Essential workers; hazard pay; personalprotective equipment; civil penalty. Requires, that followingthe declaration by the Governor of a state of emergency that includesor is followed by any additional executive order in furtherance ofsuch declaration that includes a stay-at-home or shelter-in-placeorder, employers shall (i) compensate each of their essential workersat a rate not less than one and one-half times the essential worker'sregular rate of pay for any hours worked during the closure orderand (ii) provide their essential workers with personal protectiveequipment related to the state of emergency and recommended for therelevant work site or job task by the Virginia Department of Laborand Industry, the State Department of Health, the U.S. Centers forDisease Control and Prevention, or the federal Occupational Safetyand Health Administration. The bill defines "essential worker" as an individual employed as a health care provider, home care provider,or airport worker or by an essential retail business, as specifiedin the bill. The bill subjects violators to the same civil penalties,and provides the same cause of action for an employer's failure topay the required hazard pay, as are currently imposed for failing to pay wages generally.
Civil action for unlawful acts of force or failureto intervene by a law-enforcement officer or correctional officer.Creates a civil action for the use of unlawful acts of force, includingdeadly force, or failure to intervene as required by law, by a law-enforcementofficer or correctional officer while performing his duties for apublic entity or private police department. The bill also providesthat a public entity or private police department employing suchofficer is liable for any injuries sustained by the injured partyas a result of the officer's actions if they occurred in the ordinarycourse of the employer's business. Sovereign immunity would not apply to such claims.
Celebrating the life of Billy Joe Roberts.
Expungement of police and court records; fees.Provides that the fee for filing a petition for expungement is$25. The bill also eliminates the provision that requires the clerkof the court to refund a petitioner any filing costs paid if suchpetitioner's expungement petition is granted.
Electric utilities; overearnings; customer billcredits. Requires the State Corporation Commission to directthat 100 percent of the amount of a utility's earnings above a certain threshold be credited to customers' bills. Under current law, theCommission is required to direct that 70 percent of such overearningsbe credited to customers' bills. The provisions of the bill applyto the first triennial review of Dominion Energy Virginia conductedafter January 1, 2021.
Application of parole statutes for juvenilesand persons committed upon felony offenses committed on or afterJanuary 1, 1995. Repeals the abolition of parole. The bill requires the Virginia Parole Board to establish procedures for considerationof parole for persons who were previously ineligible for parole becauseparole was abolished and to allow for an extension of time for thescheduling of a parole interview for reasonable cause.
Alcoholic beverage control; mobile retailerlicense. Creates a mobile retailer license, which authorizesthe licensee to sell wine and beer during events within designatedareas for on-premises consumption or in closed containers for off-premisesconsumption. The bill requires such licensees to (i) comply withany requirements or limitations imposed by the Board of Directorsof the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority and (ii) servefood, prepared on or off premises, whenever wine or beer is served. The bill allows such licenses to be granted to persons operatinga mobile retail venture that sells wine or beer to patrons at specialevents or private gatherings through trucks or trailers equippedwith beverage taps.
Alcoholic beverage control; license applications; notice requirements. Directs the Board of Directors (the Board) of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to make available on its website a list of all license applications that have been filed with the Board. The bill requires that such list include information regarding the type of license applied for, the proposed location of the licensed premises, a statement that objections to the license must be submitted within 30 days, and any other information deemed necessary by the Board. The bill also requires the license applicant to publish notice of the application at least once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation that is widely circulated in the county, city, or town wherein such applicant proposes to engage in such business.
Conditional release of geriatric prisoners;exceptions. Prohibits persons serving a sentence imposed upona conviction of murder in the first or second degree or murder ofa pregnant woman, if the offense resulting in such conviction occurredon or after July 1, 2021, from petitioning the Parole Board for conditionalrelease on the basis of age. The bill also provides that personsmay petition the Parole Board for conditional release when they reachage 70 and have served at least 65 percent of their sentence. Undercurrent law, such persons may petition the Parole Board when theyreach age 65 and have served at least five years of their sentenceor reach age 60 and have served at least 10 years of their sentence.A person serving a sentence for a Class 1 felony will continue tobe an exception as in current law and may not petition the ParoleBoard for conditional release on the basis of age.
Constitutional amendment (first reference);General Assembly; term limits. Limits members of the Senate tothree full terms (12 years) and members of the House of Delegatesto six full terms (12 years). The limitations apply to service forboth consecutive and nonconsecutive terms. Service for a partialterm does not preclude serving the allowed number of full terms.The limits apply to terms of service beginning on and after the startof the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
Virginia Beach Tourism Authority. Establishesthe Virginia Beach Tourism Authority as a public body corporate andas a political subdivision of the Commonwealth. The Authority, governedby a 13-member board of directors, shall encourage, stimulate, andsupport tourism in the City of Virginia Beach by promoting, marketing,and advertising the City's many tourist attractions and locations.
Safe haven protections; newborn safety device.Provides an affirmative defense in certain criminal prosecutionsand civil proceedings regarding child abuse or neglect to a parentwho safely delivers his child within the first 14 days of the child'slife to a newborn safety device located at a hospital that provides24-hour emergency services or at an attended emergency medical servicesagency that employs emergency medical services personnel. The billalso provides civil and criminal immunity to such hospitals and emergencymedical services agencies for injuries to children received throughsuch newborn safety devices, provided that (i) the injuries are notthe result of gross negligence or willful misconduct and (ii) the hospital or emergency medical services agency meets certain requirements regarding the establishment, functioning, and testing of the device.
