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2019 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Finance

Co-Chair: Thomas K. Norment, Jr. - Co-Chair: Emmett W. Hanger, Jr.

Clerk: John Garrett
Staff: Lisa Wallmeyer
Date of Meeting: January 23, 2019
Time and Place: 9:00 a.m. - Committee Room B, Pocahontas Bldg.

S.B. 1000 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Scholarship Pilot Program; VCCS to establish and administer.

Patron: Stanley

Virginia Community College System; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Scholarship Pilot Program. Directs the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) to establish and administer a two-year Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Scholarship Pilot Program (the Program), beginning in 2019, for the purpose of providing access to postsecondary educational opportunities to students living in poverty. The Program would provide scholarships to select comprehensive community colleges in the maximum amount of $4,000 per year to 200 selected students who meet TANF eligibility requirements. The Program would be funded by the unexpended balance in federal TANF block grant funds. The bill directs VCCS to report to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than December 1 of each year of the Program regarding the effectiveness of and other information about the Program.

A BILL to direct the Virginia Community College System to establish the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Scholarship Pilot Program.

19100088D

S.B. 1018 Voters; review of assignments in districts throughout the Commonwealth.

Patron: Chase

Review of voter assignments in districts throughout the Commonwealth. Directs each county, city, and town to review the assignment of voters within its jurisdiction to ensure that voters are assigned to the correct districts. The electoral board and general registrar of each county, city, or town shall conduct this review by comparing the information in the voter registration system with the boundaries of the districts and precincts set out in a Geographic Information System (GIS) map of the locality and shall make corrections to incorrect assignments as necessary, assisted by the State Board of Elections upon request. The bill requires this review to be completed not later than the 2019 November general election. After the conclusion of its review and after making any necessary corrections, each locality is required to submit to the State Board a report of the results of its review and any corrections to voter assignments that were made. The bill requires the State Board of Elections to report the statewide results to the General Assembly on or before the first day of the 2020 Session.

A BILL to direct a review of the district assignment of voters throughout the Commonwealth.

19100071D

S.B. 1038 Voter registration; verification of social security numbers, provisional registration status.

Patron: Peake


Voter registration; verification of social security numbers; provisional registration status. Requires the general registrars to verify that the name, date of birth, and social security number provided by an applicant on the voter registration application match the information on file in the Social Security Administration database or other database approved by the State Board of Elections (State Board) before registering such applicant. If the information provided by the applicant does not match the information in such a database, the applicant (i) is provisionally registered to vote and notified as to what steps are needed to be fully registered to vote and (ii) is permitted to vote by provisional ballot, but such ballot shall not be counted until the voter presents certain information. The bill also requires the general registrars to verify annually no later than August 1 that the name, date of birth, and social security number in the registration record of each registered voter in the registrar's jurisdiction match the information on file with the Social Security Administration or other database approved by the State Board and, in accordance with current law, to initiate the cancellation of the registration of any voter whose registration record information does not match the database information. The State Board is authorized to approve the use of any government database to the extent required to enable each general registrar to carry out the provisions of this measure and to promulgate rules for the use of such database. The Department of Elections is required to provide to the general registrars access to the Social Security Administration database and any other database approved by the State Board. The Department of Elections is further required to enter into any agreement with any federal or state agency to facilitate such access.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-653 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding sections numbered 24.2-418.01 and 24.2-653.2, relating to voter registration; verification of social security numbers; provisional registration status.

19100267D

S.B. 1091 Solar photovoltaic systems; bonding requirement, property tax exemption.

Patron: Reeves

Property tax exemption for solar photovoltaic systems; bonding requirement; regulations. Requires an owner or operator of solar photovoltaic systems and related equipment to submit a performance and reclamation bond to the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (the Department) in order to qualify for a property tax exemption. The bill also requires the Department to promulgate regulations requiring all such owners and operators to submit decommissioning and site reclamation plans.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 58.1-3660 of the Code of Virginia, relating to property tax exemption for solar photovoltaic systems; bonding requirement; regulations.

19100804D

S.B. 1127 Local government taxing authority; equalizes municipal and county taxing authorities.

Patron: Favola

Local government taxing authority. Equalizes municipal taxing authority and county taxing authority by granting a county the same authority available to a municipality through the uniform charter powers. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2020, prior to which the Division of Legislative Services is directed to convene a working group to develop recommendations as to what additional legislative changes are needed to effectuate the provisions of the bill.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 15.2-204 and 15.2-1200 of the Code of Virginia, relating to local government taxing authority.

19103307D

S.B. 1158 Carrying a concealed handgun; permit not required.

Patron: Black

Concealed handgun permits. Allows any person who is otherwise eligible to obtain a resident concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed handgun without a permit anywhere he may lawfully carry a handgun openly within the Commonwealth.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-308 of the Code of Virginia, relating to carrying a concealed handgun; permit not required.

19101577D

S.B. 1173 Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program; eligibility.

Patron: McPike

Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program; eligibility. Expands the definition of "Qualified survivors and dependents" eligible for benefits of the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program to the spouse or child of all veterans who served in the Armed Forces of the United States, Reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States, or the Virginia National Guard with at least a 90 percent permanent, service-related disability. Under current law, the spouse or child would be eligible for benefits only if the veteran's disability was incurred during military operations against terrorism, on a peacekeeping mission, as a result of a terrorist act, or in any armed conflict.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 23.1-608 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program; eligibility.

19101602D

S.B. 1196 Real property tax; exemption for the elderly and disabled, improvements to a dwelling.

Patron: Dance

Real property tax exemption for the elderly and disabled; improvements to a dwelling. Provides that, for purposes of the real property tax exemption for the elderly and disabled, certain improvements to exempt land and the land such improvements are situated on shall be included as part of the dwelling and exempt from tax.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 58.1-3210 of the Code of Virginia, relating to real property tax exemption for the elderly and disabled; improvements to a dwelling.

19102877D

S.B. 1205 Income tax, state; changes definition of resident estate or trust.

Patron: Stuart

Income tax; definition of resident estate or trust. For income tax purposes, changes the definition of "resident estate or trust" to no longer include an estate or trust which is being administered in the Commonwealth.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 58.1-302 of the Code of Virginia, relating to income tax; definition of resident estate or trust.

19101508D

S.B. 1213 Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety; threat assessment, case management tool.

Patron: Newman

Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety; threat assessment; case management tool. Requires the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety to develop a case management tool for use by public elementary and secondary school threat assessment teams and requires such threat assessment teams to use such tool to collect and report to the Center quantitative data on its activities.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 9.1-184 and 22.1-79.4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety; threat assessment; case management tool.

19102329D

S.B. 1256 Income tax, state; subtraction for gain from taking by eminent domain.

Patron: Ruff

Virginia taxable income; subtraction for gain from taking by eminent domain. Creates an income tax subtraction for gain recognized by a taxpayer from a taking of real property by condemnation proceedings.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 58.1-322.02 and 58.1-402 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia taxable income; subtraction for gain from taking by eminent domain.

19103023D

S.B. 1258 School boards; personnel behavior analysts.

Patron: Dunnavant

School boards; personnel; behavior analysts. Requires local school boards to employ one full-time equivalent licensed behavior analyst or licensed assistant behavior analyst per five schools in the school division.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 22.1-253.13:2 and 22.1-274 of the Code of Virginia, relating to school boards; personnel; behavior analysts.

19101939D

S.B. 1283 State Medical Facilities Plan; revisions.

