Real estate brokers and salespersons; licensees engaged by buyers. Repeals the provision providing that, notwithstanding any other provision of law requiring written brokerage agreements or governing the duties of licensees, nothing shall be construed to require that a written agreement between a licensee and a prospective buyer or tenant be executed prior to the licensee's showing properties to the prospective buyer. The bill also provides that a licensee engaged by a seller or landlord shall not be required to show property to a prospective buyer when such showing is conducted pursuant to and in accordance with a brokerage agreement entered into with a seller or landlord client. This bill is identical to HB 1684.
Virginia Forensic Nursing Advisory Council established; sexual assault forensic examiners; physical evidence recovery kits; report. Establishes the Virginia Forensic Nursing Advisory Council (the Council), which consists of five members appointed by the Governor, each of whom shall have expertise in forensic examination of sexual assault victims and shall currently reside and practice in the Commonwealth. The Council shall review and make recommendations as necessary to the Board of Health with support from the Coordinator of the Virginia Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Coordination Program concerning (i) criteria to become a sexual assault forensic examiner, (ii) the process for certification as a sexual assault forensic examiner, (iii) the curriculum and training program of an entity seeking approval to train sexual assault forensic examiners, (iv) qualifications of prospective sexual assault forensic examiners, and (v) strategies for expanding access to sexual assault forensic examiners. The bill requires the Council to report, at least annually, to the General Assembly regarding the status of sexual assault forensics in the Commonwealth, including any recommendations to improve the quality of such services. The bill also amends provisions of law related to physical evidence recovery kits. This bill is identical to SB 1041.
Department of Education; development of guidelines and information relating to virtual or online learning; public health emergencies. Provides for the Department of Education to develop and post on its official website guidelines and information relating to virtual or online learning. Such guidelines and information shall include (i) statewide policies relating to virtual learning, (ii) the availability of online or virtual learning options and pertinent information on such options, and (iii) guidelines for educators and schools relating to online or virtual learning policies and best practices. In addition, the bill requires each K-12 school in the Commonwealth to include as a component of its annual safety audit a review of the school's plan for school closures during public health emergencies. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Subcommittee to Study Pandemic Response and Preparedness in the Commonwealth and is identical to SB 1380.
Department of Corrections; State Board of Local and Regional Jails; policies on inmate participation in telehealth. Requires the Department of Corrections and the State Board of Local and Regional Jails to develop and implement policies for the accommodation in local, regional, state, and community correctional facilities of inmate participation in telehealth appointments, which shall include designating a private space for such telehealth appointments to occur. The bill requires the Department of Corrections and the State Board of Local and Regional Jails to provide an update to the Joint Commission on Health Care by October 1, 2025, on (i) the status of the policies for the accommodation of inmate participation in telehealth appointments required to be developed and implemented pursuant to the provisions of this act; (ii) opportunities to expand telehealth programs in local, regional, state, and community correctional facilities; and (iii) recommended strategies to reduce gaps in or barriers to telehealth service delivery in such correctional facilities. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care.
Zoning violations; appeals; fines. Provides that a zoning ordinance may prescribe an appeal period of less than 30 days but not less than 10 days for a notice of violation involving the storage or disposal of nonagricultural excavation material, waste, and debris. The bill also provides for enhanced fines for any conviction resulting from a violation of provisions regulating the storage or disposal of nonagricultural excavation material, waste, and debris.
Board of Education; certain add-on endorsements for mathematics teachers. Requires the Board of Education to (i) develop and approve a geometry add-on endorsement for teachers licensed by the Board of Education to provide instruction in geometry for students in kindergarten through grade eight and (ii) amend its regulations establishing the criteria for earning an Algebra I add-on endorsement to (a) eliminate the requirements that candidates complete coursework in calculus, Euclidian geometry, probability and statistics, and discrete mathematics and (b) permit candidates to receive a passing score on the Praxis Algebra I add-on endorsement exam in lieu of the requirements that candidates complete coursework in elementary functions, introductory college algebra, trigonometry, and linear algebra.
Department of Human Resource Management; hiring on the basis of direct experience. Prohibits any state agency from requiring as a condition of eligibility for hire to a position in state employment that an applicant have a baccalaureate degree. The bill provides an exception to such prohibition if the knowledge, skills, or abilities required for the position for which an applicant is applying can only reasonably be obtained, as determined by the appointing authority, through a course of study in pursuit of, and culminating in the award of, a baccalaureate degree. This bill is identical to HB 1611.
Summonses of a juvenile; custody, visitation, and support proceedings. Provides that the court may direct the issuance of a summons to a juvenile on its own motion or upon request of a party to a custody or visitation petition. The bill further provides that the court may direct the issuance of a summons to a juvenile on its own motion or for good cause shown by a party to a support proceeding requesting the issuance of such a summons. The bill is a recommendation of the Committee on District Courts.
Use of safety belt systems. Requires all adult passengers in a motor vehicle equipped with a safety belt system to wear such safety belt system when the motor vehicle is in motion on a public highway. Current law requires adult passengers to wear such safety belts when occupying the front seat.
Maternal health; protocols and resources for hospitals and outpatient providers; report. Requires all hospitals with an emergency department or labor and delivery, freestanding emergency departments, and birthing centers to implement standardized protocols for identifying and responding to obstetric emergencies, including obstetric hemorrhage, preeclampsia, and eclampsia. Such standardized protocols shall be based on protocols established by the Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative for inpatient and outpatient providers regarding the treatment of obstetric emergencies, the recognition of urgent maternal warning signs, and the transfer of pregnant and postpartum patients. The bill requires the Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative to collect data and submit an annual report to the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the General Assembly with data relating to the implementation of standardized protocols and maternal health outcomes. This bill incorporates HB 2518 and is identical to SB 1279.
Surveillance technology reporting by state and local law-enforcement agencies and sheriff's departments. Adds any third-party service or third-party subscription that allows access to any form of surveillance technology or the data therefrom to the list of what is included in the definition of surveillance technology used in the provisions requiring all state and local law-enforcement agencies and sheriff's departments to annually provide to the Department of Criminal Justice Services a list of all surveillance technologies used, accessed, or procured by such agencies and departments. The bill specifies that such list of surveillance technologies shall include (i) all surveillance technologies used, accessed, or procured where the agency or department is the owner, user, or licensee and (ii) all surveillance technologies used or accessed where the owner or licensee is a separate law-enforcement agency, sheriff's department, government agency or department, or private business, entity, or individual. The bill also clarifies that the Department shall provide such information to the Virginia State Crime Commission and the Joint Commission on Technology and Science by December 1 of each year. This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia State Crime Commission.
Motor vehicle dealers; recall and warranty costs; right of first refusal. Clarifies various requirements for the reimbursement of motor vehicle dealers for costs related to vehicle recalls and warranties. The bill also clarifies the timeline for a manufacturer or distributor to notify a dealer that it is exercising its right of first refusal related to the sale or transfer of a dealership. This bill is identical to HB 1683.
