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2016 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Rules

Chairman: Ryan T. McDougle

Clerk: Hobie Lehman
Staff: Cheryl Jackson, Brenda Edwards
Date of Meeting: February 11, 2016
Time and Place: 1/2 Hour After Adjournment / SR B

S.B. 13

Patron: Garrett

Prohibited conduct by legislators; retaliation. Prohibits a member of the General Assembly from using his public position to retaliate or threaten retaliation against any person for expressing views on matters of public concern or for exercising any right that is protected by law.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 30-103 of the Code of Virginia, relating to prohibited conduct by legislators; retaliation.

16100521D

S.B. 14

Patron: Garrett

General Assembly; testimony under oath before committee or subcommittee. Authorizes the chairman or at least one-third of the total membership of a committee or subcommittee to request any person addressing the committee or subcommittee to take an oath to testify truthfully. The bill provides that any person who takes the oath and then knowingly makes a false statement to the committee or subcommittee is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 30-11 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 30-10.1, relating to the General Assembly; testimony under oath before committee or subcommittee.

16100524D

S.B. 213

Patron: Black

State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act, the General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act, and the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council; food and beverages exempt from definition of gift. Exempts food and beverages from the definition of a gift for purposes of the gift cap and disclosure.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-419, 2.2-426, 2.2-3101, 2.2-3103.1, 2.2-3117, 30-101, 30-103.1, 30-111, and 30-356.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act, the General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act, and the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council; food and beverages exempt from definition of gift.

16100211D

S.B. 288

Patron: DeSteph

State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act; advisory opinions for local officers and employees. Removes the provision that allows a county, city, or town attorney to issue to a local officer or employee an advisory opinion that would shield that officer or employee from future prosecution for knowing violations of the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act. An advisory opinion issued by the attorney for the Commonwealth or the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council will still shield the officer or employee from such prosecution. The bill provides that an advisory opinion issued to a local officer or employee by his county, city, or town attorney may be introduced at a trial for a knowing violation as evidence that he did not knowingly violate the Act.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-3121 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act; advisory opinions for local officers or employees.

16101519D

S.B. 304

Patron: Ebbin

General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act; orientation session on ethics and conflicts; length of time of refresher session. Removes the requirement that the refresher session on ethics and conflicts of interest last at least two hours.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 30-129.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act; orientation session on ethics and conflicts; length of time of refresher session.

16102236D

S.B. 485

Patron: DeSteph

False statements to members of the General Assembly; state employees and appointees. Provides that any state employee or person serving in an appointed position who knowingly and willfully makes any materially false statement or representation to a member of the General Assembly who is in the course of conducting an inquiry or investigation in his official capacity or on behalf of any committee or subcommittee of the Senate or House of Delegates is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill defines "state employee" and "appointed position."

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-502.3, relating to false statements to members of the General Assembly; state employees and persons serving in appointed positions.

16103957D

S.B. 539

Patron: Surovell

State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act; members of local electoral boards and general registrars required to file semiannual disclosure. Requires the members of local electoral boards and general registrars to file, as a condition of assuming office or employment and semiannually thereafter, the statement of economic interests disclosure prescribed by § 2.2-3117.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-3115 of the Code of Virginia, relating to State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act; members of local electoral boards and general registrars  required to file semiannual disclosure.

16103157D

S.B. 652

Patron: Lewis

State and Local Government Conflict of Interest Act; prohibited contracts; exceptions for certain contracts entered into by an officer or employee of a soil and water conservation district. Provides an exception to the prohibition against officers and employees having contracts with their employing agencies for contracts by an officer or employee of a soil and water conservation district to participate in the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program. The exception does not apply to subcontracts or other agreements entered into to provide services for implementation of a cost-share contract established under the Program. Under the bill, the exception applies to contracts entered into prior to July 1, 2016.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-3110 of the Code of Virginia, relating to State and Local Government Conflict of Interest Act; prohibited contracts; exceptions for certain contracts entered into by an officer or employee of a soil and water conservation district.

16104370D

S.B. 657

Patron: Newman

Lobbyist reporting; disclosure of certain persons attending entertainment events prohibited. Prohibits the name of a legislative or executive official, or a member of his immediate family, who attends a reportable entertainment event from being disclosed by the principal if that legislative or executive official reimburses the principal for, or otherwise pays for, his attendance, or the attendance of a member of his immediate family, at the entertainment event. Reimbursement shall be calculated using the average value for each person attending the event.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-426 of the Code of Virginia, relating to lobbyist reporting; disclosure not required of certain persons attending entertainment events.

