Public education; student literacy measures. Clarifies several provisions of the Virginia Literacy Act (the Act), enacted during the 2022 Regular Session of the General Assembly and effective with the 2024-2025 school year, including (i) clarifying that the term "evidence-based literacy instruction" does not include practices that instruct students to gain meaning from print through the use of (a) three-cueing, which includes semantic, syntactic, and graphophonic cues; (b) meaning, structure, and visual cues; or (c) visual memory for word recognition; (ii) removing the option to use a literacy screener approved by the Department of Education for certain purposes enumerated in the Act; (iii) requiring the Department to develop a list of core literacy curricula for students in kindergarten through grade five and supplemental instruction practices and programs and intervention programs for students in kindergarten through grade eight that consist of evidence-based literacy instruction aligned with science-based reading research; and (iv) requiring each divisionwide literacy plan to address how the local school board will align (a) core reading and literacy curriculum for students in kindergarten through grade five and (b) screening, supplemental instruction, and interventions for students in kindergarten through grade eight with evidence-based literacy instruction practices aligned with science-based reading research. This bill is identical to SB 624.
Public schools; transfer and management of scholastic records; disclosure of information in court notices; transfer of disciplinary records; requirements. Requires the superintendent of any school division to, upon receiving notification of the disposition in a delinquency case concerning a student who is not enrolled in such school division, forward such notification to the superintendent of the school division where such student is enrolled or where such student intends to enroll, as evidenced by the receipt of a request from the other school division for such student's scholastic records. Current law only permits the superintendent of any such school division to forward such notification to the superintendent of the school division in which the student is currently enrolled. The bill also requires a copy of the complete student disciplinary records of any student transferring from one school division to another to be transferred to the school division to which such student is transferring, upon request from such school division. This bill is identical to SB 443.
Long-term services and support screening; PACE programs; emergency. Allows qualified staff of programs of all-inclusive care for the elderly (PACE) to conduct the required long-term services and supports screening in accordance with requirements established by the Department of Medical Assistance Services. Under the bill, when a screening team determines that it is unable to complete a long-term services and supports screening within 30 days, or an individual requests enrollment in a PACE program, the screening team shall decide which entity can most expeditiously conduct the screening. Under the bill, qualified staff of a PACE program shall conduct the screening if the screening team determines that it is the most expeditious option. The bill directs the Department to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill and contains an emergency clause. This bill is identical to SB 620.
Interlocutory ruling, order, or action; motionto reconsider. Clarifies that no litigant, after making an objection or motion known to the court, shall be required to move for reconsiderationto preserve his right to appeal a ruling, order, or action of thecourt, even if such ruling, order, or action is without prejudiceto a motion to reconsider. This bill is a recommendation of the Boyd-GravesConference.
Entry or modification of child and spousal supportorders; determination of support overages. Specifies that allorders directing or modifying the payment of spousal support wherethere are minor children whom the parties have a mutual duty to supportand all orders directing the payment of child support shall containa statement as to whether support overages exist and certain detailsabout such overages.
Quitclaim and release property rights. Authorizesthe Department of Conservation and Recreation to quitclaim and releasecertain real property rights related to a portion of real estateowned by the Department related to an offsite well and water systemserving New River Trail State Park in Wythe County.
Crisis stabilization services; facilities licensed by Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; nursing homes; dispensing and administration of drugs; emergency. Permits facilities licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services that provide crisis stabilization services to maintain a stock of Schedules II through VI controlled substances necessary for immediate treatment of patients admitted to such facility. Under current law, maintenance of a stock of Schedule VI controlled substances is allowed under certain conditions, but a stock of Schedules II through V controlled substances may be maintained only if authorized by federal law and Board of Pharmacy regulations. The bill also allows automated drug dispensing systems and remote dispensing systems to be used by state facilities established pursuant to Title 37.2 (Behavioral Health and Developmental Services), facilities that provide crisis stabilization services, nursing homes, and other facilities authorized by the Board of Pharmacy that meet certain conditions. The bill contains an emergency clause, directs the Board of Pharmacy to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill, incorporates HB 1038, and is identical to SB 568.
Resale Disclosure Act; delivery of resale certificate; remedies. Provides that failure to deliver a resale certificate within 14 days, as required by the Resale Disclosure Act, deems the resale certificate unavailable. The bill grants a purchaser three days from the date of ratification of the contract or the date of receipt of the resale certificate or notice that such certificate is unavailable, as applicable, to cancel the contract. Additionally, the bill (i) excludes from the resale certificate requirements of the Act an initial disposition of a lot to a person who is not acquiring the lot for his own residence and (ii) allows a resale certificate to be delivered to a purchaser's agent. Current law excludes the resale certificate requirements of the Act for any initial disposition, regardless of its intended use, and only allows a resale certificate to be delivered to a purchaser. Finally, the bill mandates the seller to be responsible for all fees associated with the preparation and delivery of the financial update but allows the settlement agent or other requesting party to pay such fees up front, regardless of whether such settlement agent or other requesting party requests to be reimbursed for such fees from the seller.
Making copy of jury panel available to counsel. Increases from three to five full business days before a trial the timeframe within which the clerk or sheriff or other officer responsible for notifying jurors to appear in court for the trial of a case must make available to all counsel of record a copy of the jury panel to be used for the trial of such case.
Pari-mutuel wagering; historical horse racing; percentage retained for distribution. Provides that with respect to all authorized historical horse racing terminals, of the amount that a horse racing licensee retains from wagering on historical horse racing pools, 0.025 percent shall be provided to each of the following: (i) the Virginia Breeders Fund; (ii) the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, for its equine programs; (iii) the Virginia Horse Center Foundation; and (iv) the Virginia Horse Industry Board. The bill also provides that, in addition to the amount horse racing licensees distribute to localities and the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund under current law, such licensees shall distribute the remainder of the percentage retained to the Commonwealth as a license tax. This bill is identical to SB 426.
Permissible venue; personal injury and wrongful death actions; appointment of administrator on behalf of estate of decedent. Provides that in a personal injury or wrongful death action in which an administrator is appointed on behalf of the estate of a decedent, permissible venue shall lie only in a county or city in which venue would have been properly laid if the person for whom such appointment is made had survived. This bill is a recommendation of the Boyd-Graves Conference and is identical to SB 138.
Restaurant exemptions; certain organizations participating in fundraising events. Clarifies that the provision in current law that exempts certain organizations from provisions applicable to restaurants, including churches, fraternal or school organizations, organizations that are exempt from taxation under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and volunteer fire departments and volunteer emergency medical services agencies, applies when such organizations offer food for sale to the public as a participant in an occasional fundraising event, provided that certain conditions are met. Current law exempts such organizations from provisions applicable to restaurants when such organizations hold occasional fundraisers that offer food for sale to the public, provided that certain conditions are met.
