Virginia Bills

Authorizes the Director of the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity to adopt regulations that mandate certification without any additional paperwork of any small, women-owned, or minority-owned business that has obtained certification under any federal small, women-owned, and minority-owned business certification program.

Authorizes the Board of Pharmacy (Board) to designate, deschedule, or reschedule as a controlled substance any substance 30 days after publication in the Federal Register of a final or interim final order or rule designating such substance as a controlled substance or descheduling or rescheduling such substance. Under current law, the Board may act 120 days from such publication date. The bill also provides that a person is immune from prosecution for prescribing, administering, dispensing, or possessing pursuant to a valid prescription a substance approved as a prescription drug by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on or after July 1, 2017, in accordance with a final or interim final order or rule despite the fact that such substance has not been scheduled by the Board. The immunity provided by the bill remains in effect until the earlier of (i) nine months from the date of the publication of the interim final order or rule or, if published within nine months of the interim final order or rule, the final order or rule or (ii) the substance is scheduled by the Board or by law. This bill is identical to

Permits vehicles used or operated by federally licensed amateur radio operators participating in emergency communications drills on behalf of federal, state, or local authorities or providing communications services to localities for public service events authorized by the Department of Transportation where the event is being conducted to be equipped with flashing, blinking, or alternating amber lights, provided that the lights are not lit while the vehicle is in motion.

Extends the sunset date of the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Commission from July 1, 2017, to July 1, 2020, and makes a technical correction to the reporting requirement of the Commission. This bill is identical to

Authorizes Washington County to impose a tax on admissions to a multi-sports complex and entertainment venue that (i) is located on land that contains at least 250 acres and (ii) is in business on or before June 30, 2027. For purposes of the tax, "entertainment venue" does not include a movie theater. The tax shall not exceed 10 percent of the amount of charge for admission to any such venue. The bill expires on July 1, 2027, if no such venue is in business on or before June 30, 2027.

Clarifies provisions of the Line of Duty Act, including clarifying that suspension or reinstatement of health insurance benefits begins and ends at the beginning of a health insurance plan year rather than in the middle of a plan year and recognizing current practice that the Line of Duty Act administrator provides materials for training. The bill codifies certain provisions of the Line of Duty Act that currently are in the appropriation act. The bill modifies the provision that would have disqualified, effective July 1, 2017, the surviving spouse of a deceased member who remarried from receiving health insurance benefits, by restricting the disqualification to surviving spouses who remarry on or after July 1, 2017. The bill contains an emergency clause.

Provides that when a person charged with violating an oyster culling regulation is required to scatter the entire cargo of oysters on the public rocks, no portion of the cargo shall be scattered anywhere else. The bill also requires the Marine Resources Commission to accept cash, check, or credit card payment of a bond paid in lieu of throwing the cargo overboard. Current law allows only payments in cash.

Requires persons obligated to notify the Criminal Justice Services Board when a law-enforcement officer or jail officer has committed an act or been convicted of a crime that requires decertification to notify the Criminal Justice Services Board within 48 hours of becoming aware of such act or conviction. The bill requires that, upon such notification, decertification be immediate. Any conviction of a misdemeanor that has been appealed to a court of record shall not be considered a conviction unless a final order of conviction is entered.