HB 2105: Regional correctional facilities; investigation of acts of violence. - Virginia

Senator Favola, Barbara A. Substitute → Chaptered · 1 edit

MINOR

This bill transitioned from a Senate substitute version to its final chaptered form, with no substantive policy changes to the actual legal text. The core requirement remains the same: jail superintendents at regional correctional facilities must report acts of violence to local law enforcement or the State Police, and facilities must adopt investigation policies.

TECHNICAL

Formatting and layout changes occurred as the bill moved from draft substitute form to official chaptered legislation, including removal of session headers and addition of chapter number and approval date.

Rehabilitation and Social Services Substitute → Senator Favola, Barbara A. Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to change how regional correctional facilities report violent acts and manage investigations. The Senate substitute required jail superintendents to report to local law enforcement and enter into a memorandum of understanding. The floor amendment modifies this to allow reporting to either local law enforcement or the State Police, and replaces the memorandum of understanding requirement with a facility policy that must be submitted to the State Board of Local and Regional Jails.

Scope change

The reporting options were expanded to include the Department of State Police as an alternative recipient, and the enforcement mechanism shifted from a memorandum of understanding to a formal facility policy.

REQUIREMENT

Reporting recipients changed from requiring a memorandum of understanding with local law enforcement to allowing reports to either local law enforcement or the Department of State Police.

Added requirement for each facility to adopt a written policy on investigation procedures and roles, which must be submitted to the State Board of Local and Regional Jails annually by January 1, starting in 2026.

Removed the requirement to enter into a memorandum of understanding between the jail superintendent and the primary local law-enforcement agency.

Public Safety Substitute → Rehabilitation and Social Services Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was re-substituted by the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services instead of the House Committee on Public Safety, indicating a shift in legislative sponsorship and committee oversight. The substantive policy content remains largely the same, requiring jail superintendents to report acts of violence to local law enforcement and establish memorandums of understanding for investigations.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; it still applies to regional correctional facilities in Virginia and requires reporting of acts of violence to the primary local law-enforcement agency.

TECHNICAL

Committee sponsorship changed from House Committee on Public Safety to Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services, reflecting a shift in legislative processing.

Bill title was slightly modified to change 'designated local law-enforcement agency' to 'primary local law-enforcement agency' for consistency.

REQUIREMENT

New provision added allowing the memorandum of understanding to include procedures for the primary local law-enforcement agency to request the Department of State Police to conduct investigations into acts of violence.

Enrolled → Public Safety Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was converted from an Enrolled version to a House Substitute version, which is a procedural change indicating the bill was amended by the House Committee on Public Safety. The substantive policy content remains largely the same, with minor wording adjustments to the section title and a slight rephrasing of the memorandum of understanding requirement.

TECHNICAL

The bill title was slightly modified to change 'report to law-enforcement agency; policies' to 'designate local law-enforcement agency to investigate acts of violence occurring within regional correctional facilities; memorandum of understanding'.

The requirement to provide a policy copy to the State Board of Local and Regional Jails prior to January 1 each year beginning January 1, 2026 was removed from the text, though this may be a formatting or drafting change rather than a substantive policy change.

REQUIREMENT

Section B was reworded to require a 'memorandum of understanding' instead of adopting a 'policy', though the substantive requirements for investigation procedures and roles remain similar.

Introduced → Enrolled · 5 edits · Mar 19, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was amended from its original introduction to its enrolled version, fundamentally changing the scope of the law. The original version required local correctional facilities to designate a law enforcement agency to investigate acts of violence, while the final enrolled version only applies to regional correctional facilities and requires reporting rather than designation of an investigative agency.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed from all local correctional facilities to only regional correctional facilities, and the requirement to designate a law enforcement agency was changed to a requirement to report acts of violence.

SCOPE

The bill was changed to apply only to regional correctional facilities instead of all local, regional, and community correctional facilities.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for facility administrators to designate a local law enforcement agency to investigate acts of violence was removed and replaced with a requirement to promptly report acts of violence to the local law enforcement agency or State Police.

The requirement to enter into a memorandum of understanding with a designated agency was replaced with a requirement to adopt a policy setting forth investigation procedures and roles and responsibilities.

The original requirement for the Board to establish policies and procedures for sheriffs to designate local law enforcement agencies for investigating acts of violence was removed entirely.

TIMELINE

A new requirement was added for regional correctional facilities to provide a copy of their policy to the State Board of Local and Regional Jails annually by January 1, beginning January 1, 2026.

Regional correctional facilities; investigation of acts of violence.

What changed between versions

How they voted

Actions timeline

Sponsors