Massage therapists; qualifications; license. Provides that an applicant who completed a massage therapy educational program in a foreign country may apply for licensure as a massage therapist upon submission of evidence that the applicant (i) is at least 18 years old, (ii) has successfully completed a massage therapy educational program that is comparable to a massage therapy educational program required for licensure by the Board, (iii) has passed a Board-approved English language proficiency examination, and (iv) has not committed any acts or omissions that would be grounds for disciplinary action or denial of licensure. The Board of Nursing shall issue a license to an applicant who completed his massage therapy educational program in a foreign country upon submission of evidence of completion of the English-language version of the Licensing Examination of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards or a comparable examination.
Protected voter status; certain evidence notrequired. Removes the requirement that a person who is in fearfor his personal safety from another person who has threatened orstalked him must provide evidence that he has filed a complaint witha magistrate or law-enforcement official against such other person in order to be granted protected voter status. The bill does not eliminate the requirement that he submit a signed written statementthat he is in fear for his personal safety for him to be grantedprotected voter status.
Parental educational information; tobacco andnicotine vapor products. Requires each school board to annuallyprovide parents of pupils in grades kindergarten through 12 informationregarding the health dangers of tobacco and nicotine vapor products. The bill requires that the information provided be consistent withguidelines set forth by the Department of Education.
Department of Education; common statewide definition; "students with limited or interrupted formal education." Requires the Department of Education to develop and adopt a common statewide definition for the term "students with limited or interrupted formal education" and to require local school divisions to report on the number of students who fall under such definition as part of the required data collection and reporting on average daily membership for the purposes of documenting any changes in such numbers over time. The bill requires that theBoard of Education evaluate the supports and programs available to "students with limited or interrupted formal education" in local school divisions to determine whether the calculations for the school quality indicators within the Board's Regulations Establishing the Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia are appropriate or whether changes in methodology could be made to more comprehensively measure the academic and nonacademic achievement of such student population.
Driver's license suspensions for certain non-driving related offenses. Removes the existing provisions that allow a person's driver's license to be suspended (i) when he is convicted of or placed on deferred disposition for a drug offense; (ii) for non-payment of certain fees owed to a local correctional facility or regional jail; and (iii) for shoplifting motor fuel. The provisions of the bill are contingent on funding in a general appropriation act.
Motor vehicle dealer advertising. Repeals provisions of the Motor Vehicle Dealer Act (the Act) that state the intent of the article as it relates to advertising and provide that the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles is solely responsible for the enforcement of the article. The bill retains existing language clarifying that the authority granted in the Act is in addition to the authority granted pursuant to the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Code Commission.
Possession of marijuana; cannabidiol oil orTHC-A oil. Provides that no person shall be arrested or prosecutedfor possession of marijuana, subject to any civil penalty, deniedany right or privilege, or subject to any disciplinary action bya professional licensing board for possessing marijuana in the formof cannabidiol oil or THC-A oil if such person possessed such oilpursuant to a valid written certification issued by a practitionerin the course of his professional practice. The bill also provides that no agent or employee of a pharmaceutical processor shall bearrested or prosecuted for possession or manufacture of marijuanaor for possession, manufacture, or distribution of cannabidiol oilor THC-A oil, or subject to any civil penalty, denied any right orprivilege, or subject to any disciplinary action by a professionallicensing board if such agent or employee (i) possessed or manufacturedsuch marijuana for the purposes of producing cannabidiol oil or THC-Aoil or (ii) possessed, manufactured, or distributed such cannabidioloil or THC-A oil in accordance with law. Current law provides thatsuch possession of marijuana in the form of cannabidiol oil or THC-Aoil in such circumstances is an affirmative defense to such charges.
Health care providers; screening of patientsfor prenatal and postpartum depression; training. Directs theBoards of Medicine and Nursing to adopt regulations requiring licenseeswho provide primary, maternity, obstetrical, or gynecological healthcare services to complete a training program on prenatal and postnatal depression in women. Such training program shall include informationon risk factors for and signs and symptoms of prenatal and postnatal depression, resources for the treatment and management of prenataland postnatal depression, and steps the practitioner can take tolink patients to such resources. The bill also requires the Boardof Medicine to adopt regulations requiring licensees who provide primary,maternity, obstetrical, or gynecological health care services toscreen all patients who are pregnant or who have been pregnant withinthe previous five years for prenatal or postnatal depression or other depression, as appropriate.
Driver's license suspensions for certain non-driving related offenses. Removes the existing provisions that allow a person's driver's license to be suspended (i) when he is convicted of or placed on deferred disposition for a drug offense, (ii) for non-payment of certain fees owed to a local correctional facility or regional jail, and (iii) for shoplifting motor fuel. This bill is identical to SB 513.
Autism Advisory Council; sunset. Extendsthe sunset provision of the Autism Advisory Council from July 1,2020, to July 1, 2022.
Secretaries of Education and Health and Human Resources; work group; process for approval of residential psychiatric placement and services; report. Directs the Secretaries of Education and Health and Human Resources to establish a work group, co-chaired by the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Director of Medical Assistance Services, to study the current process for approval of residential psychiatric services for children and adolescents and requires the work group to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Finance, and the Joint Subcommittee to Study Mental Health Services in the Commonwealth in the 21st Century by December 1, 2020.
Prohibition on possession of stun weapon on school property; exemptions. Allows the holder of a valid concealed handgun permit to possess a stun weapon on school property while in a motor vehicle in a parking lot, traffic circle, or other means of vehicular ingress or egress to the school. The bill also allows a stun weapon to be stored in a closed container in a motor vehicle while such vehicle is on school property.
