Bills & Legislation

Income tax, state; establishes a subtraction for firefighter benefits.

Income tax subtraction; firefighter benefits. Establishes an income tax subtraction for up to $20,000 of firefighter benefits in taxable year 2024, up to $30,000 in taxable year 2025, and up to $40,000 in taxable year 2026 and each year thereafter. The bill defines firefighter benefits to include retirement income related to professional firefighting services and benefits paid to the surviving spouse of a firefighter whose death occurred in the line of duty.

Christie New CraigRepublican

New College Institute; duties.

New College Institute; duties. Requires the New College Institute to design and implement, in collaboration with the Department of Education, the Virginia Community College System, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the Virginia Board of Workforce Development, and other relevant agencies and organizations, any workforce development programs necessary to support the initiatives of the Office of the Governor, including adult education and workforce training programs.

William M. Stanley, Jr.Republican

Virginia Parent Data Portal; creation and maintenance by Board of Education.

Board of Education; creation and maintenance of Virginia Parent Data Portal. Requires the Board of Education, on or before July 1, 2025, to create and maintain the Virginia Parent Data Portal that, among other things, (i) displays individualized student assessment data on all state-supported assessments, as that term is defined in the bill, (a) in a format that shows both current and cumulative data over time and (b) within 45 days of a state-supported assessment window closing for each state-supported assessment; (ii) provides a description of the purpose of each state-supported assessment, an explanation of how to interpret student data on each state-supported assessment, and a comparison of a student's performance on each state-supported assessment with the performance of the student's school, the student's school division, and the Commonwealth; (iii) is viewable from a mobile device in addition to a desktop computer; and (iv) provides functionality to enable school division personnel to manage and restrict user access to students and their parents. The bill requires the Board and the Department of Education to provide certain guidance and technical assistance to local school divisions on professional development for principals and teachers in parent engagement on and interpretation of student assessment data available through the Portal and requires each school board to annually provide high-quality professional development to principals and teachers on such topics. The bill satisfies the reenactment requirement of Chapter 652 of the Acts of Assembly of 2023.

Jeremy S. McPikeDemocrat

Paid sick leave; home health workers providing agency-directed services.

Paid sick leave; home health workers providing agency-directed services. Requires employers to provide paid sick leave to home health workers who provide agency-directed services. Under current law, employers are only required to provide paid sick leave to home health workers who provide consumer-directed services. The bill provides that "employer" includes the Commonwealth, any of its agencies, institutions, or political subdivisions, and any public body.

Barbara A. FavolaDemocrat

Parental Behavior Technician Registration and Participation Pilot Program; established.

Special education; Parental Behavior Technician Registration and Participation Pilot Program; established. Establishes the Parental Behavior Technician Registration and Participation Pilot Program (the Pilot Program), to be developed and administered by the Board of Education in collaboration with the Department of Health and the Advisory Board on Behavioral Analysis, for the purpose of assisting parents of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with becoming a registered behavior technician (RBT) in order to provide assistance to their children both in the classroom as a volunteer under the supervision of a licensed behavior analyst or other qualified Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) individual and outside the classroom in the home environment. The bill provides that the Pilot Program shall assist any eligible parent, defined as any parent of a child with ASD who is enrolled in a public school in the Commonwealth and receives special education, by (i) providing assistance, resources, and support to any eligible parent in meeting the requirements to receive an RBT credential and (ii) coordinating with the school board of the school division in which the child of an RBT-credentialed parent is enrolled to set up a volunteer position for the parent to provide assistance as an RBT in his child's special education program under the supervision of a licensed behavior analyst or other qualified ABA individual. The bill provides that funds appropriated for the at-risk add-on or for support services from basic school aid, pursuant to relevant law, may be used to fund the Pilot Program. Finally, the bill requires the Board of Education to report annually to the Governor and the Generally Assembly by October 1 of each year for the duration of the Pilot Program on the progress of the Pilot Program. The provisions of the bill expire on July 1, 2027.

