SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2013 SESSION

  • print version
Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections
Subcommittee Constitutional Amendments, Reapportionment and Referenda

McWaters (Chairman), Martin, Deeds, Puckett, McEachin, Smith, Reeves

Clerk: Maribeth Turner, Jocelyn Lance
Staff: M. Spain, D. Cotter, J. Austin
Date of Meeting: January 22, 2013
Time and Place: Tuesday, 9:15 AM, 3rd Floor West Conference Room, GAB

S.J.R. 261 Constitutional amendment; expands freedom of speech provisions (first reference).

Patron: Carrico

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); freedom of speech. Expands the freedom of speech provisions of the Constitution of Virginia to permit prayer and the recognition of religious beliefs, heritage, and traditions on public property, including public school property. The amendment also provides that the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions, including public school divisions, shall not compose prayers and shall not require any person to join in prayers or other religious activity.

Proposing an amendment to Section 12 of Article I of the Constitution of Virginia, relating to freedom of speech and of the press; right peaceably to assembly, and to petition.

13100404D

S.J.R. 272 Constitutional amendment; real property tax exemption for spouses of soldiers killed in action.

Patron: Black

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); real property tax exemption for spouses of soldiers killed in action. Provides a real property tax exemption for the primary residence of surviving spouses of members of the military who are killed in action.

Proposing an amendment to Section 6-A of Article X of the Constitution of Virginia, relating to property tax exemptions.

13102717D

S.J.R. 275 Constitutional amendment; Transportation Funds (first reference).

Patron: Obenshain

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Transportation Funds. Requires the General Assembly to maintain permanent and separate Transportation Funds to include the Commonwealth Transportation Fund, Transportation Trust Fund, Highway Maintenance and Operating Fund, and other funds established by general law for transportation. All revenues dedicated to Transportation Funds on January 1, 2013, by general law, other than a general appropriation law, shall be deposited to the Transportation Funds, unless the General Assembly by general law, other than a general appropriation law, alters the revenues dedicated to the Funds. The amendment limits the use of Fund moneys to transportation and related purposes. The General Assembly may borrow from the Funds for other purposes only by a vote of two-thirds plus one of the members voting in each house, and the loan must be repaid with reasonable interest within four years.

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Virginia by adding in Article X a section numbered 7-B, relating to special funds for transportation purposes.

13101568D

S.J.R. 281 Constitutional amendment; tax credits (first reference).

Patron: Petersen

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); tax credits. Provides that no tax credit shall remain in effect longer than five years unless it is reenacted by the General Assembly.

Proposing an amendment to Section 1 of Article X of the Constitution of Virginia, relating to tax credits.

13100549D

S.J.R. 287 Constitutional amendment; free exercise of religion (first reference).

Patron: Stanley

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); free exercise of religion. Adds to the present constitutional provision on freedom of religion and provides that the right to worship includes prayer in private or public settings, on government premises, on public property, and in all public schools. The amendment also requires public schools to display the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution. The proposed amendment is based on a provision in the Missouri Constitution approved by the Missouri voters August 7, 2012.

Proposing an amendment to Section 16 of Article I of the Constitution of Virginia, relating to the free exercise of religion.

13100576D

S.J.R. 292 Constitutional amendment; selection and qualification of judges (first reference).

Patron: Black

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); selection and qualification of judges; pro tempore appointment by Governor. Prohibits the Governor from appointing any person to judicial office after such person failed in either the House of Delegates or the Senate to receive a majority vote.

Proposing an amendment to Section 7 of Article VI of the Constitution of Virginia, relating to selection and qualification of judges; pro tempore appointment by Governor.

13100194D

S.J.R. 319 Constitutional amendment; contributions to defined benefit retirement plans.

Patron: Ebbin

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); contributions to defined benefit retirement plans maintained for employees. Requires that contributions to defined benefit retirement plans that are maintained for state employees and employees of participating political subdivisions and school divisions be made in strict adherence with contribution rates and times for the payment of the contributions as recommended by the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Retirement System (VRS).

Under the resolution, for the four fiscal years beginning on and after July 1, 2014, the General Assembly could make contributions at a rate that is less than the VRS recommended contribution rate without any deferred contributions being recognized so long as the contributions are at least equal to certain minimum amounts. In addition, for fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2018, the General Assembly could provide for the deferral of all or any portion of such contributions for any fiscal year in which the maximum amount is appropriated from the Revenue Stabilization Fund by a separate vote of a majority of all the members voting in each house. All contributions deferred would be required to be repaid within 10 years at an annual interest rate equal to the current actuarially calculated long-term rate of return as determined by VRS. The resolution also requires that retirement contributions deferred in 2010 be repaid by June 30, 2024.

The resolution also specifies how certain other factors and variables used in setting contribution rates are to be determined.

Proposing an amendment to Section 11 of Article X of the Constitution of Virginia, relating to contributions to defined benefit retirement plans maintained for state employees and certain local employees.

13101035D

S.J.R. 327 Constitutional amendment; state school division for schools denied accreditation (first reference).

Patron: McDougle

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); statewide school division for schools denied accreditation. Authorizes the General Assembly to establish a statewide school division to supervise and administer schools that have been denied accreditation for a number of consecutive school years, as determined by the General Assembly. Supervision of the statewide school division is to be vested in a single statewide school board established as may be provided by law. Funding of the statewide division is to be provided by law, and transfer of certain per pupil shares of various funds from the local school district of residence to the statewide district is authorized.

Proposing an amendment to Section 5 of Article VIII of the Constitution of Virginia, relating to powers and duties of the Board of Education; opportunity school district.

13103634D