Patron: Barker

State Medical Facilities Plan; revisions. Requires the State Medical Facilities Plan task force to review the State Medical Facilities Plan and update or validate existing criteria in the State Medical Facilities Plan at least once every two years. Currently, the task force is required to review and update or validate the State Medical Facilities Plan at least once every four years. The bill also exempts amendments to the State Medical Facilities Plan from the Administrative Procedure Act if the Board of Health (i) provides a Notice of Intended Regulatory Action in accordance with the requirements of § 2.2-4007.01, (ii) provides notice and receives comment as provided in § 2.2-4007.03, and (iii) conducts at least one public hearing on the proposed amendments.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-4006 and 32.1-102.2:1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to State Medical Facilities Plan; revisions.

19101807D

S.B. 1301 Private collectors; delinquent taxes and other charges.

Patron: Edwards

Private collectors; delinquent taxes and other charges. Allows a local treasurer to employ private collections agents to assist with the collection of delinquent amounts due other than delinquent local taxes. Current law allows only for the collection of delinquent taxes by private collections agents.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 58.1-3919.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to private collectors; delinquent taxes and other amounts due.

19102375D

S.B. 1370 Semiconductor Manufacturing Grant Fund; created.

Patron: Norment

Semiconductor Manufacturing Grant Fund; creation. Creates the Semiconductor Manufacturing Grant Fund for the award of grants to a qualified semiconductor manufacturing company that makes a capital investment of at least $2.98 billion in a qualified locality and creates and maintains at least 1,106 new jobs with an average annual wage of at least $92,000. Such a qualified company would be eligible to receive a grant of $50 million in fiscal year 2020 and a grant of $20 million in fiscal year 2021, subject to total or partial recapture if the qualified company does not meet the performance metrics agreed to in a memorandum of understanding with the Commonwealth.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 59.1 a chapter numbered 22.12, consisting of a section numbered 59.1-284.31, relating to Semiconductor Manufacturing Grant Fund; creation.

19102238D

S.B. 1386 James Madison University; management agreement with the Commonwealth.

Patron: McDougle

James Madison University; management agreement. Provides a management agreement between the Commonwealth and James Madison University pursuant to the Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act (§ 23.1-1000 et seq.).

A BILL providing a management agreement between the Commonwealth and James Madison University pursuant to the Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act (§ 23.1-1000 et seq.).

19102031D

S.B. 1393 Advanced Shipbuilding Production Facility Grants; grant availability dates.

Patron: Wagner

Advanced Shipbuilding Production Facility Grants; grant availability dates. Advances the period during which grants shall be available under the Advanced Shipbuilding Production Facility Grant Program to fiscal years 2021 to 2025. Under current law, such grants shall be available during fiscal years 2023 to 2027. The grants provided may not exceed $40 million in the aggregate and are subject to appropriation by the General Assembly.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 59.1-284.29 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Advanced Shipbuilding Production Facility Grants; grant availability dates.

19102727D

S.B. 1412 Virginia National Guard; education grants

Patron: Mason

Virginia National Guard; education grants. Increases from two to three the minimum number of years of remaining obligation that members of the Virginia National Guard are required to have to be eligible for the Virginia National Guard education grant. The bill provides that the grant may be used for vocational and nondegree credit courses and programs and that the cost of fees and textbooks will be included in the calculation of the amount of such grants.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 23.1-610 of the Code of Virginia, relating to members of the Virginia National guard; education grants.

19102222D

S.B. 1471 Computation of composite index; land-use assessment value.

Patron: Hanger

Education; computation of composite index; land-use assessment value. Requires the General Assembly to modify the current standards of quality funding formula and the calculation of composite index of local ability to pay to incorporate within the real estate indicator of local wealth the land-use assessment value for those properties located within a land-use plan.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 13.2 of Title 22.1 a section numbered 22.1-253.13:11, relating to apportionment of the state and local shares of the costs of providing certain educational programs.

19102935D

S.B. 1485 Long-Term Employment Support Services and Extended Employment Services; referral.

