SB 44 Virginia Senate · 2024 Regular Session

Abuse and neglect of children; causing or enabling child to gain possession of a firearm, penalty.

Summary
Abuse and neglect of children; causing or enabling child to gain possession of a firearm; penalty. Creates a Class 5 felony for any parent, guardian, or other person who is 18 years of age or older and is responsible for the care of a child under the age of 18 whose willful act or omission causes or enables that child to gain possession of a firearm (i) after having received notice of a preliminary determination, pursuant to relevant law, that such child poses a threat of violence or physical harm to self or others or (ii) when such parent, guardian, or other person responsible for the care of the child knows or reasonably should know that such child has been charged with, either by warrant or petition, convicted of, or adjudicated delinquent of a violent juvenile felony.The bill provides that no person shall be subject to arrest or prosecution regarding knowledge of a preliminary threat determination if such person received notice that the threat assessment team concluded that the child does not indicate a threat of violence or physical harm to self or others or that any case or review opened or conducted by that threat assessment team as a result of such preliminary determination has been closed. The bill also provides that no person shall be subject to arrest or prosecution if such person has received notice that any pending charge for a violent juvenile felony has been dismissed or a nolle prosequi has been entered.The bill provides an affirmative defense to prosecution if the parent, guardian, or other person responsible for the care of a child caused or enabled such child to gain possession of a firearm while in a dwelling because of a reasonable belief that he or such child was in imminent danger of bodily injury. Lastly, the bill provides that the new offense is eligible for the enhanced earned sentence credits. This bill is identical to HB 36.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2023
Committee Review
Feb 2024
Senate Passage
Feb 2024
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2024
Signed into Law
Mar 2024
Introduced Dec 19, 2023 Signed Mar 26, 2024
Floor votes · Senate Feb 13, 2024 · House of Delegates Feb 21, 2024

How they voted

27–13
Passed
Total votes 40
Feb 13, 2024
D Democratic21
21 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
6 Yea 13 Nay
68% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
42
Key actions
14
Committee
10
Mar 26, 2024
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 162 (effective 7/1/24)
executive
Feb 28, 2024
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Feb 26, 2024
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Feb 26, 2024
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB44ER)
upper
Feb 21, 2024
Lower · Passed
VOTE: Passage (55-Y 43-N)
lower
Feb 21, 2024
Lower · Passed
Passed House (55-Y 43-N)
lower
Feb 16, 2024
Lower · Passed
Reported from Public Safety (13-Y 9-N)
lower
Feb 15, 2024
Committee
Referred to Committee on Public Safety
lower
Feb 13, 2024
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (27-Y 13-N)
upper
Feb 8, 2024
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (14-Y 1-N)
upper
Feb 8, 2024
Upper · Passed
Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
upper
Feb 7, 2024
Upper · Passed
Senate subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered
upper
Jan 31, 2024
Committee
Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
upper
Jan 31, 2024
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (13-Y 0-N 2-A)
upper
Jan 31, 2024
Upper · Passed
Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
upper
Jan 10, 2024
Upper · Passed
Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name
upper
Dec 19, 2023
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
upper
2 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors