Affordable housing dwelling unit ordinances. Allows certain localities to adopt affordable housing dwelling unit ordinances. The governing body of any locality, other than localities to which certain current affordable housing provisions apply, may by amendment to the zoning ordinances of such locality provide for an affordable housing dwelling unit program. Such program shall address housing needs, promote a full range of housing choices, and encourage the construction and continued existence of housing affordable to low-and-moderate-income citizens by providing for increases in density to the applicant in exchange for the applicant's voluntarily electing to provide such affordable housing. Any local ordinance may authorize the governing body to (i) establish qualifying jurisdiction-wide affordable dwelling unit sales prices based on local market conditions, (ii) establish jurisdiction-wide affordable dwelling unit qualifying income guidelines, and (iii) offer incentives other than density increases, such as reductions or waiver of permit, development, and infrastructure fees, as the governing body deems appropriate to encourage the provision of affordable housing.The bill provides that any zoning ordinance establishing an affordable housing dwelling unit program may include reasonable regulations and provisions as to any or all of the following: (a) for application of the requirements of an affordable housing dwelling unit program to any site, as defined by the locality, or a portion thereof at one location that is the subject of an application for rezoning or special exception or site plan or subdivision plat that yields, as submitted by the applicant, at an equivalent density greater than one unit per acre and that is located within an approved sewer area; (b) the waiver of any fees associated with the construction, renovation, or rehabilitation of a structure, including building permit fees, application review fees, and water and sewer connection fees; (c) for standards of compliance with the provisions of an affordable housing dwelling unit program and for the authority of the local governing body or its designee to enforce compliance with such standards and impose reasonable penalties for noncompliance, provided that such local zoning ordinance provide for an appeal process for any party aggrieved by a decision of the local governing body; and (d) various other provisions set out in the bill.Any zoning ordinance establishing such affordable housing dwelling unit program shall adopt the regulations and provisions set out in the bill to establish an affordable housing density bonus and development standards relief program. This bill is identical to SB 834.
Undergrounding electric transmission lines; pilot program. Specifies that one of the two projects that may be included in the pilot program for the undergrounding of electric transmission lines shall be for the relocation or conversion of an existing 230-kilovolt overhead line to an underground line. The measure provides that such a project may be approved if the estimated additional cost of placing the line, in whole or in part, underground does not exceed $40 million or, if greater than $40 million, does not exceed 2.5 times the cost of placing the same line overhead, which costs are borne by all of the utility's ratepayers through a rate adjustment clause. Currently the cost of such a project is ineligible if it exceeds 2.5 times the cost of placing the same line overhead. The measure provides that such a project may be approved for participation in the pilot program if its primary need is related to the economic development priorities and the comprehensive plan of the governing body of the locality in which at least a portion of line will be placed. The measure exempts a project that satisfies the criteria for participation in the pilot project from the requirement that the State Corporation Commission find that the transmission line is needed. The measure adds that the pilot program is created to further understanding of the benefits of undergrounding existing electric transmission lines to promote economic development. This bill is identical to HB 576.
Undergrounding electric transmission lines; pilot program. Specifies that one of the two projects that may be included in the pilot program for the undergrounding of electric transmission lines shall be for the relocation or conversion of an existing 230-kilovolt overhead line to an underground line. The measure provides that such a project may be approved if the estimated additional cost of placing the line, in whole or in part, underground does not exceed $40 million or, if greater than $40 million, does not exceed 2.5 times the costs of placing the same line overhead, which costs are borne by all of the utility's ratepayers through a rate adjustment clause. Currently the cost of such a project is ineligible if it exceeds 2.5 times the cost of placing the same line overhead. The measure provides that such a project may be approved for participation in the pilot program if its primary need is related to the economic development priorities and the comprehensive plan of the governing body of the locality in which at least a portion of line will be placed. The measure exempts a project that satisfies the criteria for participation in the pilot project from the requirement that the State Corporation Commission find that the transmission line is needed. The measure adds that the pilot program is created to further understanding of the benefits of undergrounding existing electric transmission lines to promote economic development. This bill is identical to SB 782.
