Celebrating the life of Albert Earl Brooks,Sr.
Virginia Small Business Economic DevelopmentAct established; regulation of skill games; registration; penalties.Establishes the Virginia Small Business Economic Development Act for the purpose of providing a regulatory and registration schemefor skill game machines in the Commonwealth. The bill directs theVirginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to adopt emergencyregulations to implement the provisions of the bill and directs theDepartment of Taxation to collect a monthly tax of 15 percent fromthe gross revenue of each skill game machine from each skill gamedistributor.
Prevailing wage rate for underground infrastructure works by public service companies. Directs the Department of Labor and Industry to determine and make available the prevailing wage rate for underground infrastructure work. Under the bill, each public service company shall ensure that its bid specifications or other contracts applicable to underground infrastructure works require payment at the prevailing wage rate. The bill requires contractors and subcontractors to post the prevailing wage rate in a prominent and accessible place at the work site. The bill also requires each public service company, contractor, or subcontractor subject to the provisions of the bill to comply with certain recordkeeping requirements. Provisions of the bill apply to contracts entered into on or after July 1, 2024.
Encouraging the use of sustainable aviation fuel in the Commonwealth. Encourages the Commonwealth of Virginiato take all practical steps to increase the use of sustainable aviationfuel in the Commonwealth, regionally, and nationally.
Consumer protection; transparency in ticketfees; civil penalties. Provides that every ticket of admissionor other evidence of right of entry for admission to a professionalconcert, professional sporting event, or professional theatricalproduction, to which a price is charged, shall bear on its face theprice charged for such ticket or other evidence of right of entryby the person issuing the same or causing the same to be issued.The bill allows for a civil penalty of not less than $1,000 nor morethan $5,000 for each violation.
Virginia Recycling Development Center established;report. Establishes the Virginia Recycling Development Centerfor the purposes of furthering the development of markets and processingfor recycled commodities and products, to be run by a Director appointedand supervised by the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources. The bill creates the Virginia Recycling Development Center AdvisoryCommittee, establishes reporting requirements, and creates the RecyclingMarket Development Fund to be used to fund the Center. The bill requiresthe Advisory Committee to make recommendations on the sources ofpotential funding for and detailed qualifying uses of the Fund andreport its recommendations to the Secretary no later than October1, 2024. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2038.
Virginia Freedom of Information Act; definitionof "meeting." Amends the definition of "meeting" as it relatesto the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to add an exception forlocal political party meetings. The bill is a recommendation of theFOIA Council.
Purchase of firearms; demonstrated competencewith a firearm or completion of a firearms safety or training course;penalty. Requires that a prospective purchaser of a firearm presentproof that such prospective purchaser has demonstrated competencewith a firearm or completed a firearms safety or training course,as specified in the bill, within the past five years.
Housing; Zoning for Housing Production Pilot Program created; affordable dwelling unit policy incentives; report. Creates the Zoning for Housing Production Pilot Program to be administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development. To be eligible for a grant from the Program, a locality is required to make a change to its zoning policies to allow for by-right development that is expected to further the goal of creating and maintaining mixed-income communities, affordable housing, and moderately priced housing, as those terms are defined in the bill. The Department of Housing and Community Development is required to establish certain guidelines for the Program and to notify eligible localities of the existence and purpose of the Program no later than September 1, 2024. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2027.
Revenue reserves and budgetary amendments. Provides that if the Governor in the Budget Bill recommends a transfer of funds in the Revenue Reserve Fund in excess of the statutory 15 percent combined balance limit, then the corresponding purpose and proposed use of such transferred funds shall be included within the corresponding budget items. The bill also directs that if the Revenue Stabilization Fund and Revenue Reserve Fund are in excess of the statutory 15 percent combined balance limit, the State Comptroller shall transfer such excess amounts to the general fund and present such amounts as an assigned fund balance for nonrecurring expenditures on the Comptroller's preliminary annual report and if such a transfer is required, but the Revenue Stabilization Fund is not in excess of its Constitutional 15 percent balance limit, the amounts required to be transferred shall first be deposited into the Revenue Stabilization Fund instead of the general fund.
Petition for child in need of services or in need of supervision. Authorizes a guardian ad litem representing a child to file a petition for such child alleging he is in need of services or in need of supervision. The bill also provides that if an intake officer refuses to file a petition alleging that a child is in need of services or in need of supervision when such petition is sought by the parent or legal guardian of such child, he shall provide a written explanation that details the reasons for such refusal and shall provide information to such parent or legal guardian regarding any agency other than the court that can provide services for such child.
Virginia Consumer Protection Act; prohibited practices; mandatory fees disclosure. Prohibits a supplier in connection with a consumer transaction from advertising, displaying, or offering any pricing information for goods or services without prominently displaying the total price, which shall include all mandatory fees or charges other than taxes imposed. The bill defines "mandatory fees or charges" as any fee or surcharge that must be paid in order to purchase the advertised good or service, that is not reasonably avoidable, and that a reasonable consumer would expect to be included. The bill clarifies that such term does not include shipping fees or taxes or fees imposed by a government or government-approved entity.
