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2024 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services

Chair: Barbara A. Favola

Clerk: Gillian Conway, A. Chapman
Staff: David May
Date of Meeting: February 2, 2024
Time and Place: 8:00 a.m. Senate Room A, General Assembly Building
https://virginia-senate.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3

S.B. 80

Patron: Favola

Prisoner reentry; Department of Corrections. Requires the Department of Corrections to develop and implement a certificate of rehabilitation program for the purposes of assisting an inmate's successful transition from prison to society upon the person's discharge. The bill provides that no person who is awarded a certificate of rehabilitation shall have such person's criminal history constitute a barrier to employment.

The bill also provides that no person shall be refused a license, certificate, or registration to practice, pursue, or engage in any regulated occupation or profession within the Department of Health Professions solely because of a prior criminal conviction, unless the criminal conviction directly relates to the occupation or profession for which the license, certificate, or registration is sought.

The bill also establishes criteria for which a court must reduce a defendant's probation period, including completing qualifying educational activities, maintaining verifiable employment, and completing a mental health or substance abuse treatment program. The bill also provides that a court may decrease a defendant's probation period if warranted by the defendant's conduct and in the interests of justice and may do so without a hearing.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 19.2-304, 53.1-32.2, and 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 54.1-2409.01, relating to prisoner reentry; Department of Corrections.

24104289D

S.B. 391

Patron: Pekarsky

Employee protections; medicinal use of cannabis oil. Amends the provision that prohibits an employer from discriminating against an employee for such employee's lawful use of cannabis oil pursuant to a valid written certification issued by a practitioner for the treatment or to eliminate the symptoms of the employee's diagnosed condition or disease, with certain exceptions, by specifying that such use must conform to the laws of the Commonwealth and by excluding the employees of the Commonwealth and other public bodies from such protections.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 40.1-27.4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to employee protections; medicinal use of cannabis oil.

24103734D

S.B. 417

Patron: Head

Adult protective services; central registry. Creates a central registry of substantiated complaints of adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation to be maintained by the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services. The bill establishes (i) investigation requirements for local departments of social services related to reports of adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation; (ii) record retention and disclosure requirements for the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services and local departments of social services; (iii) notice requirements related to findings by local departments and central registry entries; and (iv) an appeals process to contest the findings of a local department related to substantiated reports of adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation. The bill directs the Commissioner for Aging and Rehabilitative Services to adopt regulations to implement the provisions of the bill and exempts the Commissioner's initial adoption of such regulations from the provisions of the Administrative Process Act. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-3802, 51.5-148, 63.2-1605, and 63.2-1606 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 5 of Chapter 14 of Title 51.5 sections numbered 51.5-148.1 and 51.5-148.2 and by adding sections numbered 63.2-1605.1, 63.2-1605.2, and 63.2-1605.3, relating to adult protective services; central registry.

24104879D

S.B. 449

Patron: Marsden

Juvenile parole; juvenile correctional centers. Provides that any person sentenced to a term of life imprisonment or who has a cumulative term of active sentences that total more than 20 years, regardless of whether such sentences were imposed during a single sentencing hearing or multiple sentencing hearings, for a single felony offense or multiple felony offenses committed while that person was a juvenile and who has served at least 20 consecutive years of incarceration, including any period of commitment in a juvenile correctional center, shall be eligible for parole. Under current law, any period of commitment in a juvenile correctional center for any sentences for such juvenile offender is not considered as a portion of the minimum of 20 years of incarceration served in order for such offender to be eligible for parole.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 53.1-165.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to juvenile parole; juvenile correctional centers.

24101334D

S.B. 626

Patron: Pillion

Barrier crimes; adult substance abuse and mental health services; exception. Permits the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, providers of substance abuse or mental health services to adults, and community service boards and behavioral health authorities to hire applicants convicted of certain barrier crimes of misdemeanor assault and battery or involving controlled substances without additional screening or other requirements, provided that such conviction occurred more than five years prior to the application date for employment.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 37.2-314, 37.2-416.1, and 37.2-506.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to barrier crimes; adult substance abuse and mental health services; exception.

24103351D

S.B. 676

Patron: Ebbin

Department of Medical Assistance Services; certain waivers for services to individuals with developmental disabilities; financial eligibility. Requires the Department of Medical Assistance Services to amend the financial eligibility standards for certain waivers providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities so that Social Security Disability Insurance income is disregarded by the Department when calculating such individuals' financial eligibility for such waivers.

A BILL to require the Department of Medical Assistances Services to amend the financial eligibility standards for certain waivers providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities.

24105190D

S.B. 683

Patron: McDougle

Family and Children's Trust Fund; membership; powers and duties; counsel. Modifies the membership provisions of the Board of Trustees of the Family and Children's Trust Fund by (i) designating the Commissioner of Social Services or his designee as an ex officio member with nonvoting privileges, (ii) allowing Board members to be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, and (iii) providing that the remainder of any term to which a member is appointed to fill a vacancy other than by expiration of term shall not constitute a term in determining the member's eligibility for reappointment with respect to the prohibition on members serving more than two successive terms. Under current law, the Commissioner is designated as a permanent member of the Board. The bill authorizes the Board to establish a nonprofit organization to assist in the details of administering its affairs and in raising funds and provides that legal services for the Board shall be provided by the Attorney General.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 63.2-2101, 63.2-2102, and 63.2-2103 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Family and Children's Trust Fund; membership; powers and duties; counsel.

24104096D

S.B. 719

Patron: Bagby


Restorative housing and isolated confinement; restrictions on use. Prohibits the use of isolated confinement, defined in the bill, in state correctional facilities, subject to certain exceptions. The bill requires that before placing an incarcerated person in restorative housing or isolated confinement for his own protection, the facility administrator shall place an incarcerated person in a less restrictive setting, including by transferring such person to another institution or to a special-purpose housing unit for incarcerated persons who face similar threats. The bill requires that if an incarcerated person is placed in restorative housing or isolated confinement, such placement shall be reviewed every 48 hours and the facility administrator shall ensure that the incarcerated person receives a medical and mental health evaluation from certified medical and mental health professionals within one working day of placement in restorative housing or any form of isolated confinement. The bill also requires the facility administrator to notify the regional administrator in writing that an incarcerated person was placed in restorative housing or isolated confinement within 24 hours of such placement. The bill also requires that formal reviews of an incarcerated person's placement in any form of isolated confinement shall be held in such person's presence, inform him of any reason or reasons administrative officials believe isolated confinement remains necessary, and give the incarcerated person an opportunity to respond to those reasons, and a formal ruling shall be provided to the incarcerated individual within 24 hours.

 

A BILL to amend and reenact § 53.1-39.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to restorative housing and isolated confinement; restrictions on use.

24105143D

S.B. 724

Patron: Stanley

Alcoholic beverage control; annual mixed beverage performing arts facility license. Allows the Board of Directors of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to issue an annual mixed beverage performing arts facility license to persons operating food concessions at any outdoor performing arts amphitheater, arena, or similar facility that has seating or capacity for more than 5,000 persons and is located in Floyd County.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 4.1-206.3, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to alcoholic beverage control; annual mixed beverage performing arts facility license.

24104555D