Virginia Bills

Requires all entities approved by the Board of Medical Assistance Services to receive applications and to determine eligibility for medical assistance to provide each applicant for medical assistance with information about advance directives pursuant to Article 8 (§ 54.1-2981 et seq.) of Chapter 29 of Title 54.1, including information about the purpose and benefits of advance directives and how the applicant may make an advance directive.

Allows a person to petition for expungement of convictions and deferred disposition dismissals for marijuana possession, underage alcohol possession, and using a false ID to obtain alcohol when the offense occurred prior to the person's twenty-first birthday, all court costs, fines, and restitution have been paid, and five years have elapsed since the date of completion of all terms of sentencing and probation.

Creates the Host Localities Economic Development Incentive Fund, administered by the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, to support economic development, growth of existing businesses, and job creation related to the Port of Virginia in one or more host localities. The bill also creates the Host Localities Transportation Support Fund, administered by the Secretary of Transportation, to support transportation projects and facilities related to the Port of Virginia in one or more host localities. The provisions of the bill are contingent on funding in a general appropriation act.

Directs the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, in conjunction with the relevant stakeholders, to develop a comprehensive plan, by November 1, 2017, for the provision of forensic discharge planning services at local and regional correctional facilities for persons who have serious mental illnesses who are to be released from such facilities. This bill is identical to

Changes the definition of small business, beginning July 1, 2018, to meet the small business size standards established by the regulations of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The bill provides that any business entity that the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (the Department) has certified as a small business prior to July 1, 2018, shall have such certification extended for a three-year period. The bill also provides that the Director of the Department adopt regulations that will, beginning July 1, 2018, establish a three-year certification period for small businesses to be based on the dominant business activity of each small business entity. The bill (i) includes a definition of "dominant business activity"; (ii) provides for the Department to enter into a memorandum of understanding with appropriate agencies establishing provisions for the sharing of information, consistent with the requirements of state and federal law; (iii) authorizes the Director to terminate a contract with any independent certifying entities to assist in the certification of small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses based on performance or a written determination by the Director that continuing the contract is not practicable, and (iv) requires the Secretary of Commerce and Trade to evaluate the effect of the implementation of the new definition at three-year intervals, reporting to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1, 2021, and December 1, 2024.

Requires the Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to amend regulations to include (i) occupational therapists in the definitions of "Qualified Mental Health Professional - Adult," "Qualified Mental Health Professional - Child," and "Qualified Mental Retardation Professional" and (ii) occupational therapy assistants in the definition of "Qualified Paraprofessional in Mental Health." In amending these definitions, the Board shall require educational and clinical experience for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants that is substantially equivalent to comparable professionals listed in the current regulations. The bill requires the Board to enact regulations to be effective within 280 days.

Requires the Commissioner of Elections to establish and supervise a pilot program to permit an active duty member of a uniformed service who has been called to duty for deployment without access to the United States mail and who is applying for or casting a military-overseas ballot to sign the military-overseas ballot application, the statement of voter accompanying the military-overseas ballot, and any other related documents using his digital signature associated with his Common Access Card issued by the U.S. Department of Defense or any replacement to the Common Access Card issued by the U.S. Department of Defense. The bill also requires the system through which a covered voter may apply for and receive voter registration materials, military-overseas ballots, and other information to be capable of accepting the submission of voted military-overseas ballots cast by any active duty member of a uniformed service who has been called to duty for deployment without access to the United States mail. The bill does not become effective unless an appropriation effectuating the purposes of the bill is included in an appropriation act passed in 2017 by the General Assembly that becomes law. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2019.