Motion picture production tax credit; media related exemptions. Extends from January 1, 2022, to January 1, 2027, the sunset of the motion picture production tax credit and transfers the certifying authority for the credit from the Virginia Film Office to the Virginia Tourism Authority. The bill also extends from July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2027, the sunset for certain sales tax exemptions related to film production and distribution. This bill is identical to SB 923.
Removal of dangerous roadside conditions; local option. Authorizes any locality, by ordinance, to require the owner of any property located adjacent to a right-of-way maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation to remove any and all trees, tree limbs, shrubs, high grass, or other substance that might dangerously obstruct the line of sight of a driver, be involved in a collision with a vehicle, or interfere with the safe operation of a vehicle. This bill is identical to SB 225.
Absentee voting; counting military and overseas absentee ballots received after close of polls on election day. Provides that absentee ballots cast by military and overseas absentee voters that are (i) received after the close of the polls on any election day but before 5:00 p.m. on the fourth business day before the State Board of Elections meets to ascertain the results of the election and (ii) postmarked on or before the date of such election are to be counted if the voter is found entitled to vote. The bill provides that a postmark includes any other official indicia of confirmation of mailing by the United States Postal Service or other postal or delivery service. Under current law, such ballots cast by military and overseas absentee voters would be counted in this manner regardless of the date of any postmark, but only if the absentee ballot had been requested on or before, but not sent by, the deadline for making absentee ballots available.
Child care providers; out-of-state backgroundchecks. Requires certain child care providers and employees orvolunteers thereof to submit to background checks that include acriminal history record information check and sex offender registrycheck in any state in which the applicant has resided in the precedingfive years.
Health insurance; access for a mother to samefacility as her newborn. Requires health insurers to providecoverage for the birth mother of a newborn infant who is currentlyadmitted to a facility for delivery-related services and whose newborninfant is receiving services at a different facility to receive suchdelivery-related services, if available, at the facility where thenewborn infant is receiving services. The bill provides that suchcoverage (i) shall not require any prior authorization determination, regardless of whether the services are provided on an in-networkor out-of-network basis; (ii) is provided without regard to whetherthe health care provider furnishing the services is a participatinghealth care provider with respect to such services; (iii) for out-of-networkservices, shall not impose any administrative requirement or limitationon coverage that is more restrictive than the requirements or limitationsthat apply to such services provided in-network; and (iv) for out-of-networkservices, not require any copayment amounts or coinsurance rates,or apply any deductible except to the extent such amounts, rates,or deductibles would apply to in-network services. The bill providesthat if the services are provided out-of-network, any balance paymentshall be settled in the same manner as balance payments for emergencyservices.
Department of Health; work group; nursing home workforce. Directs the Department of Health to convene a work group to review and make recommendations on increasing the availability of the clinical workforce for nursing homes in the Commonwealth. The work group shall include stakeholder groups as appropriate. The bill directs the Department to collaborate with the Department of Health Professions, the Governor's Chief Workforce Development Advisor, and other state agencies as appropriate. The bill directs the Department to report all recommendations to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions on or before November 15, 2020.
Unlawful detainer; expungement. Creates a process by which unlawful detainer actions filed in a general district court that have been dismissed or nonsuited may be expunged upon request of the defendant to such action. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2022, and the provisions of the bill are contingent on funding in a general appropriation act.
Appeal from district court; civil cases; noticeof docketing. Provides that the clerk of the appellate courtto which a civil case is appealed shall provide notice of the docketingof such case to the appellee by certified mail and to the counselfor the parties by regular mail. The bill removes language allowingthe clerk to provide such notice by posting it on the front doorof the courtroom and instead states that notice shall be made inconformity with provisions for notice for service of process in allcivil cases.
Alcoholic beverage control; culinary lodging resorts. Allows culinary lodging resorts, as defined in the bill, to obtain a mixed beverage restaurant license, which authorizes such resorts to (i) sell alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption, without regard to the amount of gross receipts from the sale of food prepared and consumed on the premises, in areas upon the licensed premises approved by the Board of Directors of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority and other designated areas of the resort, including outdoor areas under the control of the licensee; and (ii) permit the possession and consumption of lawfully acquired alcoholic beverages by persons to whom overnight lodging is being provided in bedrooms and private guest rooms. The bill also allows culinary lodging resorts to obtain a combined mixed beverage restaurant and caterer's license, which authorizes the licensee to operate as both a mixed beverage restaurant and mixed beverage caterer at the same business premises designated in the license, with a common alcoholic beverage inventory for purposes of the restaurant and catering operations.
Regulation of parking by certain counties and towns. Adds the County of Frederick and the Town of West Point to the list of counties and towns that are permitted to regulate or prohibit the parking on any public highway of watercraft, boat trailers, motor homes, and camping trailers and to regulate or prohibit the parking of commercial vehicles on any public highway in a residence district.
Disability insurance; childbirth. Requires each insurer proposing to issue individual or group accident and sickness insurance policies providing short-term disability income protection coverage whose policies provide coverage for short-term disability arising out of childbirth to provide coverage for a payable benefit of at least 12 weeks following childbirth for such a disability. The bill also requires the State Corporation Commission to solicit comments from insurance industry stakeholders on the impact of the bill on current and future short-term disability policyholders and to report to the Chairs of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor prior to December 1, 2020.
Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Prevention Fund; report. Creates the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Prevention Fund, which shall be administered by the Department of Social Services, in coordination with the Department of Health and the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, and used to develop, support, and evaluate programs that prevent sexual and domestic violence through strategies that (i) promote healthy practices related to relationships, sexuality, and social-emotional development and (ii) counteract the factors associated with the initial perpetration of sexual and domestic violence. This bill is identical to HB 1015.