16104081D

S.B. 692

Patron: Norment

Lobbyist reporting, the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act, and the General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act; annual filing of required disclosures; separate report of gifts. Requires the disclosure forms filed by lobbyists and persons subject to the conflict of interests acts to be filed annually. Lobbyists are required to file by July 1 for the preceding 12-month period complete through the last day of April. Persons subject to the conflict of interests acts are required to file on or before January 15. The bill contains technical amendments to reflect the change in filing cycles. The bill also requires the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, members of the Governor's Cabinet, and members of the General Assembly to file on or before May 1 a separate report of gifts received during the regular session of the General Assembly.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-426, 2.2-3106, 2.2-3109.1, 2.2-3114, 2.2-3115, 2.2-3116, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, 2.2-3117, 30-110, and 30-111 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding sections numbered 2.2-3114.2 and 30-110.1, relating to lobbyist reporting, the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act, and the General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act; annual filing of required disclosures; separate report of gifts.

16104228D

S.B. 708

Patron: Hanger

State and Local Government Conflict of Interest Act; prohibited contracts; exceptions for certain contracts entered into by an officer or employee of a soil and water conservation district. Provides an exception to the prohibition against officers and employees having contracts with their employing agencies for contracts by an officer or employee of a soil and water conservation district to participate in the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program. The exception does not apply to subcontracts or other agreements entered into to provide services for implementation of a cost-share contract established under the Program. Under the bill, the exception applies to contracts entered into prior to July 1, 2016.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-3110 of the Code of Virginia, relating to State and Local Government Conflict of Interest Act; prohibited contracts; exceptions for certain contracts entered into by an officer or employee of a soil and water conservation district.

16103755D

S.B. 738

Patron: Norment

Lobbyist reporting, State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act, and General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act; definition of gift. Exempts gifts with a value of less than $20 from the definition of gift.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-419, 2.2-3101, 2.2-3117, 30-101, and 30-111 of the Code of Virginia, relating to lobbyist reporting, State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act, and General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act; definition of gift.

16104227D

S.J.R. 24

Patron: Edwards

Human trafficking of minors. Establishes a work group to study safe harbor policy for minor victims of human trafficking.

Establishing a work group to study safe harbor policy for minor victims of human trafficking. Report.

16101780D

S.J.R. 33

Patron: McEachin

Commending the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Commending the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

16101963D

S.J.R. 62

Patron: Vogel

Wear Red Day. Designates the first Friday in February, in 2017 and in each succeeding year, as Wear Red Day in Virginia.

Designating the first Friday in February, in 2017 and in each succeeding year, as Wear Red Day in Virginia.

16101797D

S.J.R. 63

Patron: Hanger

Study; Department of Social Services; child day programs exempt from licensure; report. Requests the Department of Social Services to (i) review all categories of child day programs exempt from licensure under § 63.2-1715, (ii) formulate recommendations regarding whether such programs should remain exempt from licensure or whether any modifications are necessary to protect the health and well-being of the children receiving care in such programs, and (iii) consult with all relevant stakeholders.

Requesting the Department of Social Services to study child day programs exempt from licensure. Report.

16102039D

S.J.R. 84

Patron: Surovell

Study; Department of Rail and Public Transportation; improved transportation services; report. Requests that the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (the Department) evaluate the level of study necessary to identify and advance potential public transportation services from the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station to Marine Corps Base Quantico in Prince William and Stafford Counties, including the feasibility of extending the Blue Line and other multimodal options such as bus rapid transit along Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1. Following the evaluation, the Department shall proceed to the recommended level of study for improved public transportation services along the U.S. Route 1 corridor. The Department shall report on its findings and recommendations on the first day of the 2017 and 2018 Regular Sessions of the General Assembly.

Requesting the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to evaluate the level of study necessary to identify and advance potential public transportation services from the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station to Marine Corps Base Quantico in Prince William and Stafford Counties, including the feasibility of extending the Blue Line and other multimodal options such as bus rapid transit along Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1, and to study accordingly. Report.

16102006D

S.J.R. 86

Patron: Edwards

Study; SCHEV; Pay It Forward, Pay It Back; report. Directs the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to study the feasibility of implementing a "Pay It Forward, Pay It Back" higher education tuition financing model to increase access to educational opportunities and to decrease the debt burden on students in the Commonwealth.

Requesting the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to study the feasibility of implementing a "Pay It Forward, Pay It Back" higher education tuition financing model to increase access to educational opportunities and to decrease the debt burden on students in the Commonwealth. Report.

16101845D