Virginia Bills

Authorizes the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (Council) to publish data on the proportion of graduates of each public institution of higher education and each nonprofit private institution of higher education eligible to participate in the Tuition Assistance Grant Program who are employed at 18 months and five years after the date of graduation. The bill directs that the data include the program and the program level, as recognized by the Council, for each degree awarded by each institution; the percentage of graduates known to be employed in the Commonwealth; the average salary and the average higher education-related debt for the graduates on which the data is based; rates of enrollment in remedial coursework for each institution; individual student credit accumulation for each institution; rates of postsecondary degree completion; and any other information that the Council determines is necessary to address adequate preparation for success in postsecondary education and alignment between secondary and postsecondary education. The bill requires each such institution of higher education to provide a link to such published postsecondary education and employment data.

Makes several changes to the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program, including adding requirements that (i) each student eligible for the Program receive a grant from the institution's appropriations for undergraduate student financial assistance before Commonwealth Award grants are awarded to students with equivalent remaining need, (ii) each eligible student receive a Program grant in an amount greater than Commonwealth Award grants awarded to students with equivalent remaining need, (iii) each eligible student receive a Program grant in an amount greater than the grant of each eligible student with equivalent remaining need in the next-lowest class level, and (iv) each Program grant be determined by a proportionate award schedule adopted by each institution and vary according to each student's remaining need and the total of tuition, fees, and other necessary charges, including books. This bill is identical to

Requires any neighborhood organization submitting a proposal to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for an allocation of tax credits for the program year beginning July 1, 2017, to include with its proposal a list of all of the localities in which the organization provided services during the 2016 program year. The Department of Education shall aggregate the information and submit it to the Chairmen of the House Committees on Appropriations and Finance, the Senate Committee on Finance, and the Joint Subcommittee to Evaluate Tax Preferences.

Authorizes the Director of the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity to adopt regulations that mandate certification without any additional paperwork of any small, women-owned, or minority-owned business that has obtained certification under any federal small, women-owned, and minority-owned business certification program.

Authorizes the Board of Pharmacy (Board) to designate, deschedule, or reschedule as a controlled substance any substance 30 days after publication in the Federal Register of a final or interim final order or rule designating such substance as a controlled substance or descheduling or rescheduling such substance. Under current law, the Board may act 120 days from such publication date. The bill also provides that a person is immune from prosecution for prescribing, administering, dispensing, or possessing pursuant to a valid prescription a substance approved as a prescription drug by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on or after July 1, 2017, in accordance with a final or interim final order or rule despite the fact that such substance has not been scheduled by the Board. The immunity provided by the bill remains in effect until the earlier of (i) nine months from the date of the publication of the interim final order or rule or, if published within nine months of the interim final order or rule, the final order or rule or (ii) the substance is scheduled by the Board or by law. This bill is identical to

Permits vehicles used or operated by federally licensed amateur radio operators participating in emergency communications drills on behalf of federal, state, or local authorities or providing communications services to localities for public service events authorized by the Department of Transportation where the event is being conducted to be equipped with flashing, blinking, or alternating amber lights, provided that the lights are not lit while the vehicle is in motion.

Extends the sunset date of the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Commission from July 1, 2017, to July 1, 2020, and makes a technical correction to the reporting requirement of the Commission. This bill is identical to

Authorizes Washington County to impose a tax on admissions to a multi-sports complex and entertainment venue that (i) is located on land that contains at least 250 acres and (ii) is in business on or before June 30, 2027. For purposes of the tax, "entertainment venue" does not include a movie theater. The tax shall not exceed 10 percent of the amount of charge for admission to any such venue. The bill expires on July 1, 2027, if no such venue is in business on or before June 30, 2027.