Patron: Hanger

Long-Term Employment Support Services and Extended Employment Services. Directs the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services to make referrals to any employment services organization that provides competitive or commensurate wages and is eligible to receive state-funded Long-Term Employment Support Services or Extended Employment Services. The bill also requires the Department to develop and implement a referral process for individuals who make an informed choice to pursue an employment outcome that is not considered a competitive integrated employment setting by the Department. The bill also establishes the Employment Service Organization Steering Committee as an advisory board in the executive branch of state government. The bill provides that the purpose of the Committee shall be to report to and advise the Commissioner for Aging and Rehabilitative Services on the allocation of funds to employment services organizations for Long-Term Employment Support Services and Extended Employment Services.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 51.5-169.1 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 10 of Chapter 14 of Title 51.5 a section numbered 51.5-169.2, relating to Long-Term Employment Support Services and Extended Employment Services.

19101100D

S.B. 1495 Virginia Rural Information Technology Apprenticeship Grant Fund and Program; established.

Patron: Chafin

Virginia Rural Information Technology Apprenticeship Grant Fund and Program. Establishes the Virginia Rural Information Technology Apprenticeship Grant Fund and Program, to be administered by the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, for the purpose of awarding grants to small, rural information technology businesses in certain localities in the Southwest and Southside regions of Virginia to establish 18-month apprenticeship programs for full-time employees that combine mentorship and on-the-job training to enhance the experience and skills of such employees.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 7 of Chapter 31 of Title 23.1 a section numbered 23.1-3129.1, relating to the establishment of the Virginia Rural Information Technology Apprenticeship Grant Fund and Program.

19103246D

S.B. 1506 Radford University; authority to establish Roanoke Division.

Patron: Carrico

Radford University; authority to establish Roanoke Division. Authorizes the Radford University Board of Visitors (the board) to establish the Radford University-Roanoke Division (the Division) through the acquisition of Jefferson College of Health Sciences, a nonprofit private institution wholly owned and operated by Carilion Clinic. The bill authorizes the board, upon establishment of the Division, to (i) exercise the same powers with respect to the operation of the Division as are vested in theboard regarding the University and (ii) offer at the Division all programs of instruction offered by Jefferson College of Health Sciences at the time of acquisition, including associate-degree programs. The bill permits Radford University to award merit-based and need-based institutional aid to students enrolled at the Division in a manner that is consistent with practices at the former Jefferson College of Health Sciences.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 21 of Title 23.1 a section numbered 23.1-2104, relating to Radford University; authority to establish Radford University-Roanoke Division.

19101884D

S.B. 1606 Vapor products; creates state tax.

Patron: Ebbin


Vapor product tax; School Mental Health Counselors Fund created; Quit Now Virginia Fund created; penalties. Creates a state tax on electronic cigarettes, electronic cigars, electronic cigarillos, and similar products and devices (vapor products) and authorizes cities and towns and certain counties to impose a tax on vapor products. The state tax would be imposed at a rate of 40 percent of the wholesale price.

The bill provides that 90 percent of the tax revenue generated by the state tax would be distributed to the School Mental Health Counselors Fund, created by the bill. Such funds would be required to be used to fund the state's share of Standards of Quality Costs related to increasing the ratio of school counselors to students. The bill provides that 10 percent of the tax revenue generated by the state tax would be distributed to the Quit Now Virginia Fund, created by the bill. Such funds would be required to be used to fund the Virginia Department of Health's costs to provide phone-based and Internet-based services with the purpose of discouraging and eliminating the use of tobacco products and providing counseling and support for smoking cessation efforts.

