Electric utilities; fair rate of return; customer bill credits. Provides that the State Corporation Commission may, in any triennial review, establish a range above or below the authorized rate of return such that if the combined rate of return on common equity earned by the generation and distribution services is within that range, such combined return is not to be considered either excessive or insufficient, respectively. The bill provides that during a triennial review period, if a utility's earned return on its generation and distribution services falls below that range due to certain costs, the Commission is required to authorize deferred recovery for such costs. Additionally, if during a triennial review period, if a utility's earned return on its generation and distribution services falls below that range due to revenue reductions related to energy efficiency measures or other programs, the Commission is required to order an increase to the utility's rates. The bill requires that the Commission direct 100 percent of the amount that a utility earns over its fair rate of return to customers' bills. Under current law, the Commission is required to direct 70 percent of any earnings that were more than a certain percentage above the utility's fair rate of return to customers' bills. The bill provides that if, during a triennial review period, a utility has earned above its fair combined rate of return, the Commission is required to order reductions to the utility's rates it finds appropriate. Under current law, the Commission is only required to order reductions to the utility's rates if the utility earned more than a certain percentage above its fair combined rate of return. The provisions of the bill apply to all triennial reviews, including the first triennial review of Dominion Energy Virginia conducted after January 1, 2021.
Electric utilities; customer credit reinvestmentoffsets. Eliminates customer credit reinvestment offsets underwhich a utility is allowed, upon request, to reduce or eliminateamounts of overearnings that otherwise would be required to be creditedto customers by applying a customer credit reinvestment offset forexpenses on new solar and wind generation facilities and electricdistribution grid transformation projects.
Legislative Staff Development Fund. Establishes the Legislative Staff Development Fund (Fund) to encourage and support the professional development of legislative staff. The bill defines "legislative staff" as salaried staff of a member of the House of Delegates, Senate of Virginia, or the Division of Legislative Services. The bill increases the annual lobbyist registration fee for for-profit entities from $100 to $400 and directs the $300 increase to be deposited into the Fund for the purposes described in the bill. Under the bill, any moneys remaining in the Fund at the end of each fiscal year that have not been expended for the purposes described in the bill shall revert to the general fund and be used exclusively to fund the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council. The bill has a delayed effective date of May 1, 2022.
Facilitate the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine; emergency. Facilitates the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. The bill requires the Department of Health (the Department) to establish a program to enable eligible health care providers to volunteer to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to residents of the Commonwealth during a state of emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic declared by the Governor. The bill defines "eligible health care provider" and provides that the program shall include (i) a process by which an eligible health care provider may register to participate in the program and (ii) the training requirements for participating eligible health care providers related to the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine, including training on the intramuscular injection of the COVID-19 vaccine and contraindications and side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. The bill specifies requirements that the Department shall ensure that each site at which COVID-19 vaccinations are administered by eligible health care providers satisfies. The bill also requires the Department to establish a process by which entities, including medical care facilities, hospitals, hospital systems, corporations, businesses, pharmacies, public and private institutions of higher education, localities, and any other professional or community entity operating in the Commonwealth, may volunteer their facilities as sites at which the COVID-19 vaccine may be administered to residents of the Commonwealth. The bill permits a public institution of higher education or a private institution of higher education in the Commonwealth to volunteer to provide assistance to the Department and local health departments for data processing, analytics, and program development related to the COVID-19 vaccine through the use of its employees, students, technology, and facilities. The bill also permits localities with fire departments, emergency medical services departments, and volunteer rescue squads to establish and staff vaccine administration clinics. The bill provides civil and criminal immunity to individuals and professional entities acting pursuant to the bill and contains an emergency clause. This bill is identical to HB 2333.
Industrial development authorities; size ofboard in certain towns; quorum. Reduces from seven to five the number of members that may be appointed to industrial developmentauthority boards by the Towns of Kenbridge and Victoria and reducesthe quorum requirement to three members.
Economic development authorities; Fairfax County. Allows Fairfax County to appoint nine, rather than seven, commissionersto the economic development authority.
Local financing of clean energy and other programs; when owner costs are incurred. Changes the parameters for local ordinances authorizing loan contracts for the installation by property owners of clean energy, resiliency, or stormwater management improvements. The bill provides that if the property owner incurred the costs of improvements to be refinanced or reimbursed within two years of the locality's issuance of a certificate of occupancy or other evidence that the clean energy, resiliency, or stormwater management improvements comply substantially with the plans and specifications previously approved by the locality, the loan amount may include the total costs of such improvements. The bill removes the requirement that the applicable local ordinance include the proposed interest rate for the loan program and the maximum aggregate dollar amount that may be financed with respect to a property, and it provides that no loan offered under the program shall be used to improve a residential dwelling with fewer than five dwelling units or a residential condominium. The bill alters the fee options available to the locality and provides that the placement of a voluntary special assessment lien does not require a new assessment on the value of the real property. The bill contains technical amendments.
Facilitate the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine; emergency. Facilitates the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. The bill requires the Department of Health (the Department) to establish a program to enable eligible health care providers to volunteer to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to residents of the Commonwealth during a state of emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic declared by the Governor. The bill defines "eligible health care provider" and provides that the program shall include (i) a process by which an eligible health care provider may register to participate in the program and (ii) the training requirements for participating eligible health care providers related to the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine, including training on the intramuscular injection of the COVID-19 vaccine and contraindications and side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. The bill specifies requirements that the Department shall ensure that each site at which COVID-19 vaccinations are administered by eligible health care providers satisfies. The bill also requires the Department to establish a process by which entities, including medical care facilities, hospitals, hospital systems, corporations, businesses, pharmacies, public and private institutions of higher education, localities, and any other professional or community entity operating in the Commonwealth, may volunteer their facilities as sites at which the COVID-19 vaccine may be administered to residents of the Commonwealth. The bill permits a public institution of higher education or a private institution of higher education in the Commonwealth to volunteer to provide assistance to the Department and local health departments for data processing, analytics, and program development related to the COVID-19 vaccine through the use of its employees, students, technology, and facilities. The bill also permits localities with fire departments, emergency medical services departments, and volunteer rescue squads to establish and staff vaccine administration clinics. The bill provides civil and criminal immunity to individuals and professional entities acting pursuant to the bill and contains an emergency clause. This bill is identical to SB 1445.
Lynchburg Parking Authority. Shortens fromfive years to three years the term of office of appointees to theLynchburg Parking Authority, beginning with appointments made onor after July 1, 2021.
County executive form of government; local budgets. Provides that a county that has adopted the county executive formof government (Albemarle and Prince William Counties) may carry overunspent funds from year to year for multiyear capital projects andoutstanding grants without having to reappropriate the funds.
Virginia Beach Sports or Entertainment Project;bond issuance. Amends provisions related to bond issuance forpurposes of the Virginia Beach Sports or Entertainment Project. The bill (i) enables bonds to be issued with maturities no later thanthe expiration of the City of Virginia Beach's entitlement to certainsales and use tax and (ii) clarifies the authority of the City ofVirginia Beach to issue refunding bonds.
Department of Health; certain communication prohibited. Prohibits any person employed by or who has entered into a contract to provide services on behalf of the Department of Health or a local department of health from initiating communication regarding the following matters with a minor on behalf of the Department or local department of health without the consent of the minor's parent or guardian or person serving in loco parentis: family living and community relationships; the benefits, challenges, responsibilities, and value of marriage for men, women, children, and communities; the value of family relationships; abstinence education; the value of postponing sexual activity; the benefits of adoption as a positive choice in the event of an unwanted pregnancy; human sexuality; human reproduction; the prevention of human trafficking; dating violence, the characteristics of abusive relationships, steps to take to deter sexual assault, the availability of counseling and legal resources, and, in the event of such sexual assault, the importance of immediate medical attention and advice, as well as the requirements of the law; the etiology, prevention, and effects of sexually transmitted diseases; and mental health education and awareness. The bill clarifies that its provisions do not apply to school nurses, physicians, or Department employees or agents who are inquiring about medical conditions, outbreaks, pandemics, or any other declared state of emergency relating to a communicable disease or public health threat.
