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2015 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections

Chairman: Jill Holtzman Vogel

Clerk: Hobie Lehman
Staff: Meg Burruss
Date of Meeting: January 20, 2015
Time and Place: 4:00PM / Senate Room A
Updated to add SJR 264

S.B. 704

Patron: Favola

Alternative local minimum wage. Establishes a procedure by which an alternative local minimum wage may be imposed in any locality. Adoption of an alternative minimum wage requirement requires majority approval by the voters in a local referendum. If approved at a referendum and imposed by ordinance of the local governing body, the alternative minimum wage requirement shall become effective on the July 1 that follows delivery to the Commissioner of Labor and Industry of certified copies of certain documents. An alternative local minimum wage requires every employer to pay to each of his employees, for work performed by them within the locality, wages at a rate not less than (i) $8.25 per hour during the first 12 months the requirement is in effect; (ii) $9.25 per hour during the following 12 months; and (iii) $10.50 per hour thereafter. If the federal minimum wage exceeds the levels specified in an alternative local minimum wage requirement, the federal minimum wage will prevail.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 40.1-28.9 and 40.1-28.10 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the minimum wage; local alternative minimum wage authorized; local referendum.

15100602D

S.B. 756

Patron: Black

Referenda for traffic light signal photo-monitoring systems. Provides that localities who wish to enact an ordinance providing for the use of traffic light signal photo-monitoring systems must first have voter approval by a referendum. The bill also provides that those localities that have already enacted such ordinances must also provide for a referendum and must repeal their ordinance if not approved by the voters.

A BILL to provide for a referendum to approve and continue the use of traffic light signal photo-monitoring systems and to amend and reenact § 15.2-968.1 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-968.2, all relating to traffic light signal photo-monitoring systems.

15100361D

S.B. 765

Patron: Edwards

Population data to be used in redistricting. Establishes a procedure for allocating persons in state and federal correctional facilities to their last known residential addresses for purposes of state legislative and local redistricting. Under current law, such persons are allocated to the location of the facility as reported in the decennial census. The bill directs the Department of Corrections, beginning January 1, 2016, to maintain a record for each person in its custody that will provide the necessary information and to request federal agencies operating facilities in which persons convicted of criminal offenses are incarcerated to provide such information. The bill requires such information to be delivered to the Division of Legislative Services by May 1 of the year in which the decennial census is taken. No later than 30 days from the date that the Census Bureau releases P.L. 94-171 redistricting data for Virginia, the Division is directed to prepare and publish revised population data that allocates to the extent possible the correctional population to the appropriate census geographical unit (i.e., census block) containing the incarcerated person's residential address. Correctional facility population for whom no address is known, or for whom no record is provided, shall not be allocated to the census geographical unit containing the facility. Rather, all such population shall be allocated to a state unit not linked to a specific geographical location and shall not be used in determining the ideal population of legislative and local districts. The bill prohibits the use of revised population data in the distribution of any federal or state aid.

 

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-304.1 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 4 of Chapter 3 of Title 24.2 a section numbered 24.2-314, relating to population data to be used for redistricting.

15101580D

S.B. 766

Patron: Edwards

Candidates; signatures required on ballot petitions. Reduces the number of signatures an independent candidate or a candidate for nomination by primary is required to gather on the candidate petition when seeking to qualify as a candidate for the United States Senate, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General. The bill requires these candidates gather 5,000 signatures, including at least 200 from each congressional district. Current law requires 10,000 signatures, including at least 400 from each congressional district.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-506 and 24.2-521 of the Code of Virginia, relating to candidates; signatures required on candidate petitions.

15101754D

S.B. 815

Patron: Watkins

Co-chairmen of the Virginia-North Carolina Interstate High-Speed Rail Compact. Allows Virginia and North Caroline to each elect a co-chairman from among their membership. This will allow a co-chairman from each state to serve together instead of as chairman and vice-chairman, as has been the current practice.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 33.2-1400 of the Code of Virginia, relating to chairmanship of the Virginia-North Carolina Interstate High-Speed Rail Compact.

