Charitable gaming; exemptions from certain requirementsfor specified organizations. Exempts qualified organizationsthat reasonably expect, on the basis of prior charitable gaming annual results or any other quantifiable method, to realize grossreceipts of $15,000 or less from all charitable gaming other than raffles, conducted on a total of no more than seven days per calendaryear, from the requirements to (i) notify the Department of Agricultureand Consumer Services (the Department) of their intention to conductsuch charitable gaming or (ii) comply with the regulations of theCharitable Gaming Board. Under current law, only qualified organizationsthat reasonably expect to realize gross receipts of $40,000 or lessfrom raffles in any 12-month period are exempt from these requirements.The bill provides that any qualified organization may sell instantbingo, pull tabs, or seal cards that are dispensed by mechanicalequipment only, provided that the sale is limited to two events ofno more than 14 days each per calendar year. Under current law, onlyathletic associations or booster clubs or band booster clubs maysell instant bingo, pull tabs, or seal cards at a single event ina calendar year. Finally, the bill prohibits the Department fromrequiring a qualified organization that realizes annual gross receiptsof $15,000 or less to file a report of its receipts and disbursements.
Temporary detention; alternative custody.Provides that if the facility indicated on a temporary detentionorder is a state facility, no bed for the person detained or in custodypursuant to the temporary detention order is immediately availableat such state facility, and an employee or designee of such statefacility is available to take custody of such person, such employeeor designee of the state facility may assume custody of such personwherever such person is located and maintain custody of such personand transport such person to such state facility or to an alternativefacility of temporary detention. The bill also provides that a personwho is an inmate who is subject to an order authorizing treatmentshall remain in law-enforcement custody at all times prior to admissionto the facility designated for treatment of the person pursuant tosuch order.
Retail sale of cannabis products by certain pharmaceutical processors and industrial hemp processors; sunset. Allows certain pharmaceutical processors and industrial hemp processors to sell, under the oversight of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (the Board), cannabis products at retail to unregistered persons who are 21 years of age or older without the need for a written certification. The bill directs the Board to adopt and enforce regulations governing such sales that shall model certain Board of Pharmacy regulations and comply with other requirements set forth in the bill. The bill requires pharmaceutical processors and industrial hemp processors engaging in such sales to pay a $1 million fee and collect a 21 percent excise tax, both of which shall ultimately be allocated to the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority to be used to assist independent cannabis retailers located in designated rural and urban opportunity zones. The bill also requires such pharmaceutical processors and industrial hemp processors to submit and comply with a plan describing how the processor will educate consumers about responsible consumption of cannabis products and incubate independent cannabis retailers or support and educate persons that wish to participate in the cannabis market. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2023, and shall expire when pharmaceutical processors and industrial hemp processors engaging in the sale of cannabis products pursuant to the provisions of the bill are authorized by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority to apply for and be granted licenses to cultivate, manufacture, wholesale, and sell at retail to consumers 21 years of age or older retail marijuana and retail marijuana products.
Deferred disposition; persons with autism orintellectual disabilities; offenses against minors. Providesthat certain felony offenses, including child pornography, obscenity,electronic solicitation of a minor, indecent liberties with children,and displaying child pornography or grooming materials to a child,are ineligible for deferred and dismissed disposition where the defendanthas been diagnosed with autism or an intellectual disability.
Historic preservation. Provides that thefiling of a historic designation application shall stay a localityfrom issuing any permit to raze or demolish a proposed historic landmark,building, or structure until 30 days after the rendering of the finaldecision of the governing body of the locality. The bill also specifies that the affected property owner, the applicant, or any residentof the locality who provided public input on the locality's historicdistrict plan may appeal to the circuit court for review of any finaldecision of the governing body pursuant to such application.
Celebrating the life of the Honorable HarryRussell Potts, Jr.
Employee protections; candidacy for or servicein the General Assembly. Prohibits an employer from discharging,disciplining, threatening, discriminating against, or penalizingan employee, or taking other retaliatory action regarding an employee'scompensation, terms, conditions, location, or privileges of employment,because the employee is a candidate for the General Assembly or servesas a member of the General Assembly. The bill provides that a personwho alleges a violation of this prohibition may bring a civil actionseeking injunctive relief, reinstatement, and compensation for lostwages, benefits, and other remuneration.
Carrying a firearm or explosive material withinCapitol Square and the surrounding area, into building owned or leasedby the Commonwealth, etc.; penalty. Repeals the prohibition oncarrying a firearm or explosive material within (i) the Capitol ofVirginia; (ii) Capitol Square and the surrounding area; (iii) anybuilding owned or leased by the Commonwealth or any agency thereof;or (iv) any office where employees of the Commonwealth or any agencythereof are regularly present for the purpose of performing theirofficial duties. Current law makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for anyperson to carry a firearm or explosive material within these areas, subject to certain exceptions, including the following individualswhile acting in the conduct of such person's official duties: anylaw-enforcement officer, any authorized security personnel, any activemilitary personnel, any fire marshal when such fire marshal has beengranted police powers, or any member of a cadet corps while suchmember is participating in an official ceremonial event for the Commonwealth.
Confirming Governor's appointments; January18. Confirms appointments of certain persons made by GovernorRalph Northam and communicated to the General Assembly January 18,2022.
Commending the Richmond Free Press.
Board of Education; evaluation of and recommendations for certain current and proposed policies and performance standards for public elementary and secondary schools. Requires the Board of Education to collaborate with the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Secretary of Education to evaluate, to implement where possible, and to otherwise make recommendations to the General Assembly regarding the following goals: (i) promoting excellence in instruction and student achievement in mathematics, including elimination of the Virginia Mathematics Pathways Initiative and an evaluation of any other proposed changes to the Mathematics Standards of Learning, in advance of the next revision of such standards by the Board, to maintain and increase the rigor of mathematics instruction in public elementary and secondary schools and permit students demonstrating aptitude and high achievement in mathematics to accelerate their progress through core mathematics classes and concepts and take advanced mathematics courses before the eleventh grade; (ii) increasing the number of academic year Governor's Schools in the Commonwealth and maintaining standards of excellence for students in all such schools; (iii) preserving the Advanced Studies Diploma as an option for students in public high schools in the Commonwealth while maintaining or increasing course and credit requirements for such diploma; (iv) increasing the transparency and honesty of performance measures for public elementary and secondary schools in the Commonwealth and ensuring that such measures do not obscure or conceal disparities in performance among student groups; (v) ensuring that performance measures for public elementary and secondary schools prioritize the attainment of grade-level proficiency in reading and mathematics for all students, especially in grades kindergarten through five; (vi) ensuring that the Commonwealth's proficiency standards on Standards of Learning assessments in reading and mathematics are rigorous in comparison with assessments administered by other states and national assessments in reading and mathematics; and (vii) restoring a strong accreditation system that promotes meaningful accountability year-over-year. The bill requires the Secretary of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, no later than November 30, 2022, to report to the chairmen of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health the results of such evaluation and recommendations to achieve such goals.
Rate of tax on gasoline and diesel fuel.Lowers the rate of tax on gasoline and diesel fuel on July 1, 2022,from 26.2 cents per gallon to 21.2 cents per gallon on gasoline andfrom 27 cents per gallon to 20.2 cents per gallon on diesel fuel,the rates that were in effect before July 1, 2021. The bill providesthat the rate of tax on gasoline and diesel fuel will return to 26.2and 27 cents per gallon, respectively, on July 1, 2023, and willbe indexed based on the change in the United States Average Consumer Price Index; thereafter, the rate will be indexed annually.
