Virginia Bills

Provides that a person who operates a motor vehicle in a careless or distracted manner and is the proximate cause of serious physical injury to a vulnerable road user, defined in the bill as a pedestrian or person riding a bicycle, electric wheelchair, electric bicycle, wheelchair, skateboard, skates, foot-scooter, animal, or animal-drawn vehicle, is guilty of a traffic infraction. The bill prohibits the driver of a motor vehicle from using or crossing into a bicycle lane to pass or attempt to pass another vehicle except to provide traffic incident management services, when directed by a law-enforcement officer, or when the roadway is otherwise impassable due to weather conditions, an accident, or an emergency situation.

Requires the Board of Education to issue a license to an individual seeking initial licensure who has not completed the professional assessments prescribed by the Board, if such individual (i) holds a provisional license that will expire within three months; (ii) is employed by a school board; (iii) is recommended for licensure by the division superintendent; (iv) has attempted, unsuccessfully, to obtain a qualifying score on the professional assessments prescribed by the Board; (v) has received an evaluation rating of proficient or above on the performance standards for each year of the provisional license, and such evaluation was conducted in a manner consistent with the Guidelines for Uniform Performance Standards and Evaluation Criteria for Teachers, Principals, and Superintendents; and (vi) meets all other requirements for initial licensure. The bill removes the requirement that the Board of Education prescribe an assessment of basic skills for individuals seeking entry into an approved education preparation program and establish a minimum passing score for such assessment.

Clarifies that income earned by an independent contractor may be withheld by court order for payment of child support obligations.

Provides that localities in Planning District 8 and Planning District 16 shall establish by ordinance a hookup and initial towing fee of not less than $135 and not more than $150. Current law authorizes local governing bodies to set the towing fee at $135.

Requires the Virginia Charitable Gaming Board to conduct an annual evaluation of the conduct of charitable gaming operations in Virginia. The bill also removes restrictions regarding the number of calendar days that charitable gaming may be conducted at buildings owned by nonprofit entities and raises from two to four the number of days that such gaming may be conducted in buildings owned by other entities. The bill also (i) removes the limit of 55 bingo games per session, (ii) increases the number of electronic pull tabs that may be placed in the social quarters of a qualified organization from nine, as currently provided by Board regulations, to 50, and (iii) authorizes a qualified organization to pay individuals assisting in the conduct of charitable gaming up to $50 per session.

Requires the completed medical certification portion of a death certificate to be filed electronically with the State Registrar of Vital Records through the Electronic Death Registration System and provides that, except for under certain circumstances, failure to file a medical certification of death electronically through the Electronic Death Registration System shall constitute grounds for disciplinary action by the Board of Medicine. The bill includes a delayed effective date of January 1, 2020, and a phased-in requirement for registration with the Electronic Death Registration System and electronic filing of medical certifications of death for various categories of health care providers. The bill directs the Department of Health to work with stakeholders to educate and encourage physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners to timely register with and utilize the Electronic Death Registration System.

Directs the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services to make referrals to any employment services organization that provides competitive or commensurate wages and is eligible to receive state-funded Long-Term Employment Support Services or Extended Employment Services. The bill also requires the Department to develop and implement a referral process for individuals who make an informed choice to pursue an employment outcome that is not considered a competitive integrated employment setting by the Department. The bill also establishes the Employment Service Organization Steering Committee as an advisory board in the executive branch of state government. The bill provides that the purpose of the Committee shall be to report to and advise the Commissioner for Aging and Rehabilitative Services on policy, funding, and the allocation of funds to employment services organizations for Long-Term Employment Support Services and Extended Employment Services.