Designates "Song of the Mountains" as the state television series. This bill is identical to
Requires the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to use certain funds to purchase nutrient credits for point or nonpoint sources that achieve reductions beyond the requirements of state or federal law or the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan. The bill directs DEQ to establish procedures for distributing moneys from the Nutrient Offset Fund with certain requirements. The bill requires the Director of DEQ to consider the recommendations of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade and the requirements of the State Water Control Law (§ 62.1-44.2 et seq.) in the sale of nutrient credits to new or expanding private facilities. The bill also removes the priority given to nutrient offsets produced from facilities that generate electricity from animal waste. The bill renames nutrient offsets as nutrient credits.
Extends the maximum period that the State Corporation Commission is authorized to suspend the implementation of a proposed rate increase rates from 150 to 180 days. The measure applies only to certain investor-owned water utilities.
Allows any motor vehicle inspection station to accept appointments for safety inspections in addition to accepting vehicles on a first-come, first-served basis, so long as at least one lane is reserved for the sole purpose of first-come, first-served safety inspections.
Adds defamation to the causes of action from which a citizen shall be immune when making statements (i) regarding matters of public concern to a third party or (ii) at a public hearing before the governing body of any locality or other political subdivision, or the boards, commissions, agencies, and authorities thereof, and other governing bodies of any local governmental entity. The bill further provides that the immunity does not apply to any statements made with actual or constructive knowledge that they are false, or with reckless disregard for whether they are false. This bill is identical to
Precludes a person who has been convicted of any felony defined as an act of violence from being eligible for first offender status for assault and battery against a family or household member unless the attorney for the Commonwealth does not object to the person being placed on first offender status. Under current law, only prior convictions for assault and battery against a family or household member serve as a disqualifier.
Provides relief in the amount of $1,548,439 to Keith Allen Harward, who was incarcerated from 1983 until 2016 after being convicted of first degree murder. In 2016 he was granted a Writ of Actual Innocence by the Supreme Court of Virginia based upon DNA evidence that excluded Mr. Harward as the perpetrator of the crime. Mr. Harward's relief would be paid as follows: (i) an initial lump sum of $309,688 to be paid within 60 days immediately following the execution of a release by Mr. Harward from any present or future claims he may have and (ii) the sum of $1,238,751 to purchase an annuity before October 1, 2017, for the primary benefit of Mr. Harward with the terms structured in his best interests. In addition, the bill entitles Mr. Harward to receive up to $10,000 for tuition for career and technical training within the Virginia Community College System. This bill is identical to
Establishes the Emergency Department Care Coordination Program in the Department of Health to provide a single, statewide technology solution that connects all hospital emergency departments in the Commonwealth to facilitate real-time communication and collaboration between physicians, other health care providers, and other clinical and care management personnel for patients receiving services in hospital emergency departments, for the purpose of improving the quality of patient care services. The bill does not become effective unless and until the Commonwealth receives federal Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act funds to implement its provisions. This bill is identical to
Directs the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, in consultation with the staff of the State Corporation Commission, to report annually, commencing no later than December 15, 2018, on the progress the Commonwealth is making toward meeting the goal adopted in 2007 of reducing the consumption of electric energy by retail customers by the year 2022 by an amount equal to 10 percent of the amount of electric energy consumed by retail customers in 2006. The bill requires the reports to be made to the General Assembly, the Governor, and the Governor's Executive Committee on Energy Efficiency.
Prioritizes debts owed for child support arrearages over debts and taxes due to localities and other, unenumerated claims against the estate of a decedent.
Provides an exception to the prohibition against contracts between employing agencies and their officers or employees for contracts by an officer or employee of a soil and water conservation district or an immediate family member of such officer or employee to participate in a cost-share program for the installation of best management practices to improve water quality. The exception does not apply to subcontracts or other agreements entered into to provide services for implementation of a cost-share contract established under such program. This bill is identical to
Requires, as a prerequisite for approval, that any out-of-state business applying with the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity for certification in Virginia as a small, women-owned, or minority-owned business possess the equivalent certification in the business's state of origin. The bill exempts an out-of-state business located in a state that does not have a small, women-owned, or minority-owned business certification program.