William M. Stanley, Jr.Republican

Wolf Creek Cherokee Tribe of Virginia; General Assembly to extend state recognition.

Recognition of the Wolf Creek Cherokee Tribe of Virginia. Extends state recognition to the Wolf Creek Cherokee Tribe of Virginia within the Commonwealth.

Delores L. McQuinnDemocrat

Dependents of public school personnel, etc.; SCHEV to study reduced in-state tuition rates.

Study; State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; offering reduced rate in-state tuition rates at public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth to dependents of public school instructional, administrative, and support personnel in the Commonwealth; report. Requests the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to study, in collaboration with the Department of Education, the feasibility and efficacy of offering the dependents of public school instructional, administrative, and support personnel in the Commonwealth reduced rate in-state tuition at public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth for the purpose of improving retention rates of public school instructional, administrative, and support personnel in the Commonwealth.

Dan I. HelmerDemocrat

Higher educational institutions, public; SCHEV to study guaranteed first-year admission policy.

Study; State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth; guaranteed first-year admission; report. Requests the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to study the feasibility of implementing a guaranteed first-year admission policy at each public institution of higher education for certain high school graduates in the Commonwealth and report its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly.

Holly M. SeiboldDemocrat

Skilled nursing, long-term care, and community care facilities; JLARC to study capacity & condition.

Study; JLARC; skilled nursing, long-term care, and community care facilities; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the capacity and condition of skilled nursing, long-term care, and community care facilities within the Commonwealth.

Wendell S. WalkerRepublican

Dillon Rule; joint subcommittee to study.

Study; joint subcommittee; Dillon Rule; report. Creates a 13-member joint subcommittee for a one-year study of the Dillon Rule and its impact on Virginia's localities.

Dan I. HelmerDemocrat

Historically black colleges and universities; joint subcommittee to study challenges faced, etc.

Study; joint committee of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health; challenges faced by and effective strategies for ensuring the sustainable, long-term success of the five historically black colleges and universities in the Commonwealth; report. Establishes a joint committee consisting of five members of the House Committee on Education and three members of the Senate Committee on Education and Health to study the challenges faced by and effective strategies for ensuring the sustainable, long-term success of the five historically black colleges and universities in the Commonwealth–Hampton University, Norfolk State University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Virginia University of Lynchburg–by discussing, adopting, and recommending to the Governor and the General Assembly for formal recognition and endorsement a comprehensive statewide HBCU Support Plan.

Alex Q. AskewDemocrat

Comprehensive community colleges; funding model for noncredit workforce credential programs.

Study; Board of Workforce Development; adequacy of the funding model for noncredit workforce credential programs; work group; report. Requests the Virginia Board of Workforce Development to study the current funding model for noncredit workforce credential programs offered at comprehensive community colleges in order to identify areas of inadequacy and make recommendations on options for reforming the funding model to address those inadequacies and improve the sustainability of offering and providing noncredit workforce credential programs to ensure that the Virginia Community College System as a whole is capable of continuing to meet the increasing demand for highly skilled credentialed workers in the Commonwealth.

Shelly A. SimondsDemocrat

Secretariat of Rural Affairs; JLARC to study need for and feasibility of creating position.

Study; JLARC; creation of Secretariat of Rural Affairs; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the need for and feasibility of creating a Secretariat of Rural Affairs in the Commonwealth.

Israel D. O'QuinnRepublican

Public schools; Jt. Com. on Health Care to study impact of cell phone possession & use on students.

Study; Joint Commission on Health Care; impacts of cell phone possession and use on students in public schools; report. Directs the Joint Commission on Health Care to study the impacts of cell phone possession and use in public schools on student learning outcomes, including the quality of learning and the ability of students to retain and recall information, student attention and focus, and student mental and behavioral health.

Michelle Lopes MaldonadoDemocrat

Litter tax; Department of Taxation, et al., to study tax policy options for reforming.

