Discipline; suspension; access to graded work. Requires school boards to adopt policies and procedures to ensure suspended students are able to access and complete graded work during and after the suspension.
State Trails Advisory Committee; sunset. Extends from January 1, 2021, to January 1, 2027, the sunset of theState Trails Advisory Committee. The committee assists the Commonwealthin developing and implementing a statewide system of attractive,sustainable, connected, and enduring trails for the perpetual useand enjoyment of the citizens of the Commonwealth and future generations.
Refusal of tests; restricted license. Allows a person convicted of a first offense of unreasonable refusal to have samples of his breath or blood taken for chemical tests to determine the alcohol content of his blood to petition the court 30 days after conviction for a restricted driver's license. The court may, for good cause shown, grant such restricted license for the same purposes as allowed for restricted licenses granted after conviction of driving under the influence if the person installs an ignition interlock system on each motor vehicle owned by or registered to the person and enters into and successfully completes an alcohol safety action program. The bill provides that such restricted license shall not permit any person to operate a commercial motor vehicle.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; boatramp fees; exemptions. Authorizes the Department of Game andInland Fisheries to charge a fee for the use of any facility thatthe Department manages and any boat ramp that the Department ownsor manages. Current law authorizes such fee only for a facility thatis owned by the Department. The bill adds exemptions from such feesfor a person holding a valid access permit issued by the Departmentand any person who is a passenger in but not the owner or operator of a paddlecraft or registered vessel. The bill includes technicalchanges.
James State Scenic River designation. Addsa 20-mile portion of the James River located in Albemarle, Buckingham,and Fluvanna Counties to the James State Scenic River, a componentof the Virginia Scenic Rivers System.
Elections; campaign finance; committee depositoriesand reimbursement. Clarifies that committee treasurers may payexpenses by electronic debit drawn on a designated committee depository.Current law only allows for a check drawn on such depository. Thebill also clarifies that reimbursements may be made for electronicdebit payments made by an authorized committee representative. Thebill contains technical amendments.
Disturbing animals; certain species. Changesfrom "molest" to "disturb" the term used in describing certain unlawfulacts against animals of certain species.
Management of the menhaden fishery. Requires the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to adopt regulations necessary to manage Atlantic menhaden, including those necessary to comply with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden. The bill repeals several Code sections relating to quotas, allocation of allowable landings, and administrative procedures that will be included in a regulatory framework for managing the fishery. The bill directs the Commissioner of Marine Resources to establish a Menhaden Management Advisory Committee to provide guidance to the Commission. This bill incorporates SB 157, SB 194, SB 357, SB 402, and SB 1054 and is identical to HB 1448. The bill contains an emergency clause.
Zoning for wireless communications infrastructure. Authorizes a locality to disapprove an application submitted for an administrative review-eligible project or for any zoning approval required for a standard process project that proposes to locate a new structure, or to co-locate a wireless facility, in an area where all cable and public utility facilities are required to be placed underground by a date certain or encouraged to be undergrounded as part of a transportation improvement project or rezoning proceeding as set forth in objectives contained in a comprehensive plan, on grounds that an applicant has not given written notice to adjacent landowners at least 15 days before it applies to locate a new structure in the area.
Clinch State Scenic River. Designates a 66.8-mile segment of the Clinch River in Tazewell and Russell Counties as part of the Clinch State Scenic River, a component of the Virginia Scenic Rivers System. The bill provides that nothing shall preclude the continued operation and maintenance of existing dams in the designated section of river. The bill contains a technical amendment. This bill is identical to SB 478.
Investment of public funds; ratings agencies. Allows ratings by Fitch Ratings to be used for determining whether certain investments are permissible for public funds. Under current law, only ratings by Standard & Poor's or Moody's Investors Service may be used. The bill contains technical amendments, including the removal of obsolete references to ratings by Duff & Phelps.
Local regulation of unmanned aircraft. Authorizes a political subdivision, by ordinance or regulation, to regulate the take-off or landing of certain unmanned aircraft on property owned by the political subdivision in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the Department of Aviation. The bill requires the locality to report the ordinance or regulation to the Department and directs the Department to publish a summary on the locality's website. The bill also directs the Department, by January 1, 2021, to develop rules and regulations specific to take-offs and landings in consultation with representatives of the unmanned aircraft system industry, small and medium-sized businesses utilizing unmanned aircraft systems, localities, and other stakeholders. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2021. This bill incorporates HB 311 and HB 1227.
