeting: January 27, 2009
Time and Place: 10:00 a.m. -- 4th Floor East Conference Room
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.
Patron: Norment
The Virginia Commission for Allocating Funds to Nonstate Agencies. Creates a commission in the legislative branch of government to apportion or allocate lump sum appropriations for nonstate entities among specific nonstate entities. The Commission would consist of three members of the Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, three members of the House of Delegates appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, and the Secretaries of Education, Health and Human Services, and Natural Resources, who would serve ex officio with voting privileges.
The bill would also provide that beginning January 1, 2010, all appropriations for nonstate entities would be made in a lump sum amount with no specific dollar amount of funding dedicated or otherwise allocated to any nonstate entity. The Commission would be responsible for apportioning the lump sum appropriation among nonstate entities.
Patron: Norment
General Assembly; Budget Bill(s). Requires the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee to issue reports concurrently with the budget conference report that specifically identify (i) any nonstate appropriation, (ii) any item in the conference report that was not included in the Budget Bill(s) as passed by either the House or the Senate, and (iii) any item that represents a piece of legislation that failed during that session in either house.
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.
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.
Patron: Martin
Study; funding of state cancer centers; report. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the benefits to the Commonwealth of appropriating additional funds for cancer research. The joint subcommittee shall (i) examine the sufficiency of current funding sources for both the Massey Cancer Center and the University of Virginia Cancer Center; (ii) review history and successes of cancer research at each center; (iii) explore benefits to the Commonwealth of expanding state support of both centers; and (iv) research additional funding opportunities for both centers.
Patron: McDougle
Establishing a joint committee on revenue estimates. Establishes a joint committee in the legislative branch to oversee preparation of revenue estimates for the General Assembly.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Patron: Whipple
Study; home energy consumption; report. Directs the Virginia Housing Commission to study home energy consumption.
Patron: Puller
Study; waterfowl hunting; report. Establishes a six-member legislative subcommittee to study waterfowl hunting in urban and suburban areas.
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.
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.
Patron: Herring
Study; establishing a joint subcommittee to study postelection audits of voting equipment; report. Provides for an 11-member joint subcommittee to conduct a two-year study of the various forms of postelection audits and their costs and requirements.
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.
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.
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.
Patron: Barker
Study; state assistance for public school construction and renovation; report. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the level of state assistance to localities to assist with financing land acquisition, and the construction and renovation of school facilities. In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee must ascertain alternative methods of financing the construction and renovation of public school facilities in Virginia, including the feasibility of public-private partnerships. The joint subcommittee must report its findings and recommendations to the 2010 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
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.
Patron: Deeds
Study; establishing a joint subcommittee to study the conduct of certain public officials; report. Establishes an 11-member joint subcommittee to evaluate the behavior of officials of the legislative and executive branches of state government and the related rules governing conflicts of interests, campaign finance, lobbying, and general rules of conduct.
Patron: Vogel
Study; joint subcommittee to study local government reorganization; report. Establishes a 15-member joint subcommittee to recommend methods for modernizing local government structure and organization. This is a two-year study.
Patron: McEachin
Study; distribution of taxes to local governments; report. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the processes and the accuracy of the distribution of local taxes and state taxes collected by state entities for local governments.
Patrons: Smith, Barker
Study; teenage driving; report. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study teenage driving and ways to help teenagers become safer drivers.
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.
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.
Patron: Stolle
Study; clerks' offices; report. Continues the joint subcommittee to study the operations of circuit court clerks' offices.
Patron: Stolle
Study; Use of judicial personnel; Report. Establishes a joint committee of the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice and the House Committee for Courts of Justice to study regular assignment of judicial personnel outside of established circuit boundaries.
Patron: Norment
Study; restorative justice; report. Directs the Virginia State Crime Commission to study restorative justice and specifically, victim-offender reconciliation programs.
Patron: Martin
Study; Crime Commission; report. Directs the Crime Commission to study criminal justice issues regarding the manufacture and use of false identification cards.