Authority of local government employees to issue summonses for misdemeanor violations of local ordinances. Permits localities to appoint and train local government employees to enforce local ordinances by issuing summonses for misdemeanor violations of ordinances that are within the scope of the employee's employment with the exception of traffic offenses and those offenses set forth in Title 18.2, Crimes and Offenses Generally. The bill provides that such employees shall not have the power and authority of constables at common law and their power shall be limited to issuing such summonses in their locality.
Certified registered nurse anesthetists; prescriptive authority. Authorizes certified registered nurse anesthetists to prescribe Schedule II through Schedule VI controlled substances and devices to a patient requiring anesthesia, as part of the periprocedural care of the patient, provided that such prescribing is in accordance with requirements for practice by certified registered nurse anesthetists and is done under the supervision of a doctor of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, or dentistry. This bill is identical to HB 1059.
Local ordinance on grass cutting. Authorizes a locality located in Planning District 6 to enforce on residential land of one acre or less in an area zoned for agricultural use an ordinance requiring owners of property to cut the grass, weeds, and other foreign growth on such property. Current law prohibits such an ordinance from applying to land zoned for or in active farming operation.
Unauthorized use of electronic tracking device;penalty. Increases from a Class 3 misdemeanor to a Class 1 misdemeanorthe punishment for a person who installs or places an electronic tracking device through intentionally deceptive means and withoutconsent, or causes an electronic tracking device to be installedor placed through intentionally deceptive means and without consent,and uses such device to track the location of any person.
Public institutions of higher education; governingboards; educational programs. Requires all members of governingboards of public institutions of higher education to participatein educational programs designed to address the role, duties, andresponsibilities of the governing boards at least once within thefirst two years of membership and at least once within every twoyears of membership thereafter. Under current law, new members arerequired to participate in such programs at least once during theirfirst two years of membership. The bill requires each public institutionof higher education to maintain on its website the names of all voting members of the governing board who successfully complete such educationalprograms, as certified by the State Council of Higher Education forVirginia.
Alcoholic beverage control; interdiction; possessionor consumption of alcoholic beverages by interdicted persons; repeal.Repeals provisions allowing for a court to enter an order of interdictionprohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages to any person who has(i) been convicted of driving any automobile, truck, motorcycle,engine, or train while intoxicated; (ii) shown himself to be a habitualdrunkard; (iii) been found guilty of the illegal manufacture, possession,transportation, or sale of alcoholic beverages; or (iv) been foundguilty of maintaining a common nuisance. The bill also repeals provisionsmaking it a Class 1 misdemeanor for (a) any person to sell alcoholic beverages to any individual when at the time of such sale he knowsor has reason to believe that the individual to whom the sale ismade is interdicted, (b) any person to purchase alcoholic beveragesfor another person when at the time of such purchase he knows orhas reason to believe that the person for whom the alcoholic beverageis purchased is interdicted, or (c) any person who has been interdictedto possess any alcoholic beverages or be drunk in public. The billcontains technical amendments.
Protective orders; motions to dissolve filed by petitioner; ex parte hearing and issuance of order. Provides that, upon motion by a petitioner to dissolve a protective order, a dissolution order may be issued on an ex parte basis with or without a hearing and that a hearing on such a motion shall be heard by the court as soon as practicable. The bill further provides that a dissolution order granted on an ex parte basis shall be served upon the respondent.
Virginia State Police; reporting hate crimes. Includes within the definition of "hate crime" a criminal act committed against a person or the person's property because of disability, as defined in the bill, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identification and requires the reporting of the commission of such crime to the State Police. This bill incorporates HB 1058.
Circumvention of ignition interlock systems;venue. Provides that the venue for the prosecution of a circumventionof the operation of an ignition interlock system that is identifiedby a local alcohol and safety action program through the use of anin-vehicle camera shall be the jurisdiction in which the order prohibitinga person from operating a motor vehicle that is not equipped witha functioning ignition interlock system was entered.
