Virginia Bills

Provides that banquet licensees that are nonprofit corporations or associations conducting fundraisers (i) shall also be authorized to sell wine, as part of any fundraising activity, in closed containers for off-premises consumption to persons to whom wine may be lawfully sold and (ii) shall be limited to no more than one such fundraiser per year.

Allows a local board of social services to take a child into immediate custody pursuant to an emergency removal order in cases in which the child is alleged to have been abused or neglected and allows a court to issue certain orders in such cases, without requiring that reasonable efforts be made to prevent removal of the child from his home if (i) the parental residual rights of the child's parent over a sibling were involuntarily terminated; (ii) the parent was convicted of murder or voluntary manslaughter, or a felony attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit any such offense, if the victim was a child of or resided with the parent or was the other parent of the child; (iii) the parent was convicted of felony assault resulting in serious bodily injury or felony bodily wounding resulting in serious bodily injury or felony sexual assault, if the victim was a child of or resided with the parent; or (iv) on the basis of clear and convincing evidence, the parent has subjected any child to aggravated circumstances or abandoned a child under circumstances that would justify the termination of residual parental rights. The bill provides that, in each permanency planning hearing and in any hearing regarding the transition of the child from foster care to independent living, the court shall consult with the child, unless the court finds that such consultation is not in the best interests of the child. The bill makes other changes related to foster care to comply with federal requirements.

Directs the Department of Health to convene a work group to review the rules governing use of air transportation services, also known as air ambulances, in emergency medical situations and protocols for the dispatch of air transportation services in response to emergency medical situations and to provide recommendations for changes to such rules or protocols. The Department shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2017.

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 the issuance of a search warrant to search for and seize any person for whom a warrant or process for arrest has been issued. This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia State Crime Commission. This bill is identical to

Permits the Department of Juvenile Justice to disclose, at its discretion, the social reports and records of children who are committed to the Department to a gang task force, provided that its membership (i) consists of only representatives of state or local government or (ii) includes a law-enforcement officer who is present at the time of the disclosure. This bill is identical to

Increases from 101 to 151 the proof of neutral grain spirits or alcohol that is without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color that may be sold at government stores. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2022.

Adds three nonlegislative citizen members to the Fort Monroe Authority Board of Trustees, to be appointed by the Governor. The bill also changes the Secretary of Commerce and Trade and the Secretary of Natural Resources from voting to nonvoting ex officio members and removes the Lieutenant Governor from membership. This bill is identical to

Requires the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court to provide electronic data, including individually identifiable information, on proceedings pursuant to the Psychiatric Treatment of Minors Act and the Emergency Custody of Voluntary and Involuntary Civil Admissions Act to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services upon request and provides that the Department may use such data for the purpose of developing and maintaining statistical archives, conducting research on the outcome of such proceedings, and preparing analyses and reports for use by the Department. The bill requires the Department to take all necessary steps to protect the security and privacy of the records and information provided pursuant to the provisions of the bill in accordance with the requirements of state and federal law and regulations governing health privacy. This bill is identical to