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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.
2016 SESSION
Chairman: Ryan T. McDougle
Clerk: Hobie Lehman
Staff: Cheryl Jackson, Brenda Edwards
Date of Meeting: March 4, 2016
Time and Place: 8:30 AM, Senate Room A
Updated to add SR 64 and SJR 188
Patron: Krizek
Special days; Indigenous Peoples Day. Designates
Indigenous Peoples Day to be observed on the third Wednesday in November
in each year as a special day to honor the great leaders of indigenous peoples who contributed to the history of the Commonwealth.
16104770D
Patron: Lingamfelter
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.16100860D
Patron: Miyares
Commission on Economic Opportunity for Virginians in Aspiring and Diverse Communities; report. Establishes, a 12-member legislative Commission on Economic Opportunity for Virginians in Aspiring and Diverse Communities (the Commission) to determine the need for and ways to achieve economic opportunities for members of aspiring and diverse communities in Virginia. The bill provides that the Commission sunsets on July 1, 2019.
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 30 a chapter numbered 58, consisting of sections numbered 30-362 through 30-370, relating to the Commission on Economic Opportunity for Virginians in Aspiring and Diverse Communities; report.16101579D
Patron: LeMunyon
Standards of Learning Innovation Committee; review of standardized testing in public high schools in the Commonwealth; report. Requires the Standards of Learning Innovation Committee to review and, no later than November 1, 2016, make recommendations to the General Assembly on the number, subjects, and question composition of standardized tests administered to public high school students in the Commonwealth.
A BILL to require the Standards of Learning Innovation Committee to review and make recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health on standardized testing in public high schools in the Commonwealth; report.16100788D
Patron: Howell
Commission on Employee Retirement Security and Pension Reform established. Creates the Commission on Employee Retirement Security and Pension Reform in the legislative branch to study and make recommendations relating to the financial soundness of retirement plans covering state and local government employees; the suitability of retirement plans offered or maintained for current state and local government employees and the attributes of retirement plans that will be suitable for future employees; the impact on state and local governments of the anticipated retirement of experienced employees between 2016 and 2026 and strategies for replacing such employees; and the elements of compensation and benefits packages that are essential to attracting and retaining a highly productive state and local government workforce.
The Commission will be composed of 10 legislative members, eight nonlegislative citizen members, and two state officials. Legislative members from the House of Delegates will include the Speaker of the House of Delegates, the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, and three members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates. Legislative members from the Senate will include the Majority Leader of the Senate, any Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance who is not the Majority Leader of the Senate, and two members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. Five nonlegislative citizen members will be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, one of whom will be appointed from a list of five nominees jointly submitted by the Virginia Association of Counties and the Virginia Municipal League, one of whom will be appointed from a list of three nominees submitted by the Virginia Governmental Employees Association, and one of whom will be appointed from a list of three nominees submitted by the Virginia Education Association. The Senate Committee on Rules will appoint three nonlegislative citizen members, one of whom will be appointed from a list of five nominees jointly submitted by the Virginia Sheriff's Association and the Virginia State Police Association. The Directors of the Department of Human Resource Management and the Virginia Retirement System will serve on the Commission ex officio with nonvoting privileges. All other Commission members will have voting privileges. General Assembly members and the Directors of the Department of Human Resource Management and the Virginia Retirement System will serve terms coincident with their terms of office. Nonlegislative citizen members will serve a five-year term. Any vacancy will be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
The Commission will initially focus on the financial soundness of retirement plans covering state and local government employees and strategies for reducing unfunded liabilities under such plans. The Commission is authorized to employ actuaries and other experts, conduct statistical analyses, engage in financial modeling, and undertake such other activities as are consistent with its duties. The costs for such actuaries, experts, statistical analyses, and financial models utilized to study retirement plans, retirement options, and other retirement matters on behalf of state and local employees participating in the Virginia Retirement System will be paid by the Virginia Retirement System. The costs for any non-retirement analysis or consultation will not be paid from funds of the Virginia Retirement System.
The Department of Human Resource Management will provide staff support to the Commission. Technical assistance will be provided by the staff of the Virginia Retirement System, the Committee on House Appropriations, the Committee on Senate Finance, and the Division of Legislative Services.
The bill provides for the Commission's work to end on July 1, 2021.
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 30 a chapter numbered 58, consisting of sections numbered 30-362 through 30-366, relating to the creation of the Commission on Employee Retirement Security and Pension Reform.16105503D
Patron: Gilbert
State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act; required filings for multiple positions or offices. Provides that the filing of a single current statement of economic interests by an individual required to file such form shall satisfy the filing requirement for all positions or offices held or sought by such individual during a single reporting period. Additionally, the filing of a single current financial disclosure statement by an individual required to file such form shall satisfy the filing requirement for all positions or offices held or sought by such individual. Currently, this exemption for duplicative filing applies only to state officers and employees holding or seeking multiple state positions or offices.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-3118.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act; required filings for multiple positions or offices.16101930D
Patron: Peace
Secretary of the Commonwealth; powers and duties; creation of a Virginia Indian advisory board. Authorizes the Secretary of the Commonwealth to establish a Virginia Indian advisory board to assist the Secretary in reviewing applications seeking recognition as a Virginia Indian tribe and to make recommendations to the Secretary, the Governor, and the General Assembly on such applications and other matters relating to recognition. The bill sets out the membership and powers and duties of any Virginia Indian advisory board established by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-401.01 of the Code of Virginia, relating to powers and duties of the Secretary of the Commonwealth; creation of a Virginia Indian advisory board.16105296D
Patron: McClellan
Lobbyist disclosure; definition of gift; technical amendment. Clarifies that gifts to certain members of an individual's family are not considered gifts. Currently, the definition of gift says that gifts from certain members of an individual's family are not considered gifts.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-419 of the Code of Virginia, relating to lobbyist disclosure; definition of gift; technical amendment.16102553D
Patron: McClellan
Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council; public access to requests for opinions and related records. Provides that records relating to formal advisory opinions or informal advice of the Council or its designee, including records of requests, notes, correspondence, and draft versions of such opinions or advice shall be confidential and excluded from the mandatory disclosure provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The bill contains an emergency clause.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 30-356 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council; public access to requests for opinions and related records.16100707D
EMERGENCY
Patron: McClellan
Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council; extension of deadlines. Entitles any person required to file the required disclosures an extension of the filing deadlines where good cause for granting an extension has been shown, as determined by the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council. Good cause includes (i) the death of a relative of the filer; (ii) a state of emergency is declared that affects the area of the filer; (iii) a filer who is a member of a uniformed service is on active duty on the date of the filing deadline; or (iv) the electronic filing system fails and prevents timely filing. The bill contains an emergency clause.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 30-356 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 30-356.2, relating to the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council; authority to grant extensions of filing deadlines.16100705D
EMERGENCY
Patron: McClellan
State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act and General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act; prohibited gifts; technical amendment. Clarifies that for purposes of the gift limitations, gifts shall be aggregated by reporting year, defined as the period beginning November 1 and ending October 31. Current law requires aggregation of gifts by calendar year.
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-3103.1 and 30-103.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act and General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act; prohibited gifts; technical amendment.16102562D
Patron: Gilbert
Lobbyist disclosure; definition of procurement transaction. Provides that for purposes of the laws governing lobbyists and lobbyist disclosure, the definition of procurement transaction is limited to those in which the stated or expected value of the contract is equal $5 million or more. The bill contains an emergency clause.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-419 of the Code of Virginia, relating to lobbyist disclosure; definition of procurement transaction.16100708D
EMERGENCY
Patron: Gilbert
Lobbyist disclosure; filing and inspection; technical amendment. Clarifies that lobbying disclosure reports are filed with the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council and are open to public inspection and copying in the office of the Council. Currently, language still provides for filing and inspection of such reports with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-427 of the Code of Virginia, relating to lobbyist disclosures; filings and inspection; technical amendment.16102556D
Patron: Gilbert
Candidates; filing of statements of economic interests. Clarifies that candidates for statewide office, the General Assembly, and constitutional office are required to file a statement of economic interests with the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council. The bill also requires the Council to transmit certain information related to such candidates to the State Board of Elections and updates language to reflect the change from annual to semiannual disclosures.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-502 of the Code of Virginia, relating to candidates; filing of statements of economic interests.16102571D
Patron: Gilbert
State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act and General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act; definition of gift. Clarifies that travel provided to facilitate attendance by a legislator at certain meetings where attendance is approved by the House or Senate Committee on Rules or the Chairman of either committee is not a gift. Currently, such travel is deemed not a gift only when approved by the House or Senate Committee on Rules.
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-419, 2.2-3101, 2.2-3117, 30-101, 30-111, and 30-356.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act and General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act; definition of gift.16102587D
Patron: Gilbert
Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council; required information on disclosure forms. Removes from the Code the formatted forms of the lobbyist disclosure statement, the Statement of Economic Interests for state and local government officers and employees and members of the General Assembly, and the financial interests form for citizen members of certain governmental boards, commissions, and councils. The Council is required to prescribe the forms to be used to comply with disclosure requirements. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2017.
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-426, 2.2-3114, 2.2-3115 through 2.2-3118, 30-110, 30-111, and 30-356 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council; prescribing forms to be used for mandated disclosure.16101366D
Patron: Bell, Robert B.
Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission; heroin. Requests the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission to evaluate judge-sentencing and jury-sentencing patterns and practices in cases of manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute heroin across the Commonwealth and recommend adjustments in the sentencing guidelines previously adopted by the Commission.
A BILL to direct the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission to study the sentencing guidelines for heroin possession.16105499D
Patron: Gilbert
Lobbyist reporting; disclosure of certain persons attending entertainment events not required. Provides that a principal is not required to disclose the name of a legislative or executive official, or a member of his immediate family, who attends a reportable entertainment event 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. The bill contains an emergency clause.
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.16104044D
EMERGENCY
Patron: Gilbert
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 period beginning January 1 through adjournment sine die of 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.16105218D
Patron: Lingamfelter
U.S. Constitution; application for a convention of the states. Makes application to Congress to call a convention of the states to propose amendments to the United States Constitution to restrain the abuse of power by the federal government.
Applying to the Congress of the United States to call an amendment convention of the states pursuant to Article V of the United States Constitution limited to proposing amendments to the United States Constitution that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress.16100011D
Patron: LeMunyon
United States Constitution; amendment. Makes application to the United States Congress to call a constitutional convention for the purpose of proposing an amendment to the United States Constitution that pertains to the subject of balancing the federal budget.
Applying to the Congress of the United States to call an amendment convention pursuant to Article V of the United States Constitution for the purpose of proposing an amendment to the United States Constitution that pertains to the subject of balancing the federal budget.16100175D
Patron: Miyares
Resolution; condemnation of the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement. Expresses the sense of the General Assembly in the condemnation of the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement.
Expressing the sense of the General Assembly in condemning the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement and its activities in Virginia as its agenda is inherently antithetical and deeply damaging to the cause of peace, justice, equality, democracy, and human rights for all peoples in the Middle East.16104165D
Patron: Cox
Commending Capitol Square.
Commending Capitol Square.16103960D
Patron: McDougle
Appointments by the Senate Committee on Rules. Confirms appointments to the Board of Directors of the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority and the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council.
Confirming appointments by the Senate Committee on Rules.16103782D
Patron: McDougle
Senate Ethics Advisory Panel; nominations. Confirms nominations to the Senate Ethics Advisory Panel made by the Senate Committee on Rules.
Confirming nominations by the Senate Committee on Rules.16105784D