Elections; precincts and polling places; noticeof changes mailed at least 30 days prior to election. Requiresnotice of any adopted change in an election district, precinct, orpolling place to be mailed to all registered voters subject to suchchange at least 30 days prior to the next election. Currently, suchnotice must be mailed at least 15 days prior.
Health insurance; pharmacy benefits managers; reporting requirements; civil penalty. Provides that a person that violates the existing requirement to obtain a license prior to providing pharmacy benefits management services or otherwise acting as a pharmacy benefits manager shall be subject to a civil penalty of $5,000 for each day on which such violation occurs. The bill adds additional requirements to existing reporting requirements for insurance carriers relating to pharmacy benefits managers. Such additional requirements include (i) the aggregate amount of a pharmacy benefits manager's retained rebates, as defined in the bill; (ii) a pharmacy benefits manager's aggregate retained rebate percentage, as defined in the bill; (iii) a pharmacy benefits manager's retained rebate percentage, as defined in the bill, for each health benefit plan; and (iv) the aggregate amount of administrative fees received by a pharmacy benefits manager.
Department of Medical Assistance Services; Medicaid Works access and utilization work group; report. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to convene a work group of relevant stakeholders to study and make recommendations to improve access to and successful utilization of the federal Medicaid Works program. The bill requires the work group to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committees on Appropriations and Health and Human Services and the Senate Committees on Education and Health and Finance and Appropriations by November 1, 2024. This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Disability Commission.
Notaries; fees. Raises from $5 to $10 theamount a notary may charge for taking and certifying the acknowledgmentof any writing, or administering and certifying an oath, or certifyingaffidavits and depositions of witnesses.
Cruelty to elephants; pain-inflicting training tools prohibited; actions for attachment; civil penalty. Prohibits using devices such as a bullhook, axe handle, or block and tackle or engaging in certain practices in order to discipline, train, or control the behavior of an elephant. The bill provides that any person who uses such devices or engages in certain practices that inflict fear or pain on or cause physical injury to an elephant is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 for the first offense and not to exceed $5,000 for subsequent violations. Finally, the bill provides that an action in equity may be brought to request an attachment for any devices prohibited by the bill against a person violating the provisions of the bill.
Department of Conservation and Recreation; two-yearpilot program; all-terrain power wheelchairs in state parks.Provides that the Department of Conservation and Recreation shall establish a two-year pilot program beginning October 1, 2024, andending October 30, 2026, to enhance accessibility for individualswith limited mobility in Virginia's state parks by providing all-terrainpower wheelchairs that may be used by such persons during their visits.The bill permits the Department to choose the locations for the pilotprogram and enter into a contract for the purchase of all-terrainpower wheelchairs to be used in the pilot program. The bill allowsthe Department to adopt guidelines to administer the pilot programand requires the Department to submit a report on the outcome ofthe pilot program to the Chairmen of the House Committees on Agriculture,Chesapeake and Natural Resources and Appropriations and the SenateCommittees on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources andFinance and Appropriations by November 1, 2026.
Health insurance; prior authorization. Requires that any provider contract between a carrier and a participating health care provider contain specific provisions that require that if a prior authorization request is approved for prescription drugs and such prescription drugs have been scheduled, provided, or delivered to the patient consistent with the authorization, the carrier shall not revoke, limit, condition, modify, or restrict that authorization unless (i) there is evidence that the authorization was obtained based on fraud or misrepresentation; (ii) final actions by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, other regulatory agencies, or the manufacturer remove the drug from the market, limit its use in a manner that affects the authorization, or communicate a patient safety issue that would affect the authorization alone or in combination with other authorizations; (iii) a combination of drugs prescribed would cause a drug interaction; or (iv) a generic or biosimilar is added to the prescription drug formulary. The bill provides that such provisions do not require a carrier to cover any benefit not otherwise covered or cover a prescription drug if the enrollee is no longer covered by a health plan on the date the prescription drug was scheduled, provided, or delivered. This bill is identical to HB 1134.
Health insurance; emergency services; mobile crisis response services. Provides that emergency services, with respect to an emergency medical condition, include, as it relates to any mental health services or substance abuse services rendered at a behavioral health crisis service provider, (i) a behavioral health assessment that is within the capability of a behavioral health crisis service provider, including ancillary services routinely available to evaluate such emergency medical condition, and (ii) such further examination and treatment, to the extent that they are within the capabilities of the staff and facilities available at the behavioral health crisis service provider, as are required so that the patient's condition does not deteriorate. This bill is identical to HB 601.
Insurance; dental carriers; annual report. Requires each dental carrier, beginning in 2025, to annually, on or before April 30, file with the State Corporation Commission a report that includes the actual loss ratio, defined in the bill, for the preceding calendar year and any such other information as the Commission may require. The bill requires the Commission to post such reports on its website. The bill requires the Bureau of Insurance to evaluate the effectiveness of informing the public on the information being reported and to make recommendations, if any, on the continuation or modification of the obligation of dental carriers to report such information. The bill also requires the Commission to convene a work group of interested stakeholders to determine if any revisions are necessary to the Code of Virginia regarding ethics and fairness in dental carrier business practices and of health care providers of dental services. The work group is required to report its recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor on or before October 1, 2024. This bill is identical to HB 1132.
Department of Fire Programs; work group; options for local government employees who respond to emergencies with toxic material exposure. Directs the Department of Fire Programs to convene a work group to identify and analyze options to help ensure that local government employees who respond to emergencies that expose them to toxic materials have appropriate preemptive and ongoing health care and are able to pay any health expenses related to such emergency and its aftereffects that are not covered by relevant health insurance plans. The work group is directed to report its findings to the General Assembly by November 1, 2024. This bill is identical to HB 133.
Maximum width of vehicles; school buses.Increases from 100 inches to 102 inches the maximum total outsidewidth permitted for school buses.
Department of Human Resource Management; employee designation and payment policies; nursing staff at state psychiatric hospitals. Directs the Department of Human Resource Management to amend its policies to authorize the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and state psychiatric hospitals to designate as full-time employees nursing staff and psychiatric technicians who work at least 36 hours per week to permit state hospitals to use 12-hour shifts for such staff. The bill prohibits the Department from requiring reductions in pay or other benefits for such employees based solely on the fact that the employee works 36 hours per week. The bill also directs the Department to examine whether the policy change should be extended to comparable direct care positions in other executive branch agencies to improve recruitment and retention. As introduced, this bill is a recommendation of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission and the Behavioral Health Commission. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025.