Study; Department of Taxation; tax policy options for reforming the litter tax; report. Directs the Department of Taxation, in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Quality, to study tax policy options for reforming the litter tax.

Paul E. KrizekDemocrat

Clean energy; Dept. of Energy to study barriers for local governments to purchase.

Study; Department of Energy; local governments; purchases of clean energy; report. Requests the Department of Energy to study the barriers for local governments to directly purchase clean energy or to facilitate the purchase of clean energy by their constituents. In conducting its study, the Department shall consider existing ways for local governments to purchase clean energy and promote access to clean energy for their constituents, evaluate barriers and develop recommendations relating to reducing such barriers for local governments to purchase clean energy and encouraging the purchase of and access to clean energy by local governments and their constituents, and consult with relevant stakeholders as needed.

Briana D. SewellDemocrat

Comprehensive community colleges, certain; JLARC to study waiver of tuition and mandatory fees.

Study; JLARC; waiver of tuition and mandatory fees at certain comprehensive community colleges; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the feasibility of waiving tuition and mandatory fees for Virginia students who attend Mountain Empire Community College, Southwest Virginia Community College, and Virginia Highlands Community College and report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly no later than November 30, 2024.

Alfonso H. LopezDemocrat

Land value; DHCD to study tax implications of local governing bodies implementing a tax.

Study; Department of Housing and Community Development; tax implications of implementing a land value tax; report. Directs the Department of Housing and Community Development to study tax implications of local governing bodies implementing a land value tax.

Irene ShinDemocrat

Starr Alert Program; Department of State Police to study need for an alert program, etc.

Study; Department of State Police; Starr Alert Program; report. Requests the Department of State Police to study the need for an alert program, to be known as the Starr Alert Program, to notify vehicle repair shops of nearby hit-and-run incidents.

Bonita G. AnthonyDemocrat

Employment service organizations; DGS, et al., to study procuring goods and services.

Study; procuring goods and services from employment service organizations; report. Requests the Department of General Services, in tandem with the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, to examine the current process for procurement, potential set-asides or percentage goals that could be utilized or bolstered by employment service organizations, and whether employment service organizations should be housed within the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity.

Amy J. LauferDemocrat

Higher ed. institutions, baccalaureate public; SCHEV to study $10,000 tuition per year degree.

Study; State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; $10,000 per year baccalaureate degree; report. Requests that the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (i) study the feasibility of implementing the option for students to pay $10,000 annually for tuition and mandatory fees to earn a degree at a baccalaureate public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth by surveying each baccalaureate public institution of higher education to determine the likely impact of such an option on enrollment, revenue, costs, services, staffing, and such other factors as the institution deems relevant and (ii) report its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than November 30, 2024.

Chris S. RunionRepublican

Cannabis; Virginia Cannabis Control Authority to study creation of a retail market.

Study; Virginia Cannabis Control Authority; creation of a retail cannabis market; report. Requests the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority to study the creation of a retail cannabis market in the Commonwealth and draft regulations governing the indoor cultivation, processing, manufacturing, testing, packaging, labeling, distribution, sale, and delivery of cannabis. The resolution requires that such regulations include (i) appropriate application and license fees; (ii) reasonable restrictions on cannabis advertising; (iii) restrictions on product size and potency; (iv) transaction limits; (v) comprehensive enforcement mechanisms; (vi) provisions regarding tax collection and revenue allocation; (vii) provisions regarding participation in the retail marijuana market by persons in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities; and (viii) any other restrictions or requirements necessary to protect public health and safety, prevent diversion, and enforce regulated sales. The resolution requires the Authority to include certain persons in its study and to submit its executive summaries and reports to the General Assembly by the first day of the 2026 Session of the General Assembly.

Terry G. KilgoreRepublican

Localities hosting data center infrastructure; DHCD to study revenue sharing program.