15100889D

S.B. 824

Patron: Miller

Bipartisan Virginia Redistricting Commission. Provides for a statewide referendum on the question of whether the General Assembly should adopt a resolution to propose an amendment to the Constitution of Virginia that would establish an independent redistricting commission to create and propose redistricting plans for House of Delegates, state Senate, and congressional districts. The results would be advisory only and are intended only to demonstrate the preference of the citizens of the Commonwealth on the manner in which electoral districts are created. The referendum would be held at the November 2015 general election.

A BILL to provide for a statewide advisory referendum relating to the establishment of an independent redistricting commission in Virginia.

15101029D

S.B. 840

Patron: Watkins

Congressional and state legislative districts. Provides criteria for the General Assembly to observe in drawing districts, including respect for political boundaries, equal population, racial and ethnic fairness, contiguity, compactness, and communities of interest. Use of political data or election results is prohibited unless necessary to determine if racial or ethnic minorities can elect candidates of their choice.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 24.2 a section numbered 24.2-304.04, relating to standards and criteria for congressional and state legislative districts.

15101549D

S.B. 847

Patron: Stanley

Interstate Transportation Compact. Creates the Interstate Transportation Compact to develop and plan interstate transportation projects, advocate for federal and other funding resources for such projects, and facilitate plans and programs for such projects between the signatory states. The bill establishes the Interstate Transportation Compact Commission, which shall include a five-member delegation from Virginia, meet at least twice annually, and annually report on its activities to the Governor and the legislature of each signatory state.

Such compact shall not become effective until enacted by at least one other signatory state.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 33.2 a chapter numbered 18.1, consisting of a section numbered 33.2-1830, relating to the Interstate Transportation Compact.

15101343D

S.B. 871

Patron: Cosgrove

Political campaign advertisements; yard signs. Includes yard signs in the definition of "print media" and defines yard signs to be those signs paid for or distributed by a candidate, campaign committee, or political committee to be placed on public or private property. The inclusion of yard signs in the definition of print media subjects yard signs to all current disclosure requirements for print media.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-955.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to political campaign advertisements; yard signs.

15101008D

S.B. 877

Patron: Cosgrove

Recognition of EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact. Creates the Recognition of Emergency Medical Services Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact to (i) protect the public through verification of competency and ensuring of accountability for patient-care-related activities of licensed emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, (ii) facilitate the day-to-day movement of EMS personnel across state boundaries in the performance of their EMS duties as assigned by an appropriate authority, and (iii) authorize state EMS offices to afford immediate legal recognition to EMS personnel licensed in a member state.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 32.1 a chapter numbered 17, consisting of a section numbered 32.1-370, relating to the Recognition of Emergency Medical Services Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact.

15102646D

S.B. 986

Patron: Garrett

Senate districts; adjustment. Changes district assignments of two census precincts in Louisa County. The bill moves Fredericks Hall from District 17 to District 22 and South Anna from District 22 to District 17. The population deviation for both districts remains under two percent.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 24.2-303.4, relating to technical adjustments of certain Senate district boundaries.

15102527D

S.B. 1000

Patron: Lewis

Redistricting process. Provides a new method for the preparation of state legislative and congressional redistricting plans; spells out standards for developing plans, including population equality, compactness, maintenance of cores of existing districts, and respect for locality boundaries; precludes consideration of incumbency and political data in developing plans; assigns responsibility to the Division of Legislative Services to prepare plans for submission to the General Assembly; and establishes a temporary redistricting advisory commission to advise the Division, disseminate information on plans, and hold hearings for public reaction to plans. The General Assembly may reject the Division's plans and may ultimately amend the plans. This bill is patterned after the Iowa redistricting process.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 3 of Title 24.2 an article numbered 1.1, consisting of sections numbered 24.2-301.2 through 24.2-301.7, relating to preparation of and standards for state legislative and congressional redistricting plans; establishment of a temporary redistricting advisory commission.