Counties, cities, and towns that are currently authorized to tax cigarettes would be authorized to also tax vapor products at rates determined by the local governing bodies. The bill authorizes Arlington and Fairfax Counties to impose a vapor products tax, but at a rate that does not exceed the state tax on vapor products created under the bill. Under current law, Arlington and Fairfax Counties may impose a tax on cigarettes at a rate that does not exceed the state cigarette tax.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 58.1-1000, 58.1-1021.01, 58.1-3830, 58.1-3831, 58.1-3840, and 58.1-3907 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 58.1 a chapter numbered 10.2, consisting of sections numbered 58.1-1038 through 58.1-1049, and by adding in Article 7 of Chapter 38 of Title 58.1 a section numbered 58.1-3832.1, relating to vapor product tax; School Mental Health Counselors Fund created; Quit Now Virginia Fund created; penalties.

19104040D

S.B. 1608 Virginia Fusion Intelligence Center; school safety mobile application.

Patron: Dunnavant

Virginia Fusion Intelligence Center; school safety mobile application. Requires the Virginia Fusion Intelligence Center (the Center) to develop or obtain a school safety mobile application to (i) facilitate the provision of real-time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week crisis intervention services by licensed clinicians, including support or crisis counseling, suicide prevention, and referral services to students and youth in the Commonwealth through calls, texts, and online chats and (ii) provide to students and youth in the Commonwealth a platform that is capable of receiving text, audio, images, or video to furnish information concerning a suspected, anticipated, or completed criminal violation. The Center shall coordinate with the Department of Medical Assistance Services to contract with a third-party to provide such crisis intervention services.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 11 of Title 52 a section numbered 52-50, relating to the Virginia Fusion Intelligence Center; school safety mobile application.

19103999D

S.B. 1610 Recordation tax; exemption for property transferred by deed of distribution.

Patron: McDougle

Recordation tax; exemption for property transferred by deed of distribution. Provides that no recordation tax shall be required for the recordation of a deed of distribution, which is defined in the bill, when no consideration has passed between the parties.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 58.1-811, as it is currently effective and as it may become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to recordation tax; exemption for property transferred by deed of distribution.

19103502D

S.B. 1615 Retail Sales and Use Tax; absorption of tax by a dealer.

Patron: McDougle

Retail sales and use tax; absorption of tax by a dealer. Authorizes a dealer to absorb all or a portion of the sales and use tax due on an item, so long as the dealer separately states the full amount of the tax due at the point of the sale or transaction and remits the full amount due to the Department of Taxation with the return covering the period in which the sale or transaction took place.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 58.1-626.1, and to repeal § 58.1-626, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to retail sales and use tax; absorption of tax by a dealer.

19103011D

S.B. 1617 Tech Talent Investment Program and Fund; created, report.

Patron: Ruff

Tech Talent Investment Program. Creates a grant program to assist qualified public institutions of higher education, defined in the bill, in reaching, by 2039, a goal of increasing, in the aggregate, the number of bachelor's and master's degrees awarded in computer science, computer engineering, and closely related fields by at least 25,000 degrees. To be eligible for an annual grant, a qualified institution is required to enter into a memorandum of understanding setting forth specific criteria for eligible degrees, eligible expenses, and degree production goals. The bill requires qualified institutions that are grant recipients to report annually on progress towards meeting such goals and that grants issued pursuant to the program are subject to appropriation.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Subtitle III of Title 23.1 a chapter numbered 12.1, consisting of sections numbered 23.1-1239 through 23.1-1242, relating to creation of the Tech Talent Investment Program.

19102502D

S.B. 1640 In-state tuition; eligibility, certain individuals who have applied for permanent residency.

Patron: Boysko

Eligibility for in-state tuition; certain individuals who have applied for permanent residency.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 23.1-506.1, relating to eligibility for in-state tuition; certain individuals who have applied for permanent residency.

19104527D

S.B. 1715 Retail Sales and Use Tax; exemption for menstrual supplies.

Patron: Boysko

Sales and use tax exemption; menstrual supplies; Dignity Act. Exempts menstrual supplies, specifically pads, tampons, and menstrual cups, from sales and use tax.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 58.1-609.10 of the Code of Virginia, relating to sales and use tax exemption; menstrual supplies; Dignity Act.

19104566D