Study; Department of Housing and Community Development; revenue sharing program for localities hosting data center infrastructure; report. Directs the Department of Housing and Community Development to study creating a revenue sharing program for localities hosting data center infrastructure for data centers located in other localities.

Michael J. WebertRepublican

Roads maintained/managed by VDOT & localities; JLARC to study rate of accidents that cause fatality.

Study; JLARC; rate of accidents that cause fatalities on roads maintained and managed by the Virginia Department of Transportation and localities; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the rate of accidents that cause fatalities on roads maintained and managed by the Virginia Department of Transportation and roads maintained and managed by localities.

Irene ShinDemocrat

Fair school funding reform; joint committee of various House and Senate committees to study.

Study; joint committee of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health to study fair school funding reform; report. Establishes a joint committee consisting of five members of the House Committee on Education and three members of the Senate Committee on Education and Health to study fair school funding reform by, among other things, utilizing the recommendations from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission in its July 2023 report, "Virginia's K-12 Funding Formula," and any stakeholder input and feedback received by the joint committee to produce and submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Services by the first day of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly an executive summary of its findings and recommendations.

Shelly A. SimondsDemocrat

State park; DCR to study feasibility of establishing in Washington County.

Study; Department of Conservation and Recreation; state park in Washington County; report. Requests the Department of Conservation and Recreation to study the feasibility of establishing a state park in Washington County at the Mendota Trail and Abrams Falls located within the Holston River Watersheds.

Israel D. O'QuinnRepublican

Early childhood care and education; publicly funded providers.

Early childhood care and education; publicly funded providers. Provides that any locality wishing to participate in the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) must submit a proposal by May 15 of each year identifying a lead VPI agency responsible for developing a local plan for the delivery of preschool services to at-risk children. A local match based on the composite index of local ability to pay is required to fund such a proposal. The proposal must include the number of at-risk four-year-olds and three-year-olds to be served and eligibility criteria for participation. Upon acceptance, the Department will disburse state VPI funds to the lead VPI agency in such localities, which may be used with local matching funds to provide preschool education, health services, social services, parental involvement services, and transportation. The Department must establish academic standards for VPI programs that prepare students to successfully enter kindergarten. Full day VPI programs must operate for a minimum of five and a half instructional hours per day, while half day VPI programs operate for a minimum of three instructional hours per day. The bill requires the Department of Education to collect information from VPI and the Mixed Delivery Grant Program to compile a comprehensive report on the use of state funds, including the number of slots and funding allocated to each local program or provider and the number of slots that have been filled. The bill codifies the Child Care Subsidy Program, which is currently established pursuant to regulations of the Board of Education, for the purpose of assisting families who meet certain eligibility criteria with the cost of child care provided by approved vendors. The bill requires the Child Care Subsidy Program to be overseen by the Department of Education and permits the Department to contract with state and local agencies to administer the Program. The bill requires the Department and Board of Education, as applicable, to establish rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and standards for the Program. The bill also codifies the Mixed Delivery Grant Program, which is currently established pursuant to the general appropriation act, for the purpose of awarding grants on a competitive basis to local public entities that enter into partnerships with local private early childhood care and education entities and other community organizations, as applicable, to provide, under the direction and leadership of a lead agency identified in the grant proposal, high-quality care and education, either part time or full time, for at-risk infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children who reside in the locality. The bill requires the Mixed Delivery Grant Program to be administered by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation in partnership with the Department of Education and, consistent with any provisions relating to the Program in the general appropriation act, requires the Foundation and the Department to establish policies, procedures, and standards for the Program.

Debra D. GardnerDemocrat

School boards; placement in alternative education programs, disclosure of certain information.

School boards; placement in alternative education programs; disclosure of certain information in delinquency cases. Requires the clerk of any court in which a disposition is entered or deferred in any proceeding where a student is charged with an offense that, pursuant to relevant law, is required to be disclosed to the superintendent of the school division in which the student is enrolled to, upon request of any such division superintendent, provide additional information that may be relevant to such student's placement in an alternative education program, including the circumstances surrounding the disposition or deferred disposition and any conditions ordered in relation to a deferred disposition. If the student is not enrolled in school at the time the disposition is entered or deferred, the clerk is required to send the additional information to the division superintendent of the school in which he was enrolled at the time of the offense, upon request of such division superintendent.

Paul V. MildeRepublican

Veterinary medicine; exceptions for care of animals injured in line of duty.

Department of Health Professions; veterinary medicine; exceptions for care of animals injured in line of duty. Provides an exception to the unauthorized practice of veterinary medicine for any law-enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency medical services personnel who provides emergency treatment to any animal in his care that is injured in the line of duty.

James A. "Jay" LeftwichRepublican

Human Resource Management, Department of; disclosure of certain information.

Department of Human Resource Management; disclosure of certain information. Requires the Department of Human Resource Management to provide any recognized public employee association, upon the request of such association, a list containing the name and work address of each current state employee. The bill requires such association to ensure that the information contained in such list remains confidential and prohibits any mailing sent by such association to a state employee from containing (i) political or partisan content, (ii) commercial advertising, or (iii) the personal information of any state employee.

Joshua G. ColeDemocrat

Virginia Retirement System; return to work for law-enforcement officers.

Virginia Retirement System; return to work for law-enforcement officers. Allows a retired law-enforcement officer to return to work full time as a law-enforcement officer and continue to receive his pension under the Virginia Retirement System. Such person shall be required to have a break in service of at least six calendar months before reemployment. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025.

Michael J. JonesDemocrat

Dam Safety, Flood Prevention, and Protection Assistance Fund; percentage of funds available.

Dam Safety, Flood Prevention, and Protection Assistance Fund; percentage of funds available; owner match requirements.

Amy J. LauferDemocrat

Prisoners; Department of Corrections- and jailer-issued identification.

Prisoners; Department of Corrections-issued and jailer-issued identification. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall establish a procedure for securing a government-issued identification card, birth certificate, or Social Security card through the Department of Motor Vehicles and that the Department of Motor Vehicles shall expedite the processing of an application submitted by a prisoner for such government-issued identification card and the issuance of such identification. The bill also requires the Department of Corrections, in coordination with the State Board of Local and Regional Jails, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and the State Registrar of Vital Records, to (i) review the processes involved in assisting a prisoner in applying for and obtaining a government-issued identification card, birth certificate, or Social Security card; (ii) identify any obstacles that may interfere with a prisoner obtaining such identification or documents prior to such prisoner's release or discharge; and (iii) issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2024.

Rae CousinsDemocrat

Estate tax; reinstates tax for persons dying on and after July 1, 2024.

Reinstatement of the estate tax. Reinstates the estate tax for persons dying on and after July 1, 2024. The bill provides that no estate tax shall be imposed on a gross estate if the majority of the assets of the estate are an interest in a closely held business or a working farm. The bill designates revenues from the estate tax to be used for early childhood care and education purposes.

Elizabeth B. Bennett-ParkerDemocrat

Firearms; valid permit to purchase, penalties.

Firearm purchases; permit to purchase a firearm required; penalties. Requires any person purchasing a firearm from a firearms dealer to present a valid permit issued by the Department of State Police that allows the holder to purchase a firearm. The bill prohibits a firearms dealer from selling, renting, trading, or transferring from his inventory any firearm to any person until he has received such permit. The bill sets forth the procedures to apply for the permit and prohibits the permitting of any person who (i) is younger than 21 years of age; (ii) is prohibited from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm; (iii) within the two years prior to the date of application, has been convicted of any offense against a person that is an act of violence, force, or threat or a firearm-related offense that is punished as a Class 1 misdemeanor; (iv) is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; (v) within the two years prior to the date of application, has not completed a firearms safety or training course or class offered to the public by a law-enforcement agency, institution of higher education, or private or public institution or organization or by a firearms training school utilizing instructors certified or approved by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, and with a required curriculum, detailed in the bill; or (vi) for whom it would not be in the interest of the public health, safety, or welfare of the Commonwealth as determined by the Department of State Police for the person to obtain a permit because the person is found to be lacking in essential character or temperament necessary to be entrusted with a firearm. The bill provides that such permit is valid for five years from the date of issuance. The bill details reasons for revocation of a permit and provides that any person who fails to return a revoked permit to the Superintendent of State Police within five days' notice of revocation is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill also states that any person who willfully and intentionally makes a materially false statement on the application form for a permit is guilty of a Class 5 felony.

Patrick A. HopeDemocrat

Mattaponi Indian Tribe; DOF to convey tracts of land in Sandy Point State Forest to the Tribe.

Land grant; Sandy Point; Mattaponi Indian Tribe. Authorizes the Department of Forestry to grant and convey tracts of land within Sandy Point State Forest in King William County south of and including Brooks Creek to the Mattaponi Indian Tribe. The bill also authorizes the Department to grant and convey other tracts of land within Sandy Point State Forest as the Department deems suitable, provided that prior to such conveyance, the Department may enter into discussions with the Tribe, localities, and relevant stakeholders to determine how such tracts of land may be used for the benefit of the public.

M. Keith HodgesRepublican

Juvenile detention specialists; enhanced retirement benefits.

Pensions; enhanced retirement benefits for juvenile detention specialists. Requires each political subdivision participating in the Virginia Retirement System and each county or city participating in the Virginia Retirement System to provide retirement benefits comparable to the benefits provided to state police officers to juvenile detention specialists.

Bill WileyRepublican

New College Institute; duties.

New College Institute; duties. Requires the New College Institute to design and implement, in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Industry, the Virginia Community College System, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the Virginia Board of Workforce Development, and other relevant agencies and organizations, any workforce development programs necessary to support the initiatives of any relevant agency or office of the Commonwealth, including adult education and workforce training programs. The bill contains a reenactment clause.

Eric PhillipsRepublican

Real property tax; assessment of real property used for affordable housing.

Real property tax; assessment of real property used for affordable housing. Requires the duly authorized real estate assessor of a locality to appraise affordable rental housing in accordance with the income approach, as described by the bill. The bill provides that, should the duly authorized real estate assessor fail to follow generally accepted appraisal practices, the assessment will not be entitled to a presumption of correctness, and if the owner then successfully appeals such assessment, the locality shall reimburse the owner for attorney fees and costs incurred.

Carrie E. CoynerRepublican

DGS, et al.; review of procurement process, employment services organizations.

Department of General Services; Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services; review of procurement process; employment services organizations. Directs the Department of General Services, in cooperation with the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, to perform a comprehensive review of the process for procuring goods and services from employment services organizations. The bill provides that such review shall examine the current process for procurement, potential set-asides or percentage goals, and whether employment services organizations should be housed alongside small, women-owned, or minority-owned businesses within the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity.

Amy J. LauferDemocrat

Income tax, state; deduction for union dues.

Income tax deduction; union dues. Provides an income tax deduction beginning in taxable year 2024 for the amount paid by an individual for union dues for participation in a labor organization.

Karen Keys-GamarraDemocrat

Health professions; universal licensure, requirements.

Health professions; universal licensure; requirements. Requires health regulatory boards within the Department of Health Professions to recognize licenses or certifications issued by other United States jurisdictions, as defined in the bill, as fulfillment for licensure or certification in the Commonwealth if certain conditions are met. The bill also requires such health regulatory boards to recognize work experience as fulfillment for licensure or certification in the Commonwealth if certain conditions are met. The bill does not apply to licensure for physicians or dentists.

Marcia S. "Cia" PriceDemocrat

Grandparent; petition for visitation.