15101311D

S.B. 1060

Patron: Obenshain

Primary elections; voter registration by political party. Adds party affiliation to the information that an applicant is asked to provide when registering to vote. The applicant may indicate that he is an independent. The bill requires the State Board of Elections, in September 2015, to notify all registered voters of the new party registration law and send them a return card to indicate their party affiliation or independent status. Voters may change their party affiliation or independent status by written notice at any time before the registration records are closed in advance of an election. The bill (i) requires the state party chairman to notify the State Board by January 31 of each year whether the party will close or open its primaries, (ii) requires that primary candidate petitions be signed and witnessed by voters registered as affiliated with the party conducting the primary, (iii) sets the required number of petition signatures at one percent of the number of voters registered as affiliated with the party in the election district where the primary is being held, and (iv) allows an official political party to retain that status as long as at least 15 percent of the Commonwealth's registered voters are registered as affiliated with that party.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-101, 24.2-521, 24.2-530, and 24.2-535 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding sections numbered 24.2-418.01, 24.2-423.1, and 24.2-516.1, relating to voter registration by political party; primary elections.

15100743D

S.B. 1066

Patron: Obenshain

Ballots; single ballot used for concurrent elections. Provides that when a special election to fill a vacancy in an office has been called on the day of the general election at which that office is regularly scheduled to be filled, if the same candidates, including party nominees and independent candidates, have qualified to have their names printed on the ballots for the same office at the concurrently held general and special elections, then a single ballot shall be used. The bill provides that a candidate who has qualified to have his name printed on the ballot for the office at the general election is deemed to have qualified to have his name printed on the ballot for that same office at the concurrently held special election, provided he has filed a declaration of candidacy for that office at the special election. However, the bill allows such a candidate to opt out of being a candidate at the special election and allows persons who did not qualify to have their name printed on the ballot at the general election to seek to qualify for the special election. Additionally, the political parties have the right to nominate or to hold a primary to nominate a different candidate for the special election.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 24.2-613.1, relating to ballots; single ballot used for concurrent elections.

15100828D

S.B. 1084

Patron: Vogel

General Assembly districts; technical adjustments. Changes district assignments of certain Loudoun County census blocks between Senate Districts 13 and 33 and House of Delegates Districts 10, 32, 33, 67, and 87 in order to follow new precinct boundaries. Both Senate districts remain within two percent deviation and all House of Delegates districts remain within one percent deviation from the respective ideal district populations.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 24.2 sections numbered 24.2-303.4 and 24.2-304.04, relating to technical adjustments of certain General Assembly district boundaries.

15102010D

S.B. 1237

Patron: Reeves

Senate districts; adjustments. Changes district assignments of census blocks in Albemarle County between Districts 17 and 25 in order exchange two precincts and to reunite two split precincts. The district population deviations remain at less than two percent from the ideal district population.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 24.2-303.4, relating to technical adjustments of certain Senate district boundaries.

15103323D

S.B. 1255

Patron: Smith

Elections; method of nominating party candidates. Removes the power of incumbent officeholders in some cases to insist on a primary as the method of nominating political party candidates and removes the power of General Assembly incumbents seeking reelection to determine the method of nomination. The current power to determine the method of nominating party candidates to the duly constituted authorities of the political party remains.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-509 and 24.2-516 of the Code of Virginia, relating to elections; method of nominating party candidates; party primaries.

15102366D

S.B. 1302

Patron: Edwards

Campaign finance; campaign fundraising during special sessions prohibited. Prohibits campaign fundraising on and after the first day of a special session of the General Assembly through adjournment sine die of that session. Currently, campaign fundraising is prohibited only during regular sessions of the General Assembly.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-954 of the Code of Virginia, relating to campaign finance; campaign fundraising during special session prohibited.

15102119D

S.J.R. 215

Patron: Ebbin

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Governor's term of office. Permits a Governor first elected in 2017 and thereafter to succeed himself in office. The amendment allows two four-year terms (either in succession or not in succession) but prohibits election to a third term. Service for more than two years of a partial term counts as service for one term.

Proposing an amendment to Section 1 of Article V of the Constitution of Virginia, relating to executive power and the Governor's term of office.

15100406D

S.J.R. 217

Patron: Black

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, 2016, 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 amendment specifies that 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 that 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.

15101120D

S.J.R. 219

Patron: Cosgrove

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, 2016, 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 amendment specifies that 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 that 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.

15100987D

S.J.R. 224

Patron: Lucas

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Virginia Redistricting Commission; redistricting criteria and process. Establishes the Virginia Redistricting Commission that will conduct the decennial reapportionment of the election districts for the House of Representatives and the General Assembly, and establishes the criteria and process to be used for each decennial reapportionment.

Proposing an amendment to Section 6 of Article II of the Constitution of Virginia, relating to districts for the House of Representatives and General Assembly; district criteria; Virginia Redistricting Commission.

15102619D

S.J.R. 233

Patron: Howell

Constitutional amendment (first reference); congressional and state legislative districts. Provides criteria for the General Assembly to observe in drawing districts, including respect for existing political boundaries, equal population, racial and ethnic fairness, contiguity, compactness, and communities of interest. Use of political data or election results is prohibited unless necessary to determine if racial or ethnic minorities can elect candidates of their choice.

Proposing an amendment to Section 6 of Article II of the Constitution of Virginia, relating to districts for the House of Representatives and General Assembly; district criteria.

15102157D

S.J.R. 255

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, 2016, 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 amendment specifies that 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 that 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.

15100781D

S.J.R. 257

Patron: Vogel

Confirming Governor's appointments of certain persons. Confirms appointments of certain persons made by Governor McAuliffe and communicated to the General Assembly May 13, 2014.

Confirming appointments by the Governor of certain persons communicated May 13, 2014.

15100045D

S.J.R. 258

Patron: Vogel

Confirming Governor's appointments of certain persons. Confirms appointments of certain agency heads made by Governor McAuliffe and communicated to the General Assembly June 16, 2014.

Confirming appointments by the Governor of certain persons communicated June 16, 2014.

15100046D

S.J.R. 259

Patron: Vogel

Confirming Governor's interim appointments of certain persons. Confirms interim appointments of certain persons made by Governor McAuliffe and communicated to the General Assembly August 1 and 11, 2014.

Confirming appointments by the Governor of certain persons communicated August 1 and August 11, 2014.

15100331D

S.J.R. 260

Patron: Vogel

Confirming Governor's interim appointments of certain persons. Confirms interim appointments of certain persons made by Governor McAuliffe and communicated to the General Assembly October 1, 2014.

Confirming appointments by the Governor of certain persons communicated October 1, 2014.

15100552D

S.J.R. 261

Patron: Vogel

Confirming Governor's appointments of certain persons. Confirms appointments of certain persons made by Governor McAuliffe and communicated to the General Assembly on December 1, 2014.

Confirming appointments by the Governor of certain persons communicated December 1, 2014.

15101521D

S.J.R. 263

Patron: Garrett

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Governor's term of office. Permits a Governor elected in 2017 and thereafter to succeed himself in office. The amendment allows two four-year terms (either in succession or not in succession) but prohibits election to a third term. Service for more than two years of a partial term counts as service for one term.

Proposing an amendment to Section 1 of Article V of the Constitution of Virginia, relating to executive power and the Governor's term of office.

15102537D

S.J.R. 264

Patron: Garrett

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); right to acquire farm-produced food. Provides that people have the right to acquire, for their own consumption, farm-produced food directly at the farm with agreement from the farmer who produced it.

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Virginia by adding in Article I a section numbered 16-A, relating to the right to acquire farm-produced food.

15100961D

S.J.R. 284

Patron: Vogel

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Virginia Redistricting Commission. Establishes the Virginia Redistricting Commission to redraw congressional and General Assembly district boundaries after each decennial census. Appointments to the 13-member Commission are to be made in the census year as follows: two each by the President pro tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, the minority leader in each house, and the state chairman of each of the two political parties receiving the most votes in the prior gubernatorial election. The 12 partisan members then select the thirteenth member by a majority vote or, if they cannot agree on a selection, certify the two names receiving the most votes to the Supreme Court of Virginia, which names the thirteenth member. The Commission is directed to certify district plans for the General Assembly within one month of receipt of the new census data or by April 1 of the year following the census, whichever is later, and for the House of Representatives within three months of receipt of the census data or by June 1 of the year following the census, whichever is later. The standards to govern redistricting plans include the current constitutional standards on population equality, compactness, and contiguity and additional standards to minimize splits of localities and to prohibit consideration of incumbency and political data.

Proposing an amendment to Section 6 of Article II of the Constitution of Virginia, relating to districts for the House of Representatives and General Assembly; criteria for redistricting; and the establishment of the Virginia Redistricting Commission.

15100750D