HB 2071: DVS; powers and duties of Commissioner, identification of incarcerated veterans. - Virginia

Finance and Appropriations Substitute → Chaptered · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was changed from a Senate substitute version to a chaptered version, meaning it was officially enacted into law. The substantive policy content remained largely the same, with the main change being the renumbering of sections and the addition of a new reporting requirement for the Military Spouse Liaison. The core mandate for the Department of Veterans Services to work with correctional facilities on the Veterans Re-Entry Search Services system was preserved.

Scope change

The bill's scope remained focused on veterans services, specifically the integration of incarcerated veterans into reentry programs through the VA's search services system. No change in applicability or target population.

REQUIREMENT

The original Senate substitute version required a work group to study program structure and report by November 1, 2025. The chaptered version removed this work group requirement and instead made the use of the Veterans Re-Entry Search Services system a direct duty of the Department of Veterans Services.

A new requirement was added for the Department to coordinate with multiple state and federal agencies, including the Virginia Sheriffs' Association, Virginia Association of Regional Jails, and various state departments.

A new reporting requirement was added to provide an annual overview of the Military Spouse Liaison activities to the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, Governor, and General Assembly by December 1 each year.

TECHNICAL

The bill was renumbered from a Senate substitute document to Chapter 235 of the 2025 Session, with the text reorganized and formatted for official publication in the Code of Virginia.

Public Safety Substitute → Finance and Appropriations Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was changed from a House Public Safety substitute to a Senate Finance and Appropriations substitute, shifting the focus from mandating specific duties to directing the Department of Veterans Services to convene a work group to study the most effective programmatic structure for using the VA's Veterans Re-Entry Search Services system.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from directly assigning the Commissioner specific duties related to veterans services to directing the Department to study and report on program structure before implementation.

REQUIREMENT

Removed 17 specific duties assigned to the Commissioner, including annual cost-benefit analysis, seeking alternative funding, cooperating with federal entities, appointing a coordinator, conducting studies, evaluating agency efforts, assisting state entities, establishing advisory committees, reviewing activities, recommending corrective measures, designing special programs, integrating economic development, managing operational funds, engaging in training, developing strategic plans, certifying education program eligibility, establishing a veteran-friendly compact, and assisting corrections with veteran re-entry services.

Added a requirement for the Department of Veterans Services to convene a work group to determine the most effective programmatic structure for utilizing the VA's Veterans Re-Entry Search Services system, with a report due to the General Assembly by November 1, 2025.

TIMELINE

Changed the reporting deadline from December 1 of each year to November 1, 2025 for the work group's findings.

SCOPE

Narrowed the bill's scope from comprehensive oversight of all veterans services to a specific study on the programmatic structure for veteran re-entry services.

Public Safety Subcommittee Substitute → Public Safety Substitute · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill underwent significant formatting and layout changes from a 'Public Safety Subcommittee Substitute' to a 'Public Safety Substitute' version. The substantive policy content regarding the Commissioner's powers and duties for veterans services appears largely unchanged, though the document structure was reorganized with different header information and line breaks. No substantive policy changes were identified in the visible text.

TECHNICAL

Document formatting and layout were reorganized with different header information, line breaks, and spacing. The substantive policy text regarding veterans services powers and duties appears unchanged.

Enrolled → Public Safety Subcommittee Substitute · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill was amended from its Enrolled version to a Public Safety Subcommittee Substitute version, primarily involving formatting and layout adjustments rather than substantive policy changes. The core legislative text regarding the Department of Veterans Services Commissioner's powers and duties remains substantively identical, with only minor formatting differences in how the text is presented (line breaks, spacing, and page numbering).

TECHNICAL

The text was reformatted with additional spacing, page breaks, and line number indicators typical of a committee substitute document, but the actual legislative content and policy provisions remain unchanged.

Introduced → Enrolled · 3 edits · Mar 21, 2025

MINOR

HB 2071 was enacted into law as an enrolled bill, transitioning from an introduced draft to final legislative text. The substantive policy content remains largely unchanged, with the primary differences being formatting, line breaks, and minor wording adjustments to the incarcerated veteran identification provision. The bill's core purpose of expanding the Commissioner of Veterans Services' duties remains intact.

Scope change

No substantive change in scope or applicability; the bill covers the same subject matter as the introduced version.

REQUIREMENT

The incarcerated veteran identification requirement was reworded to clarify that the Commissioner assists the Department of Corrections, sheriffs, and jails in using the VA's Veterans Re-Entry Search Services system, with goals including identifying incarcerated veterans, helping them prepare for release, reducing recidivism and homelessness, addressing PTSD, and diverting eligible veterans to treatment dockets.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting changes including line breaks, spacing, and the addition of 'ENROLLED' and 'VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY' headers indicating the bill's final legislative status.

The Military Spouse Liaison reporting requirement was truncated at the end of the enrolled version, showing only the beginning of the provision that requires annual reporting to the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, Governor, and General Assembly.

DVS; powers and duties of Commissioner, identification of incarcerated veterans.

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