Adds the City of Hampton to the list of cities that may utilize volunteer inspectors to issue notice of noncompliance with certain ordinances related to the external maintenance of property or local zoning ordinances.
Exempts guidance documents, defined in the bill, from the requirements of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.), provided that the agency that developed the guidance document certifies that the document conforms to the definition of a guidance document. Each guidance document is then subject to a 30-day public comment period through the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall website, after publication in the Virginia Register of Regulations and prior to final publication by the agency. If a comment received during the public comment period asserts that the guidance document is contrary to state law or regulation or that it should not be exempt, the adoption of the guidance document shall be delayed an additional 30 days, during which time the agency shall address the comments and provide a response in writing. The bill also provides that guidance documents do not include agency (i) rulings and advisory opinions, (ii) forms and instructions, (iii) bulletins and legislative summaries, (iv) studies and reports, and (v) internal manuals and memoranda.
Clarifies the criteria that must be met for a bank or other financial organization to impose charges or cease to pay interest on a dormant or inactive account that differ from those imposed on active accounts. The holder may reverse or cancel dormancy charges or retroactively credit interest upon the request of the owner if it also does so for all such property that becomes subject to certain statutory reporting requirements regarding unclaimed property. If the holder elects not to reverse or cancel dormancy charges or retroactively credit interest with respect to any such property, then it is not required to reverse or cancel dormancy charges or retroactively credit interest for property that becomes subject to the reporting requirements regarding unclaimed property. A holder may also reverse or cancel dormancy charges or retroactively credit interest with respect to any or all such property to correct a documented internal error without becoming required to reverse or cancel dormancy charges or retroactively credit interest for all such property that becomes subject to unclaimed property reporting requirements. An enactment states that the measure is declarative of existing law. This bill is identical to
Provides that the Virginia Property Owners' Association Act (§ 55-508 et seq.) shall be applicable to any development established prior to the former Subdivided Land Sales Act (§ 55-336 et seq.) (i) located in a county with an urban county executive form of government, (ii) containing 500 or more lots, (iii) each lot of which is located within the boundaries of a watershed improvement district established pursuant to Article 3 (§ 10.1-614 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 10.1, and (iv) each lot of which is subject to substantially similar deed restrictions.
Authorizes moneys in the Fire Programs Fund to be used for the purpose of providing training and education and purchasing products that are designed to reduce the incidence of cancer among firefighters.
Prohibits any locality from banning car-washing fundraisers that use biodegradable, phosphate-free, water-based cleaners and provides that no permit issued pursuant to the State Water Control Law shall prohibit the discharge of such noncommercial fundraising activity washwaters from a municipal separate storm sewer system.
Establishes the Office of the Qualified Education Loan Ombudsman (the Office) within the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. The Office's duties include (i) receiving, reviewing, and attempting to resolve complaints from qualified education loan borrowers; (ii) compiling and analyzing data on such complaints; (iii) assisting qualified education loan borrowers to understand their rights and responsibilities under the terms of qualified education loans; (iv) providing information regarding the problems and concerns of qualified education loan borrowers; (v) analyzing and monitoring the development and implementation of applicable laws and policies; and (vi) disseminating information concerning the availability of the Office to assist qualified education loan borrowers and any other participant in qualified education loan lending with qualified education loan servicing concerns. The Office is further required to establish and maintain a qualified education loan borrower education course by December 1, 2019. This bill is identical to
Requires the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, or any other laboratory with which the Department of Health has contracted, to provide screening tests for time-critical disorders for newborns and children seven days a week. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2019.
Clarifies that in any case involving the theft or misappropriation of the personal property of any member or employee of the General Assembly, the Capitol Police shall have concurrent jurisdiction with law-enforcement officers of any county contiguous to the City of Richmond. This bill is identical to
Adds the Mt. Calvary Cemetery in the City of Portsmouth, with 266 eligible gravesites, to the list of historical African American cemeteries for which qualifying charitable organizations may receive funds from the Department of Historic Resources for the care of historical African American cemeteries and graves. This bill is identical to
Provides that in any criminal proceeding the attorney for the Commonwealth or the defendant may request and the court may enter an order authorizing the use of a certified facility dog to aid a testifying witness, provided that the use of a certified facility dog will aid the witness in providing testimony and the presence and use of the certified facility dog will not interfere with or distract from the testimony or proceedings. The bill provides that the court may make any orders necessary to preserve the fairness of the proceeding, including imposing restrictions on and instructing the jury regarding the presence of the certified facility dog. The bill defines "certified facility dog" as a dog that (i) has completed training and been certified by a program accredited by Assistance Dogs International or another organization whose main purpose is to improve training, placement, and utilization of assistance dogs and (ii) is accompanied by a duly trained handler.
Clarifies that only a person in jail on a criminal charge that has been certified or otherwise transferred from a district court to a circuit court is to be discharged from jail if an indictment, presentment, or information is not found or filed against him before the end of the second term of court at which he is held to answer. Discharge of a person from jail under this provision does not preclude his reincarceration on a subsequent indictment or presentment for the same offense.