Visitation; petition of grandparent. Removes the provision providing that, in any case or proceeding in which a grandparent has petitioned the court for visitation with a minor grandchild, and a natural or adoptive parent of the minor grandchild is deceased or incapacitated, the grandparent who is related to such deceased or incapacitated parent shall be permitted to introduce evidence of such parent's consent to visitation with the grandparent, in accordance with the rules of evidence and that, if the parent's consent is proven by a preponderance of the evidence, the court may then determine if grandparent visitation is in the best interest of the minor grandchild.

Nicholas J. FreitasRepublican

Absentee voting in person; voter satellite offices, days and hours of operation.

Absentee voting in person; voter satellite offices; days and hours of operation. Authorizes the governing body of any county or city establishing voter satellite offices for absentee voting in person to prescribe, by ordinance, the dates and hours of operation for such offices. The bill prohibits any reduction in the dates or hours of operation of such offices to be enacted within 60 days of any general election.

Atoosa R. ReaserDemocrat

Trauma-informed training and education; work group to study.

Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia; work group to study trauma-informed training and education; report. Directs the Office of the Executive Secretary to convene a work group to make recommendations on the development, adoption, and implementation of trauma-informed training and education for judges, magistrates, and court personnel. The bill requires the work group to submit its recommendations by December 1, 2024, to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice.

Rae CousinsDemocrat

Length of Stay Guidelines & Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center; DJJ's work group to study, report.

Department of Juvenile Justice; work group to study Length of Stay Guidelines and Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center; report. Directs the Department of Juvenile Justice to convene a work group to study issues related to the Department's Length of Stay Guidelines and the Department's direct care capacity in response to the Department's report on the 2023 Length of Stay Guidelines. The work group is directed to study (i) the evidence and research relied upon by the Department as identified in the Department's report, including adjusting for changes in risk profiles for committed juveniles over time; (ii) best practices on staffing ratios, the current actual staffing ratios at Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center (BAJCC), and the projected population forecast; (iii) the ability of BAJCC to operate the community treatment model without single coverage on units and maintain consistent staffing on each residential unit and unit population not to exceed 14 residents; (iv) the ability of BAJCC to maintain all therapeutic, vocational, and educational programming; (v) a detailed comparison of youth by age, risk level, and offense level and their projected length of stay under the 2015 Length of Stay Guidelines and the 2023 Length of Stay Guidelines; (vi) trends in determinate commitments, including the percentage of such commitments in circuit court and with an active Department of Corrections sentence; and (vii) how the Department will maintain current programming and the continuum of services for youth when direct care capacity exceeds actual capacity. The work group is also directed to study the rates of serious incidents and contributing factors at BAJCC since January 2022. The bill requires the work group to submit a report with its recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee for Courts of Justice and the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice by November 1, 2024. Such report shall include evidence or research relating to the 2023 changes to the Length of Stay Guidelines and whether such evidence or research supports the changes.

Rae CousinsDemocrat

Film and television industry; apprenticeship program.

Apprenticeship program; film and television industry. Requires the Director of Workforce Development and Advancement to establish a program to promote apprenticeships in the film and television industry. The Director may provide financial incentives to employers who hire and retain an apprentice in the film and television industry for at least six months. In consultation with the Virginia Film Office, the Director shall establish guidelines and criteria for the program.

Rae CousinsDemocrat

Pharmacy technician profession; Board of Pharmacy to review framework.

Board of Pharmacy; pharmacy technician profession; work group; report. Requires the Board of Pharmacy to convene a work group of relevant stakeholders to review and make recommendations related to the regulatory framework for the pharmacy technician profession, educational barriers to the pharmacy technician profession, compensation of pharmacy technicians, and the educational requirements of pharmacy technicians. The bill requires the Board to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Health and Human Services and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by November 1, 2024. The bill also requires the Board to promulgate emergency regulations within 280 days of the work group's completion based on the work group's recommendations.

Rodney T. WillettDemocrat