Provides that in the event that the ratio of the assets of the Virginia College Savings Plan (the Plan) to the obligations of the Plan exceeds 105 percent, the pricing reserve, which the bill defines as the percentage by which the sum of advanced payments to be made pursuant to each prepaid tuition contract of the Plan exceeds the amount estimated to be required to provide tuition at the fixed, guaranteed level that is specified in such prepaid tuition contract, shall not exceed five percent. The bill provides that in the event that the ratio of the assets of the Plan to the obligations of the Plan does not meet or exceed 105 percent, the pricing reserve may exceed five percent but shall not exceed 10 percent. The bill also requires the governing board of the Plan to provide to the House Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Finance, and the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission written notification and a detailed explanation of any change to the pricing reserve within 30 days of such change.
Defines, for purposes of cigarette taxes, alternative nicotine product, heated tobacco product, liquid nicotine, and nicotine vapor product. The bill also provides that the definition of cigarette includes only nicotine-containing products that produce smoke from combustion. The bill extends from November 2018 to November 2019 the conclusion of a study by the Joint Subcommittee to Evaluate Tax Preferences of options for the modernization of cigarette taxes and possible reforms to the taxation of tobacco products that will provide fairness and equity for all local governments. The bill incorporates
Increases from one to two the amount of times a licensed assisted living facility may operate under the supervision of an acting administrator during any two-year period.
Adds (i) threats of death or bodily injury to another person communicated in writing to such person or member of such person's family and (ii) threats to commit serious bodily harm to persons on school property to the list of offenses that a juvenile intake officer is required to report to the school division superintendent when a petition is filed alleging that a juvenile student committed such an offense. This bill is identical to
Requires each school board to (i) develop and implement a policy to prohibit the use and distribution of tobacco products and nicotine vapor products on a school bus, on school property, or at an on-site or off-site school-sponsored activity and (ii) include in its code of student conduct a prohibition against possessing tobacco products or nicotine vapor products on a school bus, on school property, or at an on-site or off-site school-sponsored activity. Current law only places these requirements on each school board with regard to electronic cigarettes. The bill requires such policy to include adequate provisions for enforcement among students, employees, and visitors, including the enumeration of possible sanctions or disciplinary action consistent with state or federal law, and referrals to resources to help staff and students overcome tobacco addiction. This bill is identical to
Provides that a manufacturer or distributor's right to first refusal in the event of a proposed sale or transfer of a dealership does not apply if such sale or transfer is not to a dealer licensed anywhere in the United States as a dealer holding a franchise from any manufacturer or to a distributor licensed as a manufacturer or distributor in the Commonwealth unless the exercise of such right of first refusal by a manufacturer or distributor with a program promoting minority dealers would lead to a minority dealer having a majority ownership of a dealership.
Provides that any professional examination preparation course or program of instruction designed to prepare students to achieve a passing score on a medical coding proficiency examination and the maintenance thereof administered by the nationally recognized medical coding organizations known as AAPC or the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is exempt from certification by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, provided that such students have the requisite on-the-job training or sufficient coursework related to medical coding or billing as required by AAPC or AHIMA.
Changes the name of guidance counselors to school counselors and requires school boards to employ school counselors in accordance with the following ratios: (i) effective with the 2019-2020 school year, in elementary schools, one hour per day per 75 students, one full-time at 375 students, one hour per day additional time per 75 students or major fraction thereof; in middle schools, one period per 65 students, one full-time at 325 students, one additional period per 65 students or major fraction thereof; in high schools, one period per 60 students, one full-time at 300 students, one additional period per 60 students or major fraction thereof; (ii) effective with the 2020-2021 school year, in elementary schools, one hour per day per 60 students, one full-time at 300 students, one hour per day additional time per 60 students or major fraction thereof; in middle and high schools, one period per 55 students, one full-time at 275 students, one additional period per 55 students or major fraction thereof; and (iii) effective with the 2021-2022 school year, in elementary, middle, and high schools, one hour per day per 50 students, one full-time at 250 students, one additional hour per day per 50 students or major fraction thereof.
Subjects provisions related to misrepresentation of animals' conditions to enforcement under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (§ 59.1-196 et seq.). The bill also increases from one year to two years following the date of sale the period of time for which a pet dealer is required to maintain a copy of the pet dealer's animal history certificate that is signed by the consumer.
Rereferred to Finance
Requires a locality that adopts an ordinance to prohibit the running at large of all or any category of dogs to exempt dogs used for hunting and requires such locality to include in such ordinance a civil penalty in an amount established by the locality not to exceed $100 per dog for the owner or custodian of any dog found running at large in a pack. The bill requires that such civil penalties be deposited by the local treasurer in the dog and cat license fund, which is used to support animal control.
Provides that a person who buys and removes timber from a landowner's property is guilty of timber theft if he fails to pay the landowner by the date specified in their agreement or, if there is no written agreement, within 60 days of removing the timber. The bill provides that a person who is convicted of timber theft is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and shall be ordered to pay three times the value of the timber removed in addition to any penalties imposed by the court. The bill also provides that, following the passing of the payment deadline, a buyer's failure to pay within 10 days of receiving a demand for payment shall constitute prima facie evidence of the buyer's intent to violate the timber theft provision. An exception exists for a purchaser who made payment to a person he believed in good faith to be the rightful owner of the timber.
