Virginia Public School Construction GrantsProgram and Fund; career and technical education programs eligible.Directs the Board of Education to revise the guidelines on theadministration of the Virginia Public School Construction GrantsProgram to explicitly clarify that grants provided to a qualifyingschool division under the Program may be used for construction, additions,infrastructure, site acquisition, and renovations for buildings andfacilities used for career and technical education programs providedat a regional comprehensive school. The bill also provides that "publicschool buildings and facilities" or "public school buildings" forthe purposes of the Program includes any school building or facilityused for career and technical education programs provided at any regional comprehensive school.
Tow truck drivers; prohibited acts. Prohibits tow truck drivers from driving by the scene of a wrecked or disabled vehicle for which a law-enforcement tow has been initiated by a law-enforcement agency, initiating contact with the owner or operator of such vehicle by soliciting or offering towing services, and towing such vehicle.
Disabled parking placards; validity; fees.Extends from six months to 12 months the maximum duration for whichthe DMV may issue a temporary removable windshield placard to a personwith a disability that limits or impairs his ability to walk or thatcreates a concern for his safety while walking. The bill also eliminatesthe fee for the issuance of temporary and permanent disabled parkingplacards and includes technical amendments.
Behavioral Health Commission; membership. Changes the composition of the Behavioral Health Commission by increasing from two to three the number of House appointees who are required to be members of the House Committee on Appropriations. This bill is identical to SB 125.
Larceny offenses; venue. Allows grand larcenyand embezzlement offenses to be prosecuted in any county or citywhere the victim of the larceny or embezzlement resides.
Multi-jurisdiction grand jury; elder abuse crimes.Adds the following to the list of crimes that a multi-jurisdictiongrand jury may investigate: (i) financial exploitation of a vulnerableadult, (ii) financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult by an agent,and (iii) abuse and neglect of a vulnerable adult. This bill is arecommendation of the Virginia Criminal Justice Conference.
Family and Children's Trust Fund; membership; powers and duties; counsel. Modifies the membership provisions of the Board of Trustees of the Family and Children's Trust Fund by (i) changing the ratio of appointed members such that the Governor appoints six, the Speaker of the House appoints five, and the Senate Committee on Rules appoints four; (ii) designating the Commissioner of Social Services or his designee as an ex officio member with nonvoting privileges; (iii) allowing Board members to be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties; and (iv) providing that the remainder of any term to which a member is appointed to fill a vacancy other than by expiration of term shall not constitute a term in determining the member's eligibility for reappointment with respect to the prohibition on members serving more than two successive terms. Under current law, the Commissioner is designated as a permanent member of the Board. The bill authorizes the Board to establish a nonprofit organization to assist in the details of administering its affairs and in raising funds and provides that legal services for the Board shall be provided by the Attorney General.
Charter; City of Bristol. Amends the City of Bristol's charter to provide for five voting precincts rather than four. The bill also replaces references to the personnel department with "human resources department" and makes changes related to the assignment of powers and duties. This bill is identical to SB 618.
Department of Motor Vehicles; medical review. Changes the standard for being denied a driver's license or having a driver's license reviewed or revoked for medical reasons by removing language regarding the presence of a disability or disease and requiring the existence of an impairment that will prevent the driver from exercising reasonable and ordinary control over a motor vehicle or drive a motor vehicle safely.
Charter; City of Virginia Beach; board of equalization. Amends the charter for the City of Virginia Beach by expanding the board of equalization from four members to five members and an alternate. This bill is identical to HB 415.
Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsman; created. Creates, within the Office of the State Inspector General, the Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsman (the Office) headed by an Ombudsman who is selected by a Corrections Oversight Committee (the Committee), also created by the bill. The bill provides that the Committee is made up of eight members of the General Assembly and 11 nonlegislative citizen members who monitor the activities of the Ombudsman and the Department of Corrections (the Department). The bill provides the Office with authority to conduct inspections at least once every three years and more often when warranted of Department or Board of Local and Regional Jails facilities and requires the Office to establish a confidential telephone hotline and paper and electronic forms for the submission of concerns, complaints, and inquiries by inmates, their family members and friends, and advocates. In addition, the bill requires the Committee to hold at least one public hearing per year and requires the Office to submit an annual report to the Governor, the Attorney General, the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice, the House Committee on Public Safety, the Committee, and the Director of the Department.
American Revolution 250 Commission; membership and staffing. Amends the membership of the American Revolution 250 Commission to allow for the appointment of ex officio members who are directors of historic homes, historic sites, or National Park Service sites or former legislative members of the Commission. The bill also provides for staff of the Commission to serve as the Commission's fiscal agent. This bill is identical to SB 117.
