GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto Senate Bill 1047. This bill requires individuals who are required to register on the Sex Offenders and Crimes Against Minors Registry to report their status to security staff at an emergency shelter or they will be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. Additionally, this bill allows the shelter to temporarily deny such individuals entry into an emergency shelter.

Emergency shelters are only opened when circumstances in our communities are dire and Virginians are no longer able to remain safely in their own homes. Most often, shelters are put in place during severe weather events, including during hurricanes. During these dangerous storms, we can face extremely high winds, storm surges, and flash flooding. All of these events can result in serious injury or death. Allowing shelters to turn people away, even on a temporary basis, is unconscionable and could lead to serious injuries or fatalities.

I proposed amendments during the reconvened session that would appropriately balance public safety concerns by ensuring that individuals required to register report their status to security staff, and also required agencies responsible for sheltering to develop plans to accommodate safely all members of our communities if an emergency arises. While those amendments were rejected, I will be directing the Department of Social Services to update their plans accordingly and encourage localities to do the same. The underlying bill would have had significant and unacceptable public safety consequences.

Accordingly, I veto this bill.

GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION

1. Line 3, enrolled, Title, after registration

strike

; penalty

2. Line 8, enrolled, after registration

strike

; penalty

3. Line 14, enrolled

strike

all of line 14

4. Line 15, enrolled, after B.

strike

the remainder of line 15 and all of lines 16 through 21

insert

The state emergency operations plan developed pursuant to § 44-146.18 and each local or interjurisdictional emergency operations plan developed pursuant to § 44-146.19 shall (i) set forth the procedures for persons required to register or reregister who enter an emergency shelter to provide the notification required pursuant to subsection A and (ii) provide for the accommodation in an emergency shelter of persons required to register or reregister with due regard to the health and safety of all persons in the emergency